Between Five And Six Next Morning We Again Weighed, With
The Wind At S.E. Steering N.N.W. The Nearest Land Being S.W. Six Leagues
Off, Which Was A Woody Island About Four Miles Long, Off Which Was A
Ledge Of Rocks, Or A Sand-Bank.
About eight a.m. I espied from the
topmast-head Lucapara, eight leagues off.
The 7th, about ten a.m. we
raised the hill of Mompyne N.E. eight leagues off, after which we never
had less than ten fathoms. The 11th we were in lat. 1 deg. N. and next
morning from the topmast-head I espied the high land of Bintam, W. by N.
some twelve leagues off.
The 4th August, at night, we weighed from Patane roads,[372] with the
wind at S.S.W. and steered away N.W. by W. for Siam, where we arrived on
the 14th, and anchored in five fathoms, having the southermost island S.
by E. of us, the eastermost E. by S. and the river's mouth N. by W. The
3d November we weighed out of the bay, where we left our men, and graved
our ship, and hauled off from the west to S.S.E. to get clear of the
island, and so steered away. The 4th, at noon, I made the ship to be in
the lat. of 12 deg. 30', having run in twenty-three hours only twenty-five
leagues, making our course S. by W. with the wind northerly. We arrived
at Patane on the 11th.
[Footnote 372: By careless abridgement, Purchas omits their arrival
here; and, owing to his inconclusive narrative of the navigation, we
have here omitted a good deal of the nautical remarks, which are quite
unconnected in the Pilgrims, and therefore of no utility. - E.]
* * * * *
"He was after this at Siam again, and again at Patane, and made a second
voyage from Masulipatam to Bantam in 1614, and thence to England in
1615. But his journal is so large that I dare not express it. They
arrived at the Lizard on the 20th August, 1615, having spent four years
and nearly eight months in this voyage."[373]
[Footnote 373: This concluding sentence is the apology of Purchas for
abbreviating the narrative of Marten, which he has done in so confused a
manner, that we have been under the necessity of abridging it still
farther. - E.]
SECTION XIV.
Notices of the preceding Voyage, by Peter Williamson Floris.[374]
INTRODUCTION.
"As the preceding journal of Nathaniel Marten is almost wholly nautical,
this narrative of Floris is chiefly confined to the transactions,
occurrences, and adventures that happened on land, in the several
countries at which they touched in this voyage. Purchas tells us, in the
title of this article, that it was translated out of Dutch; but whether
by himself or some other, and whether from print or manuscript, he is
silent. He informs us likewise, that Floris was cape merchant, or chief
factor, in this voyage, and that he died in London in 1615, two months
after his arrival from the expedition. This author is remarkable for
several notable particulars respecting the affairs of the countries
which he visited, which shews that he was curious, and for the freedom
with which he censures the actions of his own countrymen, the
Hollanders, which may pass for a proof of his sincerity." - Astley.
[Footnote 374: Purch. Pilgr. I. 319. Astl. I. 435.]
Sec. 1. The Voyage to Pullicatt, Patapilly, Bantam, Patane, and Siam.
Having covenanted and agreed with the right worshipful governor and
deputy of the English East India Company, we embarked in the Globe, on
the 5th January, 1610, according to the English style, being actually of
the year 1611, and set sail for Gravesend. Sailing from the Downs on the
5th February, we came to Saldanha bay the 21st May, where we found three
ships. Two boats came aboard of us, one from Isaac le Maire, and the
other from Henrick Brouwer. Much refreshing was not here to be had at
this season, by reason of heavy rains, being now their winter, and the
mountains covered with snow. We used great diligence in searching for a
root called ningim, for which purpose two of three Holland ships had
come here, one being from Japan, that first discovered the secret. At
this time the new leaf only began to peep forth, so that we could not
have known it, if we had not received instructions. Its proper time of
ripeness is in December, January, and February; and it is called kanna
by the inhabitants.[375]
[Footnote 375: This kanna, or ningim, is supposed to be the same
with the Ginseng, so highly prized in China for its restorative virtues.
The Hottentots set the same value on it, and it is as rare to be met
with in the country at the Cape of Good Hope as in Eastern
Tartary. - Astl. I. 436. b.]
Having filled our water-casks, and refreshed ourselves with eight sheep
and twenty cattle, we set sail from the bay, leaving there the boat of
Isaac le Maire, commanded by his son Jacob, who was to continue there
till December, bartering for hides and skins, and making train-oil. To
him we gave letters for England. Near Tierra de Natal, on the 10th
June, we were in great danger, a violent storm of thunder, lightning,
wind, and rain, having almost thrown us ashore; but God mercifully and
powerfully gave us unexpected deliverance.
The 1st of August we fell in with the island of Ceylon at Punta de
Galle. The 6th we came before Negapatam, being twenty-eight Dutch miles
or leagues wrong in our reckoning, the maps, in regard to that place,
being very false, which might occasion great danger in the night, the
like happening to the Hollanders. Neither found we the island so broad
as it is there laid down. Mr Mullineux lays down Punta de Galle in 4 deg.,
whereas it is 6 deg..[376] Towards evening we passed before the road, and
could see the houses very plainly.
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