My true course from
Babao, is east 25 degrees north, distance one hundred eighty-three
miles. We sounded several times when near Omba, but had no ground.
On the north-east point of Omba we saw four or five men, and a
little further three pretty houses on a low point, but did not go
ashore.
At five this afternoon we had a tornado, which yielded much rain,
thunder, and lightning; yet we had but little wind. The 24th in the
morning we caught a large shark, which gave all the ship's company a
plentiful meal.
The 27th we saw the Burning Island; it lies in latitude 6 degrees 36
minutes south; it is high, and but small; it runs from the sea a
little sloping towards the top, which is divided in the middle into
two peaks, between which issued out much smoke: I have not seen
more from any volcano. I saw no trees; but the north side appeared
green, and the rest looked very barren.
Having passed the Burning Island, I shaped my course for two
islands, called Turtle Isles, which lie north-east by east a little
easterly, and distant about fifty leagues from the Burning Isle. I
fearing the wind might veer to the eastward of the north, steered
twenty leagues north-east, then north-east by east.
