h a seine-net; they are utterly unacquainted with gold, silver, tin,
iron, lead and copper, nor do they know anything about nutmegs, cloves
and pepper, all of which spices we repeatedly showed them without their
evincing any signs of {Page 42} recognising or valuing the same; from all
which together with the rest of our observations it may safely be
concluded that they are poor and abject wretches, caring mainly for bits
of iron and strings of beads. Their weapons are shields, assagays, and
callaways of the length of 11/2 fathom, made of light wood and cane, some
with fish-bones and others with human bones fastened to their tops; they
are very expert in throwing the said weapons by means of a piece of wood,
half a fathom in length, with a small hook tied to it in front, which
they place upon the top of the callaway or assagay.

* * *

(The Waterplaets is in 12 degrees 33 minutes Lat.)

In the morning of the 9th, the wind being E.S.E., with good weather, we
set sail on a N.N.E. course along the land, and when we had run on for 2
miles, came to anchor in 9 fathom close inshore; I went ashore in person
with ten musketeers, and found many footprints of men and of large dogs,
going in a southerly direction., we also came upon fresh water flowing
into the sea, and named the place de Waeterplaets. The land here is
higher than what we have seen to southward, and there are numerous reefs
close to the sandy beach; the place is in 12 deg. 33'; in the afternoon the
wind was S.W., course held as before; from the Waterplaets aforesaid to a
high cape there is a large bay, extending N.E. by N. and S.W. by S. for 7
miles; in the evening we dropped anchor in 41/2 fathom.

In the morning of the 10th the wind being E.S.E., with steady weather, we
set sail on a W.N.W. course; at noon we were in 12 deg. 5'. I went ashore
myself with the skipper, and as before found many footprints of men and
dogs, going to the south. The land here is high and hilly, with reefs
near the sandy beach; as we were pulling back to the yacht, some armed
savages showed themselves, upon which we landed again and threw out some
pieces of iron to them, which they picked up, refusing, however, to come
to parley with us; after which we took to the pinnace again.

In the morning of the 11th, the wind being E.S.E. with good weather, we
set sail again on a N.N.E. course along the land; in the afternoon we
sailed past a large river (which the men of the Duifken went up wi