That the yacht Aernem, owing to bad sailing, and to the small liking and
desire which the skipper and the steersman have shown towards the voyage,
has on various occasions and at different times been the cause of serious
delay, seeing that the Pera (which had sprung a bad leak and had to be
kept above water by more than 8000 strokes of the pump every 24 hours)
was every day obliged to seek and follow the Aernem for one, two or even
more miles to leeward.
* * *
(The yacht Aernem left the Pera.)
On the 27th, the wind being E. by S. with good weather, the skipper of
the Pera rowed ashore with the two pinnaces duly provided for defence, in
order to seek fresh water, but when he had caused several pits to be dug,
no water was found; we therefore set sail forthwith, holding a S.E. by E.
course along the land; at noon we were in Lat. 16° 30', and with a W. by
N. wind made for the land, sailing with our foresail only fully two hours
before sunset, in order to wait for the Aernem which was a howitzer's
shot astern of us; in the evening, having come to anchor in 3Ω fathom 1Ω
mile from the land, we hung out a lantern, that the Aernem might keep
clear of us in dropping anchor, but this proved to be useless, for on
purpose and with malice prepense she away from us against her
instructions and our resolution, and seems to have set her course for Aru
(to have a good time of it there), but we shall learn in time whether she
has managed to reach it.
In the morning of the 28th the wind was E. by S. and the weather very
fine; the skipper once more went ashore with the pinnace in order to seek
water, but when several pits had been dug in the sand, they found none;
we therefore set sail again on a N.E. by N. course along the land in 2,
3, 4 and 5 fathom, but when we had run a distance Of 2Ω Miles, a violent
landwind drove us off the land, so that we had to drop anchor in 3
fathom, the blacks on shore sending up such huge clouds of smoke from
their fires that the land was hardly visible; at night in the first watch
we set sail again and after running N.N.E. for 3Ω miles, we came to
anchor in 2 fathom.
In the morning of the 29th the wind was S.E., with good weather; course
held N.E. by E. along the land in 2Ω and 3 fathom; when we had run 1Ω
mile we came {Page 39} to anchor in 2 fathom, and landed here as before
in order to seek freshwater; we had some pits dug a long way from the
strand, but found no fresh water; the blacks showed themselves from afar,
but refused to come to parley, nor did we succeed in luring any towards
us by stratagem; at noon we were in 16° 10' near a river which in the
chart is marked Nassauw revier: when we saw that we could do nothing
profitable here, we set sail with an E. wind on a N.N.E. course along the
land, and came to anchor in the evening in 2Ω fathom. (The Nassauw revier
is in 16 degrees 10 minutes Lat.)
In the morning of the 30th the wind was S.E. with steady weather; course
held N.N.E. along the land in 3 fathom; at noon we were in 15° 39', and
came to anchor in 2Ω fathom; we landed also here as before with the
pinnace in order to look for water, and to see if we could meet with any
natives; after digging a number of pits we found no water, so that we set
sail again and came to anchor in the evening in 2Ω fathom.