By Nine O'clock The Next Morning We Were Got Within A League Of The
Great Island, But Were Kept Off By Violent Gusts Of Wind.
These
squalls gave us warning of their approach by the clouds which hung
over the mountains, and afterwards descended to the foot of them;
and then it is we expect them speedily.
On the 3rd of March, being about five leagues to leeward of the
great island, we saw the mainland ahead, and another great high
island to leeward of us, distant about seven leagues, which we bore
away for. It is called in the Dutch drafts Garret Dennis Isle. It
is about fourteen or fifteen leagues round, high and mountainous,
and very woody. Some trees appeared very large and tall, and the
bays by the seaside are well stared with cocoa-nut trees, where we
also saw some small houses. The sides of the mountains are thick-
set with plantations, and the mould in the new-cleared land seemed
to be of a brown-reddish colour. This island is of no regular
figure, but is full of points shooting forth into the sea, between
which are many sandy bays, full of cocoa-nut trees. The middle of
the isle lies in 3 degrees 10 minutes south latitude. It is very
populous. The natives are very black, strong, and well-limbed
people, having great round heads, their hair naturally curled and
short, which they shave into several forms, and dye it also of
divers colours--viz., red, white, and yellow. They have broad round
faces, with great bottle-noses, yet agreeable enough till they
disfigure them by painting, and by wearing great things through
their noses as big as a man's thumb, and about four inches long.
These are run clear through both nostrils, one end coming out by one
cheek-bone, and the other end against the other; and their noses so
stretched that only a small slip of them appears about the ornament.
They have also great holes in their ears, wherein they wear such
stuff as in their noses. They are very dexterous, active fellows in
their proas, which are very ingeniously built. They are narrow and
long, with outriggers on one side, the head and stern higher than
the rest, and carved into many devices--viz., some fowl, fish, or a
man's head painted or carved; and though it is but rudely done, yet
the resemblance appears plainly, and shows an ingenious fancy. But
with what instruments they make their proas or carved work I know
not, for they seem to be utterly ignorant of iron. They have very
neat paddles, with which they manage their proas dexterously, and
make great way through the water. Their weapons are chiefly lances,
swords and slings, and some bows and arrows. They have also wooden
fish-spears for striking fish. Those that came to assault us in
Slinger's Bay on the main are in all respects like these, and I
believe these are alike treacherous.
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