登陆注册
14823400000054

第54章

It was by mere providence that we missed the small island; for, had not the wind come to west-south-west, and blown hard, so that we steered east-north-east, we had been upon it by our course that we steered before, if we could not have seen it. This morning we saw many great trees and logs swim by us, which, it is probable, came out of some great rivers on the main.

On the 16th we crossed the line, and found variation 6 degrees 26 minutes east. The 18th, by my observation at noon, we found that we had had a current setting to the southward, and probably that drew us in so nigh Scouten's Island. For this twenty-four hours we steered east-by-north with a large wind, yet made but an east-by-south half south course, though the variation was not above 7 degrees east.

The 21st we had a current setting to the northward, which is against the true trade monsoon, it being now near the full moon. I did expect it here, as in all other places. We had variation 8 degrees 45 minutes east. The 22nd we found but little current, if any; it set to the southward.

On the 23rd, in the afternoon, we saw two snakes, and the next morning another passing by us, which was furiously assaulted by two fishes, that had kept us company five or six days; they were shaped like mackerel, and were about that bigness and length, and of a yellow-greenish colour. The snake swam away from them very fast, keeping his head above water; the fish snapped at his tail, but when he turned himself, that fish would withdraw, and another would snap, so that by turns they kept him employed, yet he still defended himself, and swam away a great pace, till they were out of sight.

The 25th, betimes in the morning, we saw an island to the southward of us, at about fifteen leagues' distance. We steered away for it, supposing it to be that which the Dutch call Wishart's Island; but, finding it otherwise, I called it Matthias, it being that saint's day. This island is about nine or ten leagues long, mountainous and woody, with many savannahs, and some spots of land which seemed to be cleared.

At eight in the evening we lay by, intending, if I could, to anchor under Matthias Isle; but the next morning, seeing another island about seven or eight leagues to the eastward of it, we steered away for it. At noon we came up fair with its south-west end, intending to run along by it and anchor on the south-east side, but the tornadoes came in so thick and hard that I could not venture in.

This island is pretty low and plain, and clothed with wood; the trees were very green, and appeared to be large and tall, as thick as they could stand one by another. It is about two or three leagues long, and at the south-west point there is another small, low, woody island, about a mile round, and about a mile from the other. Between them there runs a reef of rocks which joins them.

(The biggest I named Squally Island.)

Seeing we could not anchor here, I stood away to the southward, to make the main; but having many hard squalls and tornadoes, we were often forced to hand all our sails and steer more easterly to go before it. On the 26th at four o'clock it cleared up to a hard sky and a brisk settled gale; then we made as much sail as we could. At five it cleared up over the land, and we saw, as we thought, Cape Solomaswer bearing south-south-east, distance ten leagues. We had many great logs and trees swimming by us all this afternoon, and much grass; we steered in south-south-east till six, then the wind slackened, and we stood off till seven, having little wind; then we lay by till ten, at which time we made sail, and steered away east all night. The next morning, as soon as it was light, we made all the sail we could, and steered away east-south-east, as the land lay, being fair in sight of it, and not above seven leagues' distance. We passed by many small low woody islands which lay between us and the main, not laid down in our drafts. We found variation 9 degrees 50 minutes east.

The 28th we had many violent tornadoes, wind, rain, and some spouts, and in the tornadoes the wind shifted. In the night we had fair weather, but more lightning than we had seen at any time this voyage. This morning we left a large high island on our larboard side, called in the Dutch drafts Wishart's Isle, about six leagues from the main; and, seeing many smokes upon the main, I therefore steered towards it.

The mainland at this place is high and mountainous, adorned with tall, flourishing trees; the sides of the hills had many large plantations and patches of clear land, which, together with the smoke we saw, were certain signs of its being well inhabited; and I was desirous to have some commerce with the inhabitants. Being nigh shore, we saw first one proa; a little after, two or three more, and at last a great many boats came from all the adjacent bays. When they were forty-six in number they approached so near us that we could see each other's signs and hear each other speak, though we could not understand them, nor they us. They made signs for us to go in towards the shore, pointing that way. It was squally weather, which at first made me cautious of going too near; but the weather beginning to look pretty well, I endeavoured to get into a bay ahead of us, which we could have got into well enough at first; but while we lay by, we were driven so far to leeward that now it was more difficult to get in. The natives lay in their proas round us; to whom I showed beads, knives, glasses, to allure them to come nearer.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 灵宝仙间

    灵宝仙间

    在这片大陆上,有一群幸运儿自出生便携带了一片空间,空间千奇百怪:有植物系、灵兽系、海洋系、亡灵系、灵魂系.........我们的故事发生在大陆最普通的一个小村子里。
  • 突发事故自救书

    突发事故自救书

    在我们的日常生活中,地震、洪灾、火灾、车祸等突发灾害时有发生。面对灾害,很多人因缺乏自救知识而惊慌失措,错过了最佳自救时间,导致悲剧的发生。面对突发灾害,能否及时有效地采取自我救助措施,将会决定生命的延续与否。同时,掌握了遇险紧急救助的方法,也可以帮助周围的人摆脱险情。本书是现代家庭必备的自救手册,适合不同年龄层次的人群阅读。本书内容分为自然灾害篇、火场危害篇、交通事故篇、水上安全篇、日常意外篇等,增强读者的生存能力,让读者能更好地保护自己、救助他人!
  • 守护甜心之雪落樱华

    守护甜心之雪落樱华

    命运的齿轮开始转动,一个格点改变了两个人生。紧紧锁在一起的锁链,拴住了两个人,在她以为遇到了对的人,结果换来的只是一次新的心伤罢了,心冷,身心疲累,她何时才能找到救赎……就如泡沫,在最美的时候消散了……他说:我会护你一生。她说:我相信。时光流逝,誓言还在吗?
  • 逆战之洛名

    逆战之洛名

    Doyouunderstandthemeaningoflife?(你是否懂得生命的意义?)Doyouunderstandmymind?(你是否明白我的意志?)Thisismybattlefield.(这是属于我的战场。)Isaiddesire,islikeaherotodieonthebattlefield.(我说所渴望的,是如同英雄一样的战死沙场。)Battleoftheinverseapproachme!(战出我的逆态度!)
  • 心理咨询师之离奇案例

    心理咨询师之离奇案例

    我在当心理咨询师那些年,遇到许多离奇案例,其中许多超出常理范围,我便把它记录了下来。
  • 修真沉浮录

    修真沉浮录

    长生众皆妒,难知成道苦。一条仙凡路,望穿修士目。玄道无量处,修尽不得顾。万物分实虚,苍生有沉浮。唯有心无骛,方得真一驻。且看顾宣因为青梅竹马恋人的悔婚,而无意中踏入了一个光怪陆离的修真世界,在历遍万世沉浮,尝尽人生苦甜后,终于如愿悟得真一之路,原来是那最美之初。
  • 屹立于世

    屹立于世

    在星空之下,人魔妖魂四族争雄。经过漫长岁月探索,人类形成了武修与灵修两大修炼体系。继人类四大无上至尊后,一名少年逆势而起,在错综复杂的势力纷争下,带领人类屹立于世,洞悉上古时留下的惊人秘密。。。。。。
  • 惊世风华:废材要翻天

    惊世风华:废材要翻天

    沐灵雨,异世大陆一个白痴废物。十四年来,受尽欺凌。最后被谋害致死。一霎间,天才雇佣兵穿越重生。凤眸张开,风华尽显,屈辱欺凌,统统给我还回去。我沐灵雨的口号是:龙戒在手,钱财我有,美男成堆,一脚踢走!
  • 重生高三之遇见学神

    重生高三之遇见学神

    若一切回到最初,是任凭命运的轨迹如期而至,还是尽自己最大的努力开辟另一条道路?是依旧任性妄为放纵自己成为一个只能任人观赏的花瓶,还是奋发向上充实自己做一个才貌兼备的才女?在最美好的青春年华,你我值得拥有最好!
  • 索命仙

    索命仙

    身边发生过的灵异事件,探索神秘事件中途发生的命案,为了追求答案而死的朋友嘱托,是你选择了死亡还是死亡挑选了你,因仇恨与无知断送了性命,由好奇和贪念被牵涉其中,有谁能找到死亡的答案?本书中的故事部分是作者亲身经历的和身边人发生过的怪异事件,也有网友朋友们赠送的素材,总体来说天南地北.五花八门.离奇古怪都可能在这里发生.