These Little Circumstances, Which May Seem
Tedious Or Trifling To Such As Read Only For Amusement, Are,
However, Of Very
Great importance to such as have discoveries in
view; because they argue that these people have a general
correspondence; the
Difference of their complexion must arise from a
mixed descent; and the different manner of wearing their hair is
undoubtedly owing to their following the fashion of different
nations, as their fancies lead them. He farther observes that their
vessels were larger and better contrived than their neighbours; that
they readily parted with their bows and arrows in exchange for
goods, and that they were particularly fond of glass and ironware,
which, perhaps, they not only used themselves, but employed likewise
in their commerce. The most western point of the island he called
the Cape of Good Hope, because by doubling that cape he expected to
reach the island of Banda; and that we may not wonder that he was in
doubts and difficulties as to the situation on of these places, we
ought to reflect that Schovten was the first who sailed round the
world by this course, and the last too, except Commodore Roggewein,
other navigators choosing rather to run as high as California, and
from thence to the Ladrone Islands, merely because it is the
ordinary route.
In the neighbourhood of this island Schovten also met with an
earthquake, which alarmed the ship's company excessively, from an
apprehension that they had struck upon a rock. There are some other
islands in the neighbourhood of this, well peopled, and well
planted, abounding with excellent fruits, especially of the melon
kind.
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