was made for the huts of the natives. Some animals were
seen resembling wolves, lean as skeletons,--probably dingoes. At last
some brackish water was found, and the _Roebuck_ proceeded to Timor.
Here the ship, being refitted and the crew refreshed, Dampier sailed on
the 20th of December for the coast of New Guinea. It was made on the
1st of January, 1700, and appeared to be high, level land, covered with
trees. The party who went on shore in the boats obtained fruits of
unknown kinds, and a stately land fowl, about the size of a poultry-yard
cock, sky-coloured with a white spot, surrounded by others of a reddish
hue on the wings, and a huge bunch of feathers on the crown, was shot.

Beating up to the northward against currents and adverse winds,
occasionally anchoring, an island named Sabuda was reached. Here they
found a tribe closely resembling the natives of Mindanao, of a tawny
skin. The voyagers also saw negroes having curly hair, like those who
had at first obtained for the country the name of New Guinea. Still
farther north, shell-fish of an enormous size were found. On the
passage the ship touched upon a shoal, but got off without damage, and
came to an anchor. Here cockles were procured weighing ten pounds, much
smaller than some previously seen, the shell of which alone weighed
seventy-eight pounds! Pigeons were obtained, and bats of enormous size
were seen here. Rounding the northern end of the island, Dampier
endeavoured to get to the eastward, but made slow progress. On the way
the ship nearly ran on an island not laid down in the charts. To
commemorate his escape, he named the place Providence Island.

Crossing the Line and passing Admiralty Islands, a mountainous land was
approached, well wooded with large plantations, and cleared patches on
the hill-sides. Numerous boats and proas came off, and as Dampier was
anxious to establish an intercourse with the natives, he endeavoured to
induce them to come alongside. They would not, however, venture near,
but eagerly received some beads, knives, and other toys, floated to them
in a bottle. They endeavoured to induce the _Roebuck_ to come to an
anchor, but this she was prevented doing by the current. When they saw
her standing off, they approached, launching showers of stones after her
from their slings. The crew had got ready their small arms, and a gun
was fired, which either killed or wounded one of the savages. In
consequence of this event