Page 401
An.1687
A Jonk from Palimbam or Sumatra.
dexterous about their Shipping, of any such I have met with in all my Travels. The other Veffel came from the River of Cambodia, and was bound towards the Streights of Malacca. Both of them stopt here, for the Westerly winds now began to blow, which were against them, being some- what belated.
We anchored also on the East side, intending to fill Water. While we lay here we had very violent Winds at S. W. and a strong current fet- ting right to Windward. The fiercer the Wind blew the more strong the current set against it. This storm lasted till the 20th day, and then it began to abate.
The 21st day of May we went back from hence towards Pulo Condore. In our way we over- took a great Jonk that came from Palimbam, a Town on the Island Sumatra : She was full laden with Pepper which they bought there, and was bound to Siam: but it blowing so hard, she was afraid to venture into that Bay, and therefore came to Pulo Condore with us, where we both an- chored May the 24th. This Veffel was of the Chinese make, full of little Rooms or partitions like our Well-boats. I shall describe them in the next Chapter. The men of this Jonk told us, that the English were settled on the Island Samatra, at a place called Sillabar : and the first knowledge we had that the English had any settlement on Sama- tra was from these.
When we came to an anchor, we saw a small Bark at an anchor near the shore ; therefore Cap- tain Read sent a Canoa aboard her, to know from whence they came ; and supposing that it was a Malaya Veffel, he ordered the men not to go aboard, for they are accounted desperate fel- lows, and their Veffels are commonly full of men, who all wear Creffets, or little Daggers by their fides.