Early Australian Voyages | Page 8

by a large heap of ashes and the
remains of some cray-fish.
On the 16th, in the morning, they returned on shore, in hopes of getting
more water, but were disappointed; and having now time to observe the
country, it gave them no great hopes of better success, even if they had
travelled farther within land, which appeared a thirsty, barren plain,
covered with ant-hills, so high that they looked afar off like the huts of
negroes; and at the same time they were plagued with flies, and those in
such multitudes that they were scarce able to defend themselves. They
saw at a distance eight savages, with each a staff in his hand, who
advanced towards them within musket-shot; but as soon as they
perceived the Dutch sailors moving towards them, they fled as fast as
they were able. It was by this time about noon, and, perceiving no

appearance either of getting water, or entering into any correspondence
with the natives, they resolved to go on board and continue their course
towards the north, in hopes, as they were already in the latitude of 22
degrees 17 minutes, they might be able to find the river of Jacob
Remmescens; but the wind veering about to the north-east, they were
not able to continue longer upon that coast, and therefore reflecting that
they were now above one hundred miles from the place where they
were shipwrecked, and had scarce as much water as would serve them
in their passage back, they came to a settled resolution of making the
best of their way to Batavia, in order to acquaint the Governor-General
with their misfortunes, and to obtain such assistance as was necessary
to get their people off the coast.
On the 17th they continued their course to the north-east, with a good
wind and fair weather; the 18th and 19th it blew hard, and they had
much rain; on the 20th they found themselves in 19 degrees 22 minutes;
on the 22nd they had another observation, and found themselves in the
height of 16 degrees 10 minutes, which surprised them very much, and
was a plain proof that the current carried them northwards at a great
rate; on the 27th it rained very hard, so that they were not able to take
an observation; but towards noon they saw, to their great satisfaction,
the coasts of Java, in the latitude of 8 degrees, at the distance of about
four or five miles. They altered their course to west-north-west, and
towards evening entered the gulf of an island very full of trees, where
they anchored in eight fathoms water, and there passed the night; on the
28th, in the morning, they weighed, and rowed with all their force, in
order to make the land, that they might search for water, being now
again at the point of perishing for thirst. Very happily for them, they
were no sooner on shore than they discovered a fine rivulet at a small
distance, where, having comfortably quenched their thirst, and filled all
their casks with water, they about noon continued their course for
Batavia.
On the 29th, about midnight, in the second watch, they discovered an
island, which they left on their starboard. About noon they found
themselves in the height of 6 degrees 48 minutes. About three in the
afternoon they passed between two islands, the westernmost of which
appeared full of cocoa trees. In the evening they were about a mile
from the south point of Java, and in the second watch exactly between

Java and the Isle of Princes. The 30th, in the morning, they found
themselves on the coast of the last-mentioned island, not being able to
make above two miles that day. On July 1st the weather was calm, and
about noon they were three leagues from Dwaersindenwegh, that is,
Thwart-the-way Island; but towards the evening they had a pretty brisk
wind at north-west, which enabled them to gain that coast. On the 2nd,
in the morning, they were right against the island of Topershoetien, and
were obliged to lie at anchor till eleven o'clock, waiting for the
sea-breeze, which, however, blew so faintly that they were not able to
make above two miles that day. About sunset they perceived a vessel
between them and Thwart-the-way Island, upon which they resolved to
anchor as near the shore as they could that night, and there wait the
arrival of the ship. In the morning they went on board her, in hopes of
procuring arms for their defence, in case the inhabitants of Java were at
war with the Dutch. They found two other ships in company, on board
one of which was Mr. Ramburg, counsellor of the Indies. Captain
Pelsart went immediately on board his ship, where he acquainted him
with