great effect upon the Ihip. The calm continued till four
o’clock the next morning, when it was fucceeded by a breeze
from the South. At day-light, perceiving a likelihood of a
paffage between the iflands to the North, and the breakers
to the South, we ftretched in Weft, and foon after faw
more iflands, both to the S. W. and N. W., but the paffage
feemed open and clear. Upon drawing near the iflands, we
founded, and found forty-five and forty fathoms, a clear
fandy bottom. I was now quite eafy, fince it was in our
power to anchor, in cafe o f a calm; or to fpend the night,
if we found no paffage. Towards noon, fome canoes came
off to us from one of the ifles, having two or three people in
each; who advanced boldly along-fide, and exchanged fome
cocoa-nuts, and fhaddocks, for fmall nails. They pointed
out to us Anamocka or Rotterdam; an advantage we derived
from knowing the proper names. They likewife gave us
the names of fome of the other ifles, and invited us much
to go to theirs, which they called Cornango. The breeze
frefhening, we left them aftern, and fleered for Anamocka;
meeting with a clear paffage, in which we found unequal
founding, from forty to nine fathoms, depending, I believe,
in a great meafure, on our diftance from the iflands which
form it.
As we drew near the fouth end o f Rotterdam, or Anamocka,
we were met by a number of canoes, laden with
fruit and roots; but, as I did not ffiorten fail; we had but
little traffic with them. The people in one canoe enquired
for me/by name; a proof that thefe people have an inter-
courfe with thofe of Amfterdam. They importuned us much
-to go towards their coaft, letting us know, as we underftood
them, that we might anchor there. This was on the S. W.
fide of the ifland, where the coaft feemed to be Iheltered
from
from the South and S. E. winds; but as the day was far jj” ;
{pent, I could not attempt to. go in there, as it would have s '^ r -
been neceffary to have fent firft a boat in to examine it. I
therefore flood for the north fide of the ifland, where we
anchored about three-fourths of a mile from ffiore ; the extremes
of it bearing S. 88° Eaft to S. W.; a cove with a fandy
beach at the bottom of it S. 50° Eaft.
C H A P . II.
Reception at Anamocka; a Robbery and its Confequences,
■ with a Variety of other Incidents. Departure from the
I f and. A failing Came defcribed. Some Obfervations on
the Navigation of thefe Ifanders. A Defcription o f the
I f and, and of thofe in the Neighbourhood> with fome
Account of the Inhabitants, and nautical Remarks.
BEFORE we had well got to an anchor, the natives came
off from all parts in canoes, bringing with them yams
and fhaddocks, which they exchanged for fmall nails and old
rags. One man taking a vaft liking to our lead and line,
got hold of it, and, in fpite of all the threats I could make
ufe of, cut the line with aftone; but a difcharge o f fmall
ffiot made him return it. Early in the morning, I went rj.
affiore, with Mr. Gilbert, to look for freffi water. We landed
in the cove above mentioned, and were received with great
courtefy by the natives. After I had diftributed fome pre-
fents amongft them, I alked for water, and was conduced
Vol. II. G to