A Continuation of a Voyage to New Holland | Page 7

coming the way I did, did not seem to be near at
hand, as the ordinary season of them required; but on the contrary I
found the winds returning again to the south-eastward; and the weather
was fair, and seemed likely to hold so; and consequently the
north-north-west monsoon was not like to come in yet. I considered
therefore that by going to the north side of the island I should there
have the smooth water, as being the lee side as the winds now were;
and hoped to have better riding at anchor or landing on that side, than I
could expect here, where the shore was so lined with mangroves.
Accordingly the 18th about noon I altered my course and steered back
again towards the south-west end of the island. This day we struck a
dolphin; and the next day saw two more but struck none: we also saw a
whale.
THE ISLAND ROTI.
In the evening we saw the island Roti, and another island to the south
of it, not seen in my map; both lying near the south-west end of Timor.
On both these islands we saw smokes by day, and fires by night, as we
had seen on Timor ever since we fell in with it. I was told afterwards by
the Portuguese that they had sugar-works on the island Roti; but I knew
nothing of that now; and the coast appearing generally dry and barren,
only here and there a spot of trees, I did not attempt anchoring there but
stood over again to the Timor coast.
A PASSAGE BETWEEN THE ISLANDS TIMOR AND ANABAO.
FAULT OF THE CHARTS.
September the 21st in the morning, being near Timor, I saw a pretty
large opening which immediately I entered with my ship, sounding as I

went in: but had no ground till I came within the east point of the
mouth of the opening, where I anchored in 9 fathom, a league from the
shore. The distance from the east side to the west side of this opening
was about 5 leagues. But, whereas I thought this was only an inlet or
large sound that ran a great way into the island Timor, I found
afterwards that it was a passage between the west end of Timor and
another small island called Anamabao or Anabao: into which mistake I
was led by my sea-chart, which represented both sides of the opening
as parts of the same coast, and called all of it Timor: see all this
rectified, and a view of the whole passage as I found it, in a small map I
have made of it. Table 6 Number 1.
I designed to sail into this opening till I should come to firm land, for
the shore was all set thick with mangroves here by the sea, on each side;
which were very green, as were also other trees more within-land. We
had now but little wind; therefore I sent my boat away, to sound and to
let me know by signs what depth of water they met with, if under 8
fathom; but if more I ordered them to go on and make no signs. At 11
that morning, having a pretty fresh gale, I weighed and made sail after
my boat; but edged over more to the west shore, because I saw many
smaller openings there, and was in hopes to find a good harbour where
I might secure the ship; for then I could with more safety send my boats
to seek for fresh water. I had not sailed far before the wind came to the
south-east and blew so strong that I could not with safety venture
nearer that side, it being a lee shore. Besides, my boat was on the east
side of the Timor coast; for the other was, as I found afterwards, the
Anabao shore; and the great opening I was now in was the strait
between that island and Timor; towards which I now tacked and stood
over. Taking up my boat therefore I ran under the Timor side, and at 3
o'clock anchored in 29 fathom, half a mile from the shore. That part of
the south-west point of Timor where we anchored in the morning bore
now south by west, distance 3 leagues: and another point of the island
bore north-north-east, distance 2 leagues.
A DUTCH FORT, CALLED CONCORDIA. THEIR SUSPICION OF
THE AUTHOR.

Not long after, we saw a sloop coming about the point last mentioned,
with Dutch colours; which I found, upon sending my boat aboard,
belonged to a Dutch fort (the only one they have in Timor) about 5
leagues from hence, called Concordia. The governor of the fort was in
the sloop, and about 40 soldiers with him. He appeared to be