early australian voyages-第24章
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it is low water it seems to be of an indifferent height。 At low water…mark the shore is all rocky； so that then there is no landing with a boat； but at high water a boat may come in over those rocks to the sandy bay； which runs all along on this coast。 The land by the sea for about five or six hundred yards is a dry sandy soil； bearing only shrubs and bushes of divers sorts。 Some of these had them at this time of the year； yellow flowers or blossoms； some blue； and some white； most of them of a very fragrant smell。 Some had fruit like peascods； in each of which there were just ten small peas； I opened many of them； and found no more nor less。 There are also here some of that sort of bean which I saw at Rosemary Island： and another sort of small red hard pulse； growing in cods also； with little black eyes like beans。 I know not their names； but have seen them used often in the East Indies for weighing gold； and they make the same use of them at Guinea； as I have heard； where the women also make bracelets with them to wear about their arms。 These grow on bushes； but here are also a fruit like beans growing on a creeping sort of shrub…like vine。 There was great plenty of all these sorts of cod…fruit growing on the sand…hills by the sea side； some of them green； some ripe； and some fallen on the ground： but I could not perceive that any of them had been gathered by the natives； and might not probably be wholesome food。
The land farther in； that is； lower than what borders on the sea； was so much as we saw of it； very plain and even； partly savannahs and partly woodland。 The savannahs bear a sort of thin coarse grass。 The mould is also a coarser sand than that by the sea…side； and in some places it is clay。 Here are a great many rocks in the large savannah we were in； which are five or six feet high； and round at top like a hay…cock； very remarkable； some red and some white。 The woodland lies farther in still； where there were divers sorts of small trees； scarce any three feet in circumference； their bodies twelve or fourteen feet high； with a head of small knibs or boughs。 By the sides of the creeks； especially nigh the sea； there grow a few small black mangrove…trees。
There are but few land animals。 I saw some lizards； and my men saw two or three beasts like hungry wolves； lean like so many skeletons； being nothing but skin and bones； it is probable that it was the foot of one of those beasts that I mentioned as seen by us in New Holland。 We saw a raccoon or two； and one small speckled snake。
The land fowls that we saw here were crows； just such as ours in England； small hawks and kites； a few of each sort： but here are plenty of small turtle doves； that are plump； fat； and very good meat。 Here are two or three sorts of smaller birds； some as big as larks； some less； but not many of either sort。 The sea…fowl are pelicans； boobies； noddies； curlews； seapies； &c。； and but few of these neither。
The sea is plentifully stocked with the largest whales that I ever saw； but not to compare with the vast ones of the Northern Seas。 We saw also a great many green turtle； but caught none； here being no place to set a turtle net in； there being no channel for them； and the tides running so strong。 We saw some sharks and parracoots； and with hooks and lines we caught some rock…fish and old…wives。 Of shell…fish； here were oysters both of the common kind for eating； and of the pearl kind； and also whelks； conchs； muscles； limpits； periwinkles； &c。； and I gathered a few strange shells； chiefly a sort not large； and thickset all about with rays or spikes growing in rows。
And thus having ranged about a considerable time upon this coast； without finding any good fresh water or any convenient place to clean the ship； as I had hoped for； and it being moreover the height of the dry season； and my men growing scorbutic for want of refreshments； so that I had little encouragement to search further； I resolved to leave this coast； and accordingly in the beginning of September set sail towards Timor。
On the 12th of December； 1699； we sailed from Babao； coasting along the island Timor to the eastward； towards New Guinea。 It was the 20th before we got as far as Laphao； which is but forty leagues。 We saw black clouds in the north…west； and expected the wind from that quarter above a month sooner。
That afternoon we saw the opening between the islands Omba and Fetter； but feared to pass through in the night。 At two o'clock in the morning it fell calm； and continued so till noon； in which time we drove with the current back again south…west six or seven leagues。
On the 22nd； steering to the eastward to get through between Omba and Fetter； we met a very strong tide against us； so that although we had a very fresh gale； we yet made way very slowly； but before night got through。 By a good observation we found that the south… east point of Omba lies in latitude 8 degrees 25 minutes。 In my drafts it is laid down in 8 degrees 10 minutes。 My true course from Babao； is east 25 degrees north； distance one hundred eighty…three miles。 We sounded several times when near Omba； but had no ground。 On the north…east point of Omba we saw four or five men； and a little further three pretty houses on a low point； but did not go ashore。
At five this afternoon we had a tornado； which yielded much rain； thunder； and lightning； yet we had but little wind。 The 24th in the morning we caught a large shark； which gave all the ship's company a plentiful meal。
The 27th we saw the Burning Island； it lies in latitude 6 degrees 36 minutes south； it is high； and but small； it runs from the sea a little sloping towards the top； which is divided in the middle into two peaks； between which issued out much smoke： I have not seen more from any volcano。 I saw no trees； but the north side appeared green； and the rest looked very barren。
Having passed the Burning Island； I shaped my course for two islands； called Turtle Isles； which lie north…east by east a little easterly； and distant about fifty leagues from the Burning Isle。 I fearing the wind might veer to the eastward of the north； steered twenty leagues north…east； then north…east by east。 On the 28th we saw two small low islands； called Lucca…Parros； to the north of us。 At noon I accounted myself twenty leagues short of the Turtle Isles。
The next morning； being in the latitude of the Turtle Islands； we looked out sharp for them； but saw no appearance of any island till eleven o'clock； when we saw an island at a great distance。 At first we supposed it might be one of the Turtle Isles； but it was not laid down true； neither in latitude nor longitude from the Burning Isle； nor from the Lucca…Parros； which last I took to be a great help to guide me； they being laid down very well from the Burning Isle； and that likewise in true latitude and distance from Omba； so that I could not tell what to think of the island now in sight； we having had fair weather； so that we could not pass by the Turtle Isles without seeing them； and this in sight was much too far off for them。 We found variation 1 degrees 2 minutes east。 In the afternoon I steered north…east by east for the islands that we saw。 At two o'clock I went and looked over the fore…yard； and saw two islands at much greater distance than the Turtle Islands are laid down in my drafts； one of them was a very high peaked mountain； cleft at top； and much like the Burning Island that we passed by； but bigger and higher； the other was a pretty long high flat island。 Now I was certain that these were not the Turtle Islands； and that they could be no other than the Bande Isles； yet we steered in to make them plainer。 At three o'clock we discovered another small flat island to the north…west of the others； and saw a great deal of smoke rise from the top of the high island。 At four we saw other small islands； by which I was now assured that these were the Bande Isles there。 At five I altered my course and steered east； and at eight east…south…east； because I would not be seen by the inhabitants of those islands in the morning。 We had little wind all night； and in the morning； as soon as it was light we saw another high peaked island； at eight
