25' S. on the 24th May, the compass
there varying 6 deg.
9'. The 15th June we got sight of the island of St
Lawrence or Madagascar, and on the 17th came to anchor close beside port
St Augustine, meaning to search the soundings and entrance into the bay
before we went in, as there was no one in the ship well acquainted with
it. Having done this, we went in next day, and came to anchor in ten
fathoms, yet our ship rode in forty fathoms. We had here wood and
water, and great abundance of fresh fish, which we caught in such
quantities with the seyne as might have served for six ships companies,
instead of our own. But we could get no cattle from the natives, who
seemed to be afraid of us; for, though they came once to us, and
promised to bring us cattle next day, they seemed to have said so as a
cover for driving away their cattle, in which they were employed in the
interim, and they came no more near us. Some days after, we marched into
the woods with forty musketeers, to endeavour to discover some of the
natives, that we might buy cattle; but we only found empty houses, made
of canes, whence we could see the people had only gone away very
recently, as their fires were still burning, and the scales of fish they
had been broiling were lying about. We also saw the foot-marks of many
cattle, which had been there not long before, and had to return empty
handed.
[Footnote 107: The latitude in the text indicates Burtrenhook, near the
mouth of the Groot river, this being probably the Dutch name, while that
in the text is the Portuguese. - E.]
The entry into the port of St Augustine resembles that of Dartmouth
haven; and on going in, you must bring the wood, called
Westminster-hall, to which it has some resemblance, to bear N.E. by E.
and then steer due E. borrowing a little towards the south side of the
bay, where your soundings will be thirteen, nine, eight, and seven
fathoms, all good ground, till you be shut within the shoal. After this
you have deep water till you come into the road, and then have seven,
eight, and ten fathoms. But if you go too far behind the hill on the
larboard hand, which resembles an old barn, you shall then have thirty
and forty fathoms. St Augustine is in lat 23 deg. 30' S. the var. being 15 deg.
40'.[108]
[Footnote 108: Long. 44 deg. 20' E. from Greenwich. - E.]
We sailed from St Augustine on the 23d June, directing our course for
the island of Mohelia, and on the 3d July we had sight of an island
called Juan, nine or ten leagues E. by S. from Mohelia. We came also
this day to anchor at Mohelia, between it and some broken land off its
southern side. We had here great abundance of refreshments, and very
cheap; for we bought five bullocks in exchange for one Levant sword, and
had goats, hens, pine-apples, cocoa-nuts, plantains, oranges, lemons,
and limes, for trifles worth little. Such bullocks as we had for money
cost a dollar each, or ten pieces of 4-1/2d.; at which rate we
purchased forty-one beeves. The natives of this island are chiefly Moors
[negroes], but there are Arabians, Turks, and others also among them;
and they are much engaged in wars with the people of Juan, [Hinznan or
Johanna,] and Comoro islands in their neighbourhood. They told us that
the king of the island died the day we arrived, being succeeded by his
son, Phanehomale, who was only of tender years, and was to reign under
the protection of the queen his mother. His brother-in-law, as chief
man, accompanied by several other people of condition, came down to bid
us welcome, and used us very kindly. Both he and many others of the
islanders spoke tolerably good Portuguese, so that I had much
conversation with them, and was informed of every thing I wished to
know.
In this island they build barks, in which they trade along the coast of
Melinda and Arabia, disposing of slaves and fruit, by which means they
supply themselves with dollars, and with such articles as they need. I
suspect also that they have some dealings with the Portuguese, but they
would not let us know this, lest we might suspect them of treachery.
They told me that we were welcome, and that the whole island was at our
command to do us service; but, if we had been Portuguese, they would
have put us all to the sword. In my opinion, however, it would be
dangerous to repose too much confidence in them. The king's
brother-in-law shewed me a letter of recommendation of the place,
written in Dutch, and left there by a Hollander; and he requested of us
to leave a letter to the same purport, certifying their honest and
friendly dealings, that they might be able to show to others of our
nation. To this we consented, and I gave them a writing, sealed by our
captain, expressing the good entertainment we had received, and the
prices of provisions; yet recommending to our countrymen, not to trust
them any farther than might seem consistent with their own safety. They
speak a kind of Moorish language, somewhat difficult to learn; so that I
could only pick up the few words following, which may serve to ask for
provisions and fruits, by such as do not understand Portuguese, or in
speaking to any of the natives who have not that language.
Gumbey, a bullock.
Buze, a goat.
Coquo, a hen.
Sinzano, a needle.
Seiavoye, cocoa-nuts.
Demon, lemons.
Mage, water.
Surra, a kind of drink.
Soutan, the king.
Quename, a pine-apple.
Cartassa, paper.
Tudah, oranges.
Arembo, bracelets.
Figo, plantains.
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