按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the morning； then the wind and rain abating； we steered east…half…north for fear of coming near the land。 Presently after； it being a little clear； the man at the bowsprit end called out； 〃Land on our starboard bow。〃 We looked out and saw it plain： I presently sounded； and had but ten fathom； soft ground。 The master； being somewhat scared； came running in haste with this news； and said it was best to anchor。 I told him no； but sound again； then we had twelve fathom； the next cast； thirteen and a half； the fourth； seventeen fathom； and then no ground with fifty fathom line。 However； we kept off the island； and did not go so fast but that we could see any other danger before we came nigh it； for here might have been more islands not laid down in my drafts besides this； for I searched all the drafts I had； if perchance I might find any island in the one which was not in the others； but I could find none near us。 When it was day we were about five leagues off the land we saw； but； I believe； not above five miles； or at most two leagues； off it when we first saw it in the night。
This is a small island； but pretty high； I named it Providence。 About five leagues to the southward of this there is another island； which is called William Scouten's Island； and laid down in our drafts： it is a high island； and about twenty leagues big。
It was by mere providence that we missed the small island； for； had not the wind come to west…south…west； and blown hard； so that we steered east…north…east； we had been upon it by our course that we steered before； if we could not have seen it。 This morning we saw many great trees and logs swim by us； which； it is probable； came out of some great rivers on the main。
On the 16th we crossed the line； and found variation 6 degrees 26 minutes east。 The 18th； by my observation at noon； we found that we had had a current setting to the southward； and probably that drew us in so nigh Scouten's Island。 For this twenty…four hours we steered east…by…north with a large wind； yet made but an east…by… south half south course； though the variation was not above 7 degrees east。
The 21st we had a current setting to the northward； which is against the true trade monsoon； it being now near the full moon。 I did expect it here； as in all other places。 We had variation 8 degrees 45 minutes east。 The 22nd we found but little current； if any； it set to the southward。
On the 23rd； in the afternoon； we saw two snakes； and the next morning another passing by us； which was furiously assaulted by two fishes； that had kept us company five or six days； they were shaped like mackerel； and were about that bigness and length； and of a yellow…greenish colour。 The snake swam away from them very fast； keeping his head above water； the fish snapped at his tail； but when he turned himself； that fish would withdraw； and another would snap； so that by turns they kept him employed； yet he still defended himself； and swam away a great pace； till they were out of sight。
The 25th； betimes in the morning； we saw an island to the southward of us； at about fifteen leagues' distance。 We steered away for it； supposing it to be that which the Dutch call Wishart's Island； but； finding it otherwise； I called it Matthias； it being that saint's day。 This island is about nine or ten leagues long； mountainous and woody； with many savannahs； and some spots of land which seemed to be cleared。
At eight in the evening we lay by； intending； if I could； to anchor under Matthias Isle； but the next morning； seeing another island about seven or eight leagues to the eastward of it； we steered away for it。 At noon we came up fair with its south…west end； intending to run along by it and anchor on the south…east side； but the tornadoes came in so thick and hard that I could not venture in。 This island is pretty low and plain； and clothed with wood； the trees were very green； and appeared to be large and tall； as thick as they could stand one by another。 It is about two or three leagues long； and at the south…west point there is another small； low； woody island； about a mile round； and about a mile from the other。 Between them there runs a reef of rocks which joins them。 （The biggest I named Squally Island。）
Seeing we could not anchor here； I stood away to the southward； to make the main； but having many hard squalls and tornadoes； we were often forced to hand all our sails and steer more easterly to go before it。 On the 26th at four o'clock it cleared up to a hard sky and a brisk settled gale； then we made as much sail as we could。 At five it cleared up over the land； and we saw； as we thought； Cape Solomaswer bearing south…south…east； distance ten leagues。 We had many great logs and trees swimming by us all this afternoon； and much grass； we steered in south…south…east till six； then the wind slackened； and we stood off till seven； having little wind； then we lay by till ten； at which time we made sail； and steered away east all night。 The next morning； as soon as it was light； we made all the sail we could； and steered away east…south…east； as the land lay； being fair in sight of it； and not above seven leagues' distance。 We passed by many small low woody islands which lay between us and the main； not laid down in our drafts。 We found variation 9 degrees 50 minutes east。
The 28th we had many violent tornadoes； wind； rain； and some spouts； and in the tornadoes the wind shifted。 In the night we had fair weather； but more lightning than we had seen at any time this voyage。 This morning we left a large high island on our larboard side； called in the Dutch drafts Wishart's Isle； about six leagues from the main； and； seeing many smokes upon the main； I therefore steered towards it。
The mainland at this place is high and mountainous； adorned with tall； flourishing trees； the sides of the hills had many large plantations and patches of clear land； which； together with the smoke we saw； were certain signs of its being well inhabited； and I was desirous to have some commerce with the inhabitants。 Being nigh shore； we saw first one proa； a little after； two or three more； and at last a great many boats came from all the adjacent bays。 When they were forty…six in number they approached so near us that we could see each other's signs and hear each other speak； though we could not understand them； nor they us。 They made signs for us to go in towards the shore； pointing that way。 It was squally weather； which at first made me cautious of going too near； but the weather beginning to look pretty well； I endeavoured to get into a bay ahead of us； which we could have got into well enough at first； but while we lay by； we were driven so far to leeward that now it was more difficult to get in。 The natives lay in their proas round us； to whom I showed beads； knives； glasses； to allure them to come nearer。 But they would not come so nigh as to receive anything from us； therefore I threw out some things to them； viz。； a knife fastened to a piece of board； and a glass bottle corked up with some beads in it； which they took up； and seemed well pleased。 They often struck their left breast with their right hand； and as often held up a black truncheon over their heads； which we thought was a token of friendship； wherefore we did the like。 And when we stood in towards their shore； they seemed to rejoice； but when we stood off； they frowned； yet kept us company in their proas； still pointing to the shore。 About five o'clock we got within the mouth of the bay； and sounded several times； but had no ground； though within a mile of the shore。 The basin of this bay was about two miles within us； into which we might have gone； but as I was not assured of anchorage there； so I thought it not prudent to run in at this time； it being near night； and seeing a black tornado rising in the west； which I most feared。 Besides； we had near two hundred men in proas close by us； and the bays on the shore were lined with men from one end to the other； where there could not be less than three or four hundred more。 What weapons they had； we knew not； nor yet their design； therefore I had； at their first coming near us； got up all our small arms； and made several put on cartouch boxes； to prevent treachery。 At last I resolved to go out again； which； when the natives in their proas perceived； they began to fling stones at us as fast as they could； being provided with engines for that purpose； wherefore I named this place Slinger's Bay； but at the firing of one gun they were all amazed； drew off； and flung no more stones。 They got together； as if consulting what to do； for they did not make in towards the shore； but lay still； though some of them were killed or wounded； and many more of them had paid for their boldness； but that I was unwilling to cut off any of them； which； if I had done； I could not hope afterwards to bring them to treat with me。
The next day we sailed close by an island； where we saw many smokes； and men in the bays； out of which came two or three canoes； taking much pains to overtake us； but they could not； though we went with an easy sail； and I could not now stay for them。 As I passed by the south…east point I sounded several times within a