more or less. It is
of a good height so as to be seen 11 or 12 leagues. It is very rocky; yet
above the rocks there is good yellow and black mould; not deep yet
producing plenty of good tall trees, and bearing any fruits or roots
which the inhabitants plant. I do not know all its produce; but what we
saw were plantains, coconuts, pineapples, oranges, papaws, potatoes, and
other large roots. Here are also another sort of wild jacas, about the
bigness of a man's two fists, full of stones or kernels, which eat
pleasant enough when roasted. The libby-tree grows here in the swampy
valleys, of which they make sago cakes: I did not see them make any but
was told by the inhabitants that it was made of the pith of the tree in
the same manner I have described in my Voyage round the World. They
showed me the tree whereof it was made, and I bought about 40 of the
cakes. I bought also 3 or 4 nutmegs in their shell, which did not seem to
have been long gathered; but, whether they be the growth of this island
or not, the natives would not tell whence they had them, and seemed to
prize them very much. What beasts the island affords I know not: but here
are both sea- and land-fowl. Of the first boobies and men-of-war-birds
are the chief; some galdens, and small milk-white crab-catchers. The
land-fowls are pigeons, about the bigness of mountain-pigeons in Jamaica;
and crows about the bigness of those in England, and much like them; but
the inner part of their feathers are white, and the outside black; so
that they appear all black, unless you extend the feathers. Here are
large sky-coloured birds, such as we lately killed on New Guinea; and
many other small birds unknown to us. Here are likewise abundance of
bats, as big as young coneys; their necks, head, ears and noses, like
foxes; their hair rough; that about their necks is of a whitish yellow,
that on their heads and shoulders black; their wings are 4 foot over from
tip to tip: they smell like foxes. The fish are bass, rock-fish, and a
sort of fish like mullet, old-wives, whip-rays, and some other sorts that
I know not, but no great plenty of any; for it is deep water till within
less than a mile of the shore; then there is a bank of coral rocks within
which you have shoal water, white clean sand: so there is no good fishing
with the seine.

This island lies in latitude 2 degrees 43 minutes south and meridian
distance from Port Babao on the island Timor 486 miles. Besides this
islan