http://www.lib.ox.ac.uk/libraries/guides/OIL.html
[447] How the Chinese bury their dead
When someone dies the body is washed by friends, then precious clothes are smoked and the corpse is wrapped in them. Then it is placed on a chair and people kneel before it to pay respects to their much-loved friend. Later the corpse is put into a coffin, covered with a white cloth which has a painting of the person on it and left for fourteen days, during which time many ceremonies are performed for the soul of the departed. Then, with musical accompaniment, the corpse is buried, along with a fir tree and several pieces of paper on which various slaves and animals are painted. Thereafter, on a certain day in August, the monks build an altar, decorate it with pictures of the dead man and, using incense, start tapping it with a stick and praying for his soul. Meanwhile, people bring offerings, sit about eating and drinking at tables and make much noise with wooden musical instruments, drums and bells. Finally, the monks burn the painted papers on the alter so that the dead man’s soul is purged of his sins.
Plate32 (14.5x17.5) from Part II(p), first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin
text: 
[438] The appearance of the Chinese folk
The men and women of China are well proportioned, quite tall, with broad faces, small eyes and flat noses. The men have beards. Those living in Canton are as dark as Negroes but those living inland are nearly as fair as the Europeans. The noblemen wear silk clothing of many colours. The middle-classes also wear silk but of an inferior quality. The lower-classes have cloths of serge, rough wool and cotton. Their robes are like those of our ancestors, with many folds in the materials and with wide sleeves. The noblemen and royalty wear robes embroidered with gold and silver, with belts studded with gems that distinguish them from the others. They wear velvet shoes and knee length boots. In the winter, they line their clothing with fur, mainly ermine of which there is no shortage. Young men wear their hair as the women do, parted in the middle. The women are dressed like Spanish women, with wide sleeves and embroidered with gold and silver designs. They bind up their hair so decoratively with pearls and gems that it is a delight to see. On their feet they wear slippers or wooden shoes.
Plate 23 (14.3x17.0) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[439] Transport for the aristocratic Chinese
There are many grades of officers in China, of which the mandarins are the most distinguished. They are carried about on special, highly decorated chairs with gold or silk curtains all round. Anyone approaching them with a message must do so on their knees, for the mandarins are almost as important as the king and there are no other such highly-esteemed people in all the land. Scholars and students are also treated with similar respect. The Chinese enjoy life; eating, drinking and being entertained. They have beautifully ornamented pleasure boats, with silken canopies all round and tables inside.
Plate 24 (14.0x17.3) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[440] Transport for the women of China
The upper-class women of China are often carried about by their servants in chair-like boxes. These carriages have silken curtains through which the women, hidden from view, can see through small, lattice-worked windows. The Chinese also have very artistically built vehicles with four wheels and sails, blown along by the wind over flat land, which covers most of China. In this manner they can easily travel wherever they wish without effort.
Plate 25 (13.8x17.1) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[441] A typical Chinese ship
The Chinese have several kinds of ships, especially the large ones with a turret in the front and rear. They are so numerous in the waters of their kingdom that a sea-captain can gather together in one day as many as 600 of them for battle. So many people live on them with their families that they look like a floating town. All kinds of business are transacted on these ships and there are people who have lived on these ships all their lives without ever setting foot on dry land. We illustrate this particular ship because its sails are not of canvass or cloth but rather are made of cane or rushes, bound together. The anchor is not of iron but made of wood, formed like a star.
Plate 26 (14.5x17.8) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[442] How certain Chinese become aristocrats
In China the aristocrats, called ‘loitti’ are appointed in the following manner: after completing their higher education, the candidates meet in the emperor’s palace and are individually examined in the presence of the other ‘loittis’. Those learned enough in the laws of the empire are presented with the sign of the ‘loitti’ in the name of the emperor. This is a belt embroidered with gold and silver, and also a hat with wings that distinguish them from the common folk. A day of promotion is arranged when all the ‘loitti’ again gather in the emperor’s palace and those newly appointed kneel before the examiner to receive the bejewelled robes and to swear complete loyalty to the emperor. After receiving their new titles and treasures, they are embraced by all the other established ‘loitti’. Thereafter, there is a great procession throughout the town, with drums and trumpets. The musicians lead the way, followed by soldiers and men carrying sceptres. Then come the, already established, ‘loittis’, carried on chairs accompanied by their friends and relatives. Six velvet clothes are borne with the names of the newly appointed ‘loittis’, embroidered in gold. Lastly come the newly-appointed ‘loittis’ on white horses, with precious silken covers, wearing special ribbons on their hats. All this is celebrated with great solemnity.
Plate27 (14.2x17.2) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[443] A Strange ceremony of the Chinese
The Chinese, who have many idols, consult their three-headed god whenever they have an important assignment facing them. They throw two small pieces of wood in the air, one side is flat, the other rounded. If they both land on the flat side, it means good fortune and they ask the idol for a sign. If one piece falls flat and the other rounded, it means bad fortune. If they throw the wood pieces again and they still show bad fortune, they begin to threaten their god, sometimes mishandling it or even burning it. When eventually the pieces of wood fall correctly they apologise to their god and bring it peace offerings. Sometimes the evil spirits are evoked by lying face down on the ground, while someone else reads from a book and another sings and rings a bell. When the man lying face-down becomes possessed they ask the evil spirits questions and he answers them in their name. In the event of him not being able to answer them, they lay down a red cloth and scatter rice on it. Another person, supposedly possessed by the devil, then begins to write answers to their questions in the rice.
Plate 28 (14.6x17.3) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[444] How the high ranking judges ride through the streets
When the high judge sets out to do his duty, he is accompanied by two silver pillars, carried on poles to signify he is an officer of the emperor. Next in line, two long straight rods are carried to signify the righteousness of justice. Then come two more rods with red tassels with which prisoners are whipped. Then, behind them, two white plates are carried, bearing the judges name and function. Lastly, the high judge comes, carried on a chair or riding a white horse. To obtain a confession from criminals, two methods are used: either they threaten to pull his fingers from their sockets by a hollow wooden contraption with strings running through it, or his feet are placed between two large boards, held together by ropes that work on a pulley and the boards are beaten with a heavy hammer until the victim pleads guilty.
Plate 29 (14.5x17.0) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[445] A Chinese prison and place for execution
The Chinese have many large prisons, with large parks and ornamental fish-ponds, where petty criminals spend their days. These have high walls and are well guarded. While awaiting execution, those who are condemned to death must wear a white board round their neck, with their crimes written on them and at night time are locked in the stocks. When they are lead to be executed, bells are rung and shots fired in the air. Lesser crimes, such as theft, are punished by whippings or placed face-down on the floor, with their hands tied behind them. Then they are savagely beaten on their bare calves with thin planks, soaked in water. After six strokes the victim can rarely stand, after fifty strokes he usually dies.
Plate 30 (13.8x17.2) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[446] How the Chinese serve their guests and comfort the dying
The Chinese serve their guests lavishly with all kinds of good dishes, laid out on beautifully decorated tables, covered in silken cloths. Meanwhile, they offer musical and other entertainment. In the event of a guest not being able to attend, his table is still decorated and afterwards, the servants carry the food to his home, with great solemnity. The Chinese also believe in the immortality of the soul. When someone is dying, he or she is shown a fearful picture of the devil, holding the sun in one hand and a dagger in the other. They are told, if they meet him after death, they are not to fear him but to consider him as a friend.
Plate 31 (14.4x17.2) from Part II(p),
first published in 1598 with German text and in 1599 with Latin text:
[322] How the Japanese confess their sins
The people of Japan have an extraordinary way of confessing their sins. In the countryside of Osaka there are high cliffs with a great overhang, some two hundred fathoms in height. On the top of one of the overhangs are scales, made of iron, with a long rod upon which two large bowls hang. The pilgrims, known as ‘Xamabuxis’, who go there to confess their sins are filled with fear just by the sight of it. The priest, known as the ‘Goquis’, placed the pilgrims one at a time in a bowl on one side of this scale. Naturally, his body weight sends his side precariously downwards but, for every sin he confesses, the empty bowl is pulled down by a lever at the top until he has confessed enough sins to draw the balance level again. Then the pilgrim is swung back to safety again and the next sinner takes his seat.
Plate 10 (15.8x17.8), from Part IX(g),
first published in 1601 with German text and in 1602 with Latin text:
[326] A portrait of the Japanese people
The Dutch, being not far from Manilla, met up with a ship from Japan. These folk are pictured here. They are fairly tall and wear long garments not unlike those of the Poles. Among these people was the chief, who was a nobleman. He wore a long, silken dress with a flower design. They are good, well-trained warriors, expert with firearms, spears, arrows and sabres. Their heads are shaved almost bald, except for a long pigtail hanging down behind.
Ad. Plate 12,
from Part IX(g), first published in 1602 with both German and Latin text:
[311] Map: ‘Tabula Hydrographica Maris Australis …’ Schouten and le Maire’s crossing of the Pacific
After rounding the Horn, Schouten and le Maire headed northwards until, on the first day of March 1616, they reached the Juan Fernandez Islands in latitude 33° south. After ten days ashore, gathering in provisions and two tons of fish, they headed out across the Pacific towards New Guinea. The map first appeared in Schouten’s Journal, published 1618,
Map 1
(16.6x41.2), from Part XI(g), first published in 1619 in both the German and
Latin editions:
http://www.nla.gov.au/pub/nlanews/2001/jan01/capehorners.html
[329] Map: Novæ Guineæ Tabula:
This shows the track of Schouten and le Maire along the north coast of the island of New Guinea in 1616. Although the islands of Seram [Zeram], Ambon and Buru [Burro] are quite well defined, the northwest peninsula of New Guinea is shown here as an island. Two compass roses with radiating rhumb lines above, with title cartouche below.
Map 2 (15.5x27.2), from Part XI(g), first
published in 1919 with German and Latin text:
[330] Schouten and le Maire attack a Polynesian ship with natives and their children
After having their lunch, the Dutch anchored below 15º 20’ latitude [near Tahiti], they noticed a ship which they first mistook for a Spanish barque, so they warned the ship three times to move away, without it responding. So they took their small boats and fired their muskets at it. The natives then panicked and some leaped into the water, while others threw their goods overboard.
Plate 3 (14.7x20.0), from Part XI(g),
first published in 1619 with German and Latin text:
[331] How the natives responded
One of the natives tried to swim off, carrying a small child. Another was badly wounded in the back, so the Dutch spared him. As they went to seize the native ship, an old white-haired man and a youth entered the Dutch vessel and bowed down before the Dutch. As a result they were received with kindness and their wounds were treated. In the evening the natives introduced the Dutch to their women-folk, by whom they were made very welcome. It was observed that these people drank sea-water and also gave it to their children, that being truly against nature. After they had all parted in peace, the Dutch continued on ther way to the southeast.
Plate 4 (16.7x21.0), from Part XI(g),
first published in 1619 with German and Latin text:
[332] The experience of the Dutch in the Coco and Trator’s Islands
The Dutch arrived at two more islands [near Samoa], one of which was so full of coconut trees that they named it Coco Island. The inhabitants paddled out in their canoes to meet them in such crowds, that the Dutch hardly knew which way to turn. As soon as the natives had traded with the Dutch, they lept back into the water, some with stolen goods. On going to the other island, the Dutch sent out their boats to the shore but the inhabitants in twelve canoes attacked them. The Dutch defended themselves and as soon as the natives saw the damage their muskets could do, they held back. The king of this island seemed friendly to the Dutch at first but soon proved otherwise. He sent out a large number of his men in boats to attack the Dutch and plunder their ships. However, he subsequently had to surrender as the Dutch fired back, causing great losses of his men. Because of this the Dutch named this island: ‘Traitor’s Island’.
Plate 5 (14.9x20.0), from Part XI(g),
first published in 1619 with German and Latin text:
http://bell.lib.umn.edu/encounters/home.html
[333] The adventures of the Dutch at ‘Bottomless’ Island
The Dutch arrived at an island [in Samoa] fringed with wild vines, on which there were native men with long hair and native women with short hair. Because the water surrounding the island was so deep, as to appear bottomless, the Dutch had to either swim ashore, be pulled to by ropes or rowed there in boats. After landing, two of the Dutchmen were seized by about thirty natives and carried off into the forest. As soon as the Dutch began firing at them the women begged their men-folk to surrender, otherwise they would all have been shot. Later they sent a boat with three natives on board to the Dutch ship to make peace and trade goods. The Dutch reciprocated their friendship by giving one man some drink in a silver cup, which they had difficulty in getting back. The natives would have enjoyed stealing some iron artefacts aboard if they had been able to carry them away. While the three natives were aboard the ship, a great crowd gathered on the island, calling for the Dutch to come ashore.
Plate 6 (16.7x20.5), from Part XI(g),
first published in 1619 with German and Latin text:
[334] The Dutch are received at another island
On visiting another island [in Samoa] the Dutch were made heartily welcome by the king and all the inhabitants. A king of another neighbouring island also called to meet them, bringing with him gifts and preparing a fine banquet for them. To honour the natives, the Dutch entertained them by firing their guns and blowing their trumpets.
Plate 7 (14.9x20.0), from Part XI(g),
first published in 1619 with German and Latin text:
[335] How the natives offered food, prepared drinks and danced for the king
Food was carried on the natives’ heads as they humbly crept forward on their knees to the Dutch. The drink, called cava, was made from a certain plant, which they chewed up thoroughly and then spat out into a bowl. On going ashore once by moonlight, the Dutch were greatly amazed to come across the king, sitting with his wives and watching several young girls dancing for him.
Plate 8 (16.7x20.0), from Part XI(g),
first published in 1619 with German and Latin text:
[336] The description of Horn’s Island
This was a charming and beautiful island, full of coconuts, upas-root and wild pigs, which the natives either offered or sold to the Dutch. The natives seemed very wild and rough at first but were soon mollified by the friendliness of the Dutch. The houses all along the shore were round with pointed tips. The roofs allowed rainwater to drain away easily. In each home there was a bit of dried vegetation, two fishing poles and a wooden club and these were the only household items. The natives are good swimmers, dreadful thieves and very greedy for metal artefacts. After staying there for some time, the Dutch sailed on to the Moluccan Islands.
Plate 9 (14.7x20.0), from Part XI(g),
first published in 1619 with German and Latin text: