Page 460
An.1687
A difficult passage. Timor and other Isles.
having a wind, for it was at South South West.
The 23d day in the evening, having a small gale at North, we got through, keeping close by Pen- tare. The Tide of ebb here fet out to the South- ward, by which we were helped through, for we had but little wind. But this Tide, which did us a kindness in setting us through, had like to have ruined us afterwards, for there are two small Islands lying at the South end of the Channel we came through, and towards these Islands the Tide hurried us so swiftly, that we very narrow- ly escaped being driven ashore; for the little wind we had before at North dying away, we had not one breath of wind when we came there, neither was there an anchor ground. But we got out our Oars and rowed, yet all in vain: for the Tide set wholly on one of the small Islands, that we were forced with might and main strength to bear off the Ship, by thrusting with our Oars against the shore, which was a steep bank, and by this means we presently drove away, clear of Danger; and having a little wind in the night at North, we steered away S. S. W. In the morning again we had the wind at W. S. W. and steered S. and the wind coming to the W. N. W. we steered S. W. to get clear of the S. W. end of the Island Timor. The 26th day we saw the N. W. point of Timor, S.E. by E. distant about 8 leagues.
Timor is a long high mountainous Island, stretch- ing N. E. and S. VV. It is about 70 leagues long, and 15 or 16 wide: the middle of the Island is in Lat. about 9 d. South. I have been informed that the Portuguese do trade to this Island: but I know nothing of its produce besides Coire, for making Cables; of which there is mention Chap. X.
The 27th day we saw two small Islands which lye near the S. W. end of Timor: They bear from us S. E. We had very hard gales of wind, and still