In the morning of the 1st the wind was E.; the skipper once more rowed
ashore with the pinnace, and having caused three pits to be dug he at
last found fresh water forcing its way through the sand; we used our best
endeavours to take in a stock of the same; about 400 paces north of the
farthest of the pits that had been dug, they also found a small
fresh-water lake, but the water that collected in the pits was found to
be a good deal better.
In the morning of the 2nd the wind was E.N.E., and went round to S.W.
later in the day; we continued taking in water.
On the 3rd we went on taking in water as before; the wind was N.E., and
about noon turned to S.W.. I went ashore myself with 10 musketeers, and
we advanced a long way into the wood without seeing any human beings; the
land here is low-lying and without hills as before, in Lat. 15° 20' it is
very dry and barren, for during all the time we have searched and
examined this part of the coast to our best ability, we have not seen one
fruit-bearing tree, nor anything that man could make use of; there are no
mountains or even hills, so that it may be safely concluded that the land
contains no metals, nor yields any precious woods, such as sandal-wood,
aloes or columba; in our judgment this is the most arid and barren region
that could be found anywhere on the earth; the inhabitants, too, are the
most wretched and poorest creatures that I have ever seen in my age or
time; as there are no large trees anywhere on this coast, they have no
boats or canoes whether large or small; this is near the place which we
touched at on the voyage out on Easter-day, April the 16th; in the new
chart we gave given to this spot the name of Waterplaets [*]; at his
place the beach is very fine, with excellent gravelly sand and plenty of
delicious fish.(Waterplaats is in 15 degrees 13 minutes Lat.)
[* Mitchell River.]
(Vereenichde revier.)
In the morning of the 4th the wind was E.N.E. with good weather, course
held N. in 7Ω fathom. we could just see the land; at noon we were in 15°
12' Lat.; slightly to northward we saw a river to which we have given the
name of Vereenichde revier: all through the night the wind was W., course
held N.N.E. towards the land.
In the morning of the 5th the wind was E., course held N.; at noon we
were in 14° 5' Lat.; shortly after the wind went over to W., upon which
we made for the land {Page 40} and cast anchor in 2 fathom; I went ashore
myself in the pinnace which was duly armed; the blacks here attacked us
with their weapons, but afterwards took to flight; upon which we went
landinward for some distance, and found divers of their weapons, such as
assagays and callaways, leaning against the trees; we took care not to
damage these weapons, but tied pieces of iron and strings of beads to
some of them, in order to attract the blacks, who, however, seemed quite
indifferent to these things, and repeatedly held up their shields with
great boldness and threw them at the muskets; these men are, like all the
others we have lately seen, of tall stature and very lean to look at, but
malignant and evil-natured.
In the morning of the 6th, the wind being East, we set sail on a N.
course along the land in 3 and 4 fathom; at noon when we were in 13° 29'
Lat., the wind was W.; in the evening it went round to East, upon which
we dropped anchor in 3 fathom.
In the morning of the 7th the wind was S.E. with fine weather; the
skipper went ashore with the pinnace, with strict orders to treat the
blacks kindly, and try to attract them with pieces of iron and strings of
beads; if practicable, also to capture one or more; when at noon the men
returned they reported that on their landing more than 100 blacks had
collected on the beach with their weapons, and had with the strong arm
tried to prevent them from coming ashore; in order to frighten them, a
musket was accordingly fired, upon which the blacks fled and retreated
into the wood, from where they tried every means in their power to
surprise and attack our men; these natives resemble the others in shape
and figure; they are quite black and stark naked, some of them having
their faces painted red and others white, with feathers stuck through the
lower part of the nose; at noon, the wind being E., we set sail on a N.
course along the land, being then in 13° 26 Lat.; towards the evening the
wind went round to W. and we dropped anchor in 3Ω fathom.
(The River Coen is 13 degrees 7 minutes Lat.)
In the morning of the 8th, the wind being E.S.E. with good weather, I
went ashore myself with 10 musketeers; we saw numerous footprints of men
and dogs (running from south to north); we accordingly spent some time
there, following the footprints aforesaid to a river, where we gathered
excellent vegetables or pot-herbs; when we had got into the pinnace
again, the blacks emerged with their arms from the wood at two different
points; by showing them bits of iron and strings of beads we kept them on
the beach, until we had come near them, upon which one of them who had
lost his weapon, was by the skipper seized round the waist, while at the
same time the quartermaster put a noose round his neck, by which he was
dragged to the pinnace; the other blacks seeing this, tried to rescue
their captured brother by furiously assailing us with their assagays; in
defending ourselves we shot one of them, after which the others took to
flight, upon which we returned on board without further delay; these
natives resemble all the others in outward appearance; they are
coal-black and stark naked with twisted nets round their heads; their
weapons are assagays, callaways and shields; we cannot, however, give any
account of their customs and ceremonies, nor did we learn anything about
the thickness of the population, since we had few or no opportunities for
inquiring into these matters; meanwhile I hope that with God's help Your
Worships will in time get information touching these points from the
black we have captured, to whose utterances I would beg leave to refer
you; the river aforesaid is in 13° 7' Lat., and has in the new chart got
name of Coen river, in the afternoon the wind being W., we set sail on a
N. course along the land, and in the evening came to anchor in 3 fathom.
* * *
{Page 41}