early australian voyages-第25章
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all night； and in the morning； as soon as it was light we saw another high peaked island； at eight it bore south…south…east half…east； distance eight leagues： and this I knew to be Bird Isle。 It is laid down in our drafts in latitude 5 degrees 9 minutes south； which is too far southerly by twenty…seven miles； according to our observation； and the like error in laying down the Turtle Islands might be the occasion of our missing them。
At night I shortened sail； for fear of coming too nigh some islands； that stretch away bending like a half moon from Ceram towards Timor； and which in my course I must of necessity pass through。 The next morning betimes I saw them； and found them to be at a farther distance from Bird Island than I expected。 In the afternoon it fell quite calm； and when we had a little wind； it was so unconstant； flying from one point to another； that I could not without difficulty get through the islands where I designed； besides； I found a current setting to the southward； so that it was betwixt five and six in the evening before I passed through the islands； and then just weathered little Watela； whereas I thought to have been two or three leagues more northerly。 We saw the day before； betwixt two and three； a spout but a small distance from us； it fell down out of a black cloud； that yielded great store of rain； thunder and lightning； this cloud hovered to the southward of us for the space of three hours； and then drew to the westward a great pace； at which time it was that we saw the spout； which hung fast to the cloud till it broke； and then the cloud whirled about to the south…east； then to east…north…east； where meeting with an island； it spent itself and so dispersed； and immediately we had a little of the tail of it； having had none before。 Afterwards we saw a smoke on the island Kosiway； which continued till night。
On New Year's Day we first descried the land of New Guinea； which appeared to be high land； and the next day we saw several high islands on the coast of New Guinea； and ran in with the main land。 The shore here lies along east…south…east and west…north…west。 It is high even land； very well clothed with tall flourishing trees； which appeared very green； and gave us a very pleasant prospect。 We ran to the westward of four mountainous islands； and in the night had a small tornado； which brought with it some rain and a fair wind。 We had fair weather for a long time； only when near any land we had some tornadoes； but off； at sea； commonly clear weather； though； if in sight of land； we usually saw many black clouds hovering about it。
On the 5th and 6th of January we plied to get in with the land； designing to anchor； fill water； and spend a little time in searching the country； till after the change of the moon； for I found a strong current setting against us。 We anchored in thirty… eight fathom water； good oozy ground。 We had an island of a league long without us； about three miles distant； and we rode from the main about a mile。 The easternmost point of land seen bore east…by… south half…south； distance three leagues； and the westernmost west… south…west half…south； distance two leagues。 So soon as we anchored； we sent the pinnace to look for water and try if they could catch any fish。 Afterwards we sent the yawl another way to see for water。 Before night the pinnace brought on board several sorts of fruits that they found in the woods； such as I never saw before。 One of my men killed a stately land…fowl； as big as the largest dunghill cock； it was of a sky…colour； only in the middle of the wings was a white spot； about which were some reddish spots； on the crown it had a large bunch of long feathers； which appeared very pretty； his bill was like pigeon's； he had strong legs and feet； like dunghill fowls； only the claws were reddish； his crop was full of small berries。 It lays an egg as big as a large hen's egg； for our men climbed the tree where it nested； and brought off one egg。 They found water； and reported that the trees were large； tall； and very thick； and that 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
