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！
hat they saw no sign of people。 At night the yawl came aboard and brought a wooden fish…spear； very ingeniously made； the matter of it was a small cane； they found it by a small barbecue； where they also saw a shattered canoe。
The next morning I sent the boatswain ashore fishing； and at one haul he caught three hundred and fifty…two mackerel； and about twenty other fishes； which I caused to be equally divided among all my company。 I sent also the gunner and chief mate to search about if they could find convenient anchoring near a watering…place； by night they brought word that they had found a fine stream of good water； where the boat could come close to； and it was very easy to be filled； and that the ship might anchor as near to it as I pleased； so I went thither。 The next morning； therefore； we anchored in twenty…five fathom water； soft oozy ground； about a mile from the river； we got on board three tuns of water that night； and caught two or three pike…fish； in shape much like a parracota； but with a longer snout； something resembling a garr； yet not so long。 The next day I sent the boat again for water； and before night all my casks were full。
Having filled here about fifteen tuns of water； seeing we could catch but little fish； and had no other refreshments； I intended to sail next day； but finding that we wanted wood； I sent to cut some； and going ashore to hasten it； at some distance from the place where our men were； I found a small cove； where I saw two barbecues； which appeared not to be above two months' standing； the spars were cut with some sharp instrument； so that； if done by the natives； it seems that they have iron。 On the 10th； a little after twelve o'clock； we weighed and stood over to the north side of the bay； and at one o'clock stood out with the wind at north and north…north… west。 At four we passed out by a White Island； which I so named from its many white cliffs； having no name in our drafts。 It is about a league long； pretty high； and very woody； it is about five miles from the main； only at the west end it reaches within three miles of it。 At some distance off at sea the west point appears like a cape…land； the north side trends away north…north…west； and the east side east…south…east。 This island lies in latitude 3 degrees 4 minutes south； and the meridian distance from Babao five hundred and twelve miles east。 After we were out to sea； we plied to get to the northward； but met with such a strong current against us； that we got but little； for if the wind favoured us in the night； that we got three or four leagues； we lost it again； and were driven as far astern next morning； so that we plied here several days。
The 14th； being past a point of land that we had been three days getting about； we found little or no current； so that； having the wind at north…west…by…west and west…north…west； we stood to the northward； and had several soundings： at three o'clock thirty…eight fathom； the nearest part of New Guinea being about three leagues' distance； at four； thirty…seven； at five； thirty…six； at six； thirty…six； at eight； thirty…three fathom； then the Cape was about four leagues' distant； so that as we ran off we found our water shallower； we had then some islands to the westward of us； at about four leagues' distance。
A little after noon we saw smoke on the islands to the west of us； and having a fine gale of wind； I steered away for them。 At seven o'clock in the evening we anchored in thirty…five fathom； about two leagues from an island； good soft oozy ground。 We lay still all night； and saw fires ashore。 In the morning we weighed again； and ran farther in； thinking to have shallower water； but we ran within a mile of the shore； and came to in thirty…eight fathom good soft holding ground。 While we were under sail two canoes came off within call of us。 They spoke to us； but we did not understand their language nor signs。 We waved to them to come aboard； and I called to them in the Malayan language to do the same； but they would not。 Yet they came so nigh us that we could show them such things as we had to truck with them； yet neither would this entice them to come on board； but they made signs for us to come ashore； and away they went。 Then I went after them in my pinnace； carrying with me knives； beads； glasses； hatchets； &c。 When we came near the shore； I called to them in the Malayan language。 I saw but two men at first； the rest lying in ambush behind the bushes； but as soon as I threw ashore some knives and other toys； they came out； flung down their weapons； and came into the water by the boat's side； making signs of friendship by pouring water on their heads with one hand； which they dipped into the sea。 The next day； in the afternoon； several other canoes came aboard； and brought many roots and fruits； which we purchased。
The island has no name in our drafts； but the natives call it Pub Sabuda； it is about three leagues long； and two miles wide； more or less； it is of a good height； so as to be seen eleven or twelve leagues； it is very rocky； yet above the rocks there is good yellow and black mould； not deep； yet producing plenty of good tall trees； and bearing any fruits or roots which the inhabitants plant。 I do not know all its produce； but what we saw were plantains； cocoa… nuts； pine…apples； oranges； papaes； potatoes； and other large roots。 Here are also another sort of wild jacas； about the bigness of a man's two fists； full of stones or kernels； which eat pleasant enough when roasted。 The libby tree grows here in the swampy valleys； of which they make sago cakes。 I did not see them make any； but was told by the inhabitants that it was made of the pith of the tree； in the same manner I have described in my 〃Voyage Round the World。〃 They showed me the tree whereof it was made； and I bought about forty of the cakes。 I bought also three or four nutmegs in their shell； which did not seem to have been long gathered； but whether they be the growth of this island or not； the natives would not tell whence they had them； and seem to prize them very much。 What beasts the island affords I know not； but here are both sea and land fowl。 Of the first； boobies and men…of…war birds are the chief； some goldens； and small milk…white crab…catchers； the land…fowl are pigeons； about the bigness of mountain…pigeons in Jamaica； and crows about the bigness of those in England； and much like them； but the inner part of their feathers are white； and the outside black； so that they appear all black； unless you extend the feathers。 Here are large sky…coloured birds； such as we lately killed on New Guinea； and many other small birds； unknown to us。 Here are likewise abundance of bats； as big as young coneys； their necks； head； ears； and noses like foxes； their hair rough； that about their necks is of a whitish yellow； that on their heads and shoulders black； their wings are four feet over from tip to tip； they smell like foxes。 The fish are bass； rock…fish； and a sort of fish like mullets； old…wives； whip…rays； and some other sorts that I knew not； but no great plenty of any； for it is deep water till within less than a mile of the shore； then there is a bank of coral rocks； wi