BEHR, Johann von der

Diarium, oder Tage-Buch über dasjenige, so sich Zeit einer neun-järigen Reise zu Wasser und Lande, meistentheils in Dienst der Vereinigten Geoctroyrten Niederländischen Ost-Indianischen Compagnie, besonders in denselbigen Ländern täglich begeben und zugetragern (1668)

Johann von der Behr was a German soldier in the service of the Dutch East India Company. In this capacity, he traveled to Java and other islands of the present-day Indonesia, leaving a fascinating account of the East Indian culture and traditions, as well as of some characteristics of flora and fauna that were little known in the West at the time. Later on, Behr also traveled to Persia and provided an account of the conflict between the Dutch and Persian Shah over the Strait of Hormuz that took place in 1645. By some strange coincidence, Behr narrative has never been translated to English and the edition from 1668 remains the only one to date.