One of the ships appears to have been separated from the
fleet, but it does not appear which.
- E.]
We sailed from Saldanha road on the 28th June, and were 100 leagues to
the east of Cabo das Aguilhas before we found any current, but it was
then strong. The 31st July at noon, we found the latitude 17 deg. 8' S. our
longitude being 20 deg. 47' E. and at four p.m. we saw the island of Juan
de Nova, distant four leagues E.S.E.[75] Its size, and I think we saw
it all, is about three or four miles long, all very low and rising from
the sea like rocks. Off the west end we saw breakers, yet could not get
ground with a line of 150 fathoms, sounding from our boat. The latitude
of this island, observed with great accuracy, is 17 deg.,[76] and it seems
well laid down in our charts, both in regard to latitude and longitude.
It is a most sure sign of being near this island, when many sea fowl are
seen, and we accordingly saw there ranch fowl, some white, having their
wings tipped only with black, and others all black.
[Footnote 75: St Juan de Nova is in lat. 17 deg. 50' S. and long. 45 deg. 30'E.
from Greenwich - E.]
[Footnote 76: In lat. 17 deg. S. and long. 60 deg. E. is an island or bank
called Nazareth, Corados, or Garajos, a long way however from St Juan de
Nova. - E.]
The 3d August, in lat 13 deg. 35' by observation, and longitude 22 deg. 30' from
the Cape, we saw Mal-Ilha, one of the Comoros, about twelve leagues
off, having on the east part of it a very fair sugar-loaf hill.[77] At
the same time with this island, we had sight of that named Comoro,
bearing N.N.W. by W. being high land. At six a.m. of the 4th we were
close in with Mal-Ilha, and standing in for some place in which to
anchor, while some eight or nine miles from the shore, we saw the ground
under the ship in not less than eight or ten fathoms. The Hosiander, two
miles nearer the land, had four or five fathoms, and her boat was in
three fathoms. We then sent both our boats to sound, which kept shoaling
on a bank in eight, ten, and twelve fathoms, and off it only half a
cable's length had no ground with 100 fathoms. At the north end of
Mal-Ilha there is a fair big high island, about five or six miles in
circuit.[78] A bank or ledge of rocks extends all along the west side of
Mal-Ilha, continuing to the small high island; and from this little
island to Mal-Ilha may be some eight or nine miles, all full of rocks,
two of them of good height. Being at the north end of this ledge, and
the little island bearing S.E. you may steer in with the land, keeping
the island fair aboard; and within the rocks or broken ground and
Mal-Ilha there is a bay with good anchorage.
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