We Saw Some Sharks And Parracoots; And
With Hooks And Lines We Caught Some Rock-Fish And Old-Wives.
Of
shell-fish, here were oysters both of the common kind for eating,
and of the pearl kind; and also whelks, conchs, muscles, limpits,
periwinkles, &c., and I gathered a few strange shells, chiefly a
sort not large, and thickset all about with rays or spikes growing
in rows.
And thus having ranged about a considerable time upon this coast,
without finding any good fresh water or any convenient place to
clean the ship, as I had hoped for; and it being moreover the height
of the dry season, and my men growing scorbutic for want of
refreshments, so that I had little encouragement to search further,
I resolved to leave this coast, and accordingly in the beginning of
September set sail towards Timor.
On the 12th of December, 1699, we sailed from Babao, coasting along
the island Timor to the eastward, towards New Guinea. It was the
20th before we got as far as Laphao, which is but forty leagues. We
saw black clouds in the north-west, and expected the wind from that
quarter above a month sooner.
That afternoon we saw the opening between the islands Omba and
Fetter, but feared to pass through in the night. At two o'clock in
the morning it fell calm, and continued so till noon, in which time
we drove with the current back again south-west six or seven
leagues.
On the 22nd, steering to the eastward to get through between Omba
and Fetter, we met a very strong tide against us, so that although
we had a very fresh gale, we yet made way very slowly; but before
night got through.
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