early australian voyages-第23节
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the main； only at the west end it reaches within three miles of it。 At some distance off at sea the west point appears like a cape…land； the north side trends away north…north…west； and the east side east…south…east。 This island lies in latitude 3 degrees 4 minutes south； and the meridian distance from Babao five hundred and twelve miles east。 After we were out to sea； we plied to get to the northward； but met with such a strong current against us； that we got but little； for if the wind favoured us in the night； that we got three or four leagues； we lost it again； and were driven as far astern next morning； so that we plied here several days。
The 14th； being past a point of land that we had been three days getting about； we found little or no current； so that； having the wind at north…west…by…west and west…north…west； we stood to the northward； and had several soundings： at three o'clock thirty…eight fathom； the nearest part of New Guinea being about three leagues' distance； at four； thirty…seven； at five； thirty…six； at six； thirty…six； at eight； thirty…three fathom； then the Cape was about four leagues' distant； so that as we ran off we found our water shallower； we had then some islands to the westward of us； at about four leagues' distance。
A little after noon we saw smoke on the islands to the west of us； and having a fine gale of wind； I steered away for them。 At seven o'clock in the evening we anchored in thirty…five fathom； about two leagues from an island； good soft oozy ground。 We lay still all night； and saw fires ashore。 In the morning we weighed again； and ran farther in； thinking to have shallower water； but we ran within a mile of the shore； and came to in thirty…eight fathom good soft holding ground。 While we were under sail two canoes came off within call of us。 They spoke to us； but we did not understand their language nor signs。 We waved to them to come aboard； and I called to them in the Malayan language to do the same； but they would not。 Yet they came so nigh us that we could show them such things as we had to truck with them； yet neither would this entice them to come on board； but they made signs for us to come ashore； and away they went。 Then I went after them in my pinnace； carrying with me knives； beads； glasses； hatchets； &c。 When we came near the shore； I called to them in the Malayan language。 I saw but two men at first； the rest lying in ambush behind the bushes； but as soon as I threw ashore some knives and other toys； they came out； flung down their weapons； and came into the water by the boat's side； making signs of friendship by pouring water on their heads with one hand； which they dipped into the sea。 The next day； in the afternoon； several other canoes came aboard； and brought many roots and fruits； which we purchased。
The island has no name in our drafts； but the natives call it Pub Sabuda； it is about three leagues long； and two miles wide； more or less； it is of a good height； so as to be seen eleven or twelve leagues； it is very rocky； yet above the rocks there is good yellow and black mould； not deep； yet producing plenty of good tall trees； and bearing any fruits or roots which the inhabitants plant。 I do not know all its produce； but what we saw were plantains； cocoa… nuts； pine…apples； oranges； papaes； potatoes； and other large roots。 Here are also another sort of wild jacas； about the bigness of a man's two fists； full of stones or kernels； which eat pleasant enough when roasted。 The libby tree grows here in the swampy valleys； of which they make sago cakes。 I did not see them make any； but was told by the inhabitants that it was made of the pith of the tree； in the same manner I have described in my 〃Voyage Round the World。〃 They showed me the tree whereof it was made； and I bought about forty of the cakes。 I bought also three or four nutmegs in their shell； which did not seem to have been long gathered； but whether they be the growth of this island or not； the natives would not tell whence they had them； and seem to prize them very much。 What beasts the island affords I know not； but here are both sea and land fowl。 Of the first； boobies and men…of…war birds are the chief； some goldens； and small milk…white crab…catchers； the land…fowl are pigeons； about the bigness of mountain…pigeons in Jamaica； and crows about the bigness of those in England； and much like them； but the inner part of their feathers are white； and the outside black； so that they appear all black； unless you extend the feathers。 Here are large sky…coloured birds； such as we lately killed on New Guinea； and many other small birds； unknown to us。 Here are likewise abundance of bats； as big as young coneys； their necks； head； ears； and noses like foxes； their hair rough； that about their necks is of a whitish yellow； that on their heads and shoulders black； their wings are four feet over from tip to tip； they smell like foxes。 The fish are bass； rock…fish； and a sort of fish like mullets； old…wives； whip…rays； and some other sorts that I knew not； but no great plenty of any； for it is deep water till within less than a mile of the shore； then there is a bank of coral rocks； within which you have shoal…water； white clean sand； so there is no good fishing with the seine。
This island lies in latitude 2 degrees 43 minutes south； and meridian distance from port Babo； on the island Timor； four hundred and eighty…six miles： besides this island； here are nine or ten other small islands。
The inhabitants of this island are a sort of very tawny Indians； with long black hair； who in their manners differ but little from the Mindanayans； and others of these eastern islands。 These seem to be the chief； for besides them we saw also shock curl pated New Guinea negroes； many of which are slaves to the others； but I think not all。 They are very poor； wear no clothes but have a clout about their middle； made of the rinds of the tops of palmetto trees； but the women had a sort of calico cloth。 Their chief ornaments are blue and yellow beads； worn about their wrists。 The men arm themselves with bows and arrows； lances； broad swords； like those of Mindanao； their lances are pointed with bone： they strike fish very ingeniously with wooden fish…spears； and have a very ingenious way of making the fish rise； for they have a piece of wood curiously carved； and painted much like a dolphin （and perhaps other figures）； these they let down into the water by a line with a small weight to sink it； when they think it low enough； they haul the line into their boats very fast； and the fish rise up after this figure； and they stand ready to strike them when they are near the surface of the water。 But their chief livelihood is from their plantations； yet they have large boats； and go over to New Guinea； where they get slaves； fine parrots； &c； which they carry to Goram and exchange for calicoes。 One boat came from thence a little before I arrived here； of whom I bought some parrots； and would have bought a slave but they would not barter for anything but calicoes； which I had not。 Their houses on this side were very small； and seemed only to be for necessity； but on the other side of the island we saw good large houses。 Their prows are narrow； with outriggers on each side； like other Malayans。 I cannot tell of what religion these are； but I think they are not Mahometans； by their drinking brandy out of the same cup with us without any scruple。 At this island we continued till the 20th instant； having laid in store of such roots and fruits as the island afforded。
On the 20th； at half an hour after six in the morning； I weighed； and standing out we saw a large boat full of men lying at the north point of the island。 As we passed by； they rowed towards their habitations； where we supposed they had withdrawn themselves for fear of us； though we gave them no cause of terror； or for some differences among themselves。
We stood to the northward till seven in the evening； then saw a rippling； and； the water being discoloured； we sounded； and had but twenty…two fathom。 I went about and stood to the westward till two next morning then tacked again； and had these several soundings： at eight in the evening； twenty…two； at ten； twenty…five； at eleven； twenty…seven； at twelve； twenty…eight fathom； at two in the morning； twenty…six； at four； twenty…four； at six； twenty…three； at eight； twenty…eight； at twelve； twenty…two。
We passed by many small islands； and among many dangerous shoals without any remarkable occurrence till the 4th of February； when we got within three leagues of the north…west cape of New Guinea； called by the Dutch Cape Mabo。 Off this cape there lies a small woody island； and many islands of different sizes to the north and north…east of it。 This part of New Guinea is high land； adorned with tall trees； that appeared very green and flourishing。 The cape itself is not very high； but ends in a low sharp point； and on either side there appears another such point at equal distances； which makes it resemble a diamond。 This only appears when you are abreast of the middle point； and then you have no ground within three leagues of the shore。
In the afternoon we passed by the cape and stood over for t
