The Prince Sent An Apology For Coming Back, But We
Now Saw That He Was Forced To Do As The Dutch Thought Proper.
On the
31st, several harsh dealings and discourtesies passed between us and the
Dutch.
The 1st of April, 1613, the Dutch mustered about 120 men ashore,
gathered from their ships and forts, and every morning and evening
relieved guard with drum and fife, and displayed ensign. On the 2d,
seeing no appearance of Key Malladaia, according to his promise, I
ordered our water-casks to be filled, and every thing to be in readiness
for setting sail with the first fair wind. At noon this day, we found
the latitude of this road of Pelebre, or Pelabry, to be 26' N. of
the equator, the variation being 3 deg. 28', and the highest land in the
island of Machian bearing W.N.W. half a point westerly.
On the 5th of April we weighed anchor with little wind, and the current
setting to the southwards, we drove to sea under our foresail, passing
a-head of the Moon, the larger of the Dutch ships, which made a fair
shot under our stern, which we presently answered close a-head of his
admiral, expecting farther, but heard no more of them. At noon they both
weighed and followed us; but having the wind at S.W. we were far to
windward, so that the natives came aboard of us with cloves for a time,
as fast as we could weigh and pay for them, the Dutch being unable to
hinder. There came also an Orankey aboard, who promised us a good parcel
of cloves, if we could come near the shore in the evening. The 6th,
about fifty cattees of cloves were brought to us in several canoes.
Towards evening; stood rather nearer the shore than I wished, in
consequence of seeing a weft, on which I sent a skiff to the Orankey,
who said his cloves were ready, and should be brought aboard in the
dark. But in consequence of a Dutch curracurra passing by, he was in
such fear, that though our people offered to guard him, he durst not
venture aboard.
In the morning of the 16th, we were abreast of Mootiere, four leagues
from the western point of Machian, N. by E. half a point easterly; and
three leagues from it to the north is the island of Marro, two leagues
beyond which is Tidore, between and around all which islands is clear
passage on all sides, without any danger. Our latitude at noon was 0 deg.
25'; and we could see the two Dutch ships to the southwards, plying
after us. In sailing from Marro to Tidore, it is proper to keep a
sharp look-out, as there is a long shoal in the fair way, quite even
with the sea at high-water, close to which the water has a whitish look.
This shoal stretches N.E. and S.W. between Marro and Battachina.
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