Being now clear of the Islands we steer'd a west Course all night untill 6 o'clock in the Morning when we unexpectedly saw an Island bearing WSW, for by the most of the Maps we had on board we were to the southward of all the Islands that lay between Timor and Java, at least there were none laid down so near to Timor in this Latitude by almost one half which made me at first think it a new discovery but in this I was Mistaken. We now steer'd directly for it and by 10 oClock were close in with the North side of it where we saw Houses, Cocoa-nutt Trees and Flocks of Cattle grazing.   these were temtations hardly to be withstood by people in our Situation, especially such as were but in a very indifferent state of health and I may say mind too, for in some this last was worse than the other sence I refuse'd to touch at the Island of Timor. Wherefore I thought I could not do less than to try to procure some refres[h]ments here as there appear'd to be plenty; with this View we hoisted out the Pinnace in which I sent Lieut^t Gore in shore to see if there were any convenient place to land, giving him _^^sending some trifles along with him to give to the Natives in case he saw any —

M^r Gore Landed in a small sandy Cove near to some houses and was met on the beach by 8 or 10 of the Natives who both from their behavour and what they had about them shew'd that they had commerce with Europeans, upon M^r Gore's returning with this report and like wise that there was no anchorage for the Ship I sent him away again with both Mony and goods to try to purchas some refreshments while we kept standing on and off with the Ship —

At Noon we were about a Mile from the Shore of the Island which extend[ed] from SE to WNW. Latitude in 10°..27', Long^de 237°..31' West

Voyaging Accounts