bays, but had no ground:
about 3 leagues to the northward of the south-east point we opened a
large deep bay, secured from west-north-west and south-west winds. There
were 2 other islands that lay to the north-east of it which secured the
bay from north-east winds; one was but small, yet woody; the other was a
league long, inhabited and full of coconut-trees. I endeavoured to get
into this bay; but there came such flaws off from the high land over it
that I could not; besides we had many hard squalls which deterred me from
it; and, night coming on, I would not run any hazard, but bore away to
the small inhabited island to see if we could get anchoring on the east
side of it. When we came there we found the island so narrow that there
could be no shelter; therefore I tacked and stood towards the greater
island again: and, being more than midway between both, I lay by,
designing to endeavour for anchorage next morning. Between 7 and 8 at
night we spied a canoe close by us; and, seeing no more, suffered her to
come aboard. She had 3 men in her who brought off 5 coconuts, for which I
gave each of them a knife and a string of beads to encourage them to come
off again in the morning: but before these went away we saw 2 more canoes
coming; therefore we stood away to the northward from them and then lay
by again till day. We saw no more boats this night; neither designed to
suffer any to come aboard in the dark.

By nine o'clock the next morning we were got within a league of the great
island, but were kept off by violent gusts of wind. These squalls gave us
warning of their approach by the clouds which hung over the mountains,
and afterwards descended to the foot of them; and then it is we expect
them speedily.

GERRIT DENNIS ISLE DESCRIBED.

On the 3rd of March, being about 5 leagues to leeward of the great
island, we saw the mainland ahead; and another great high island to
leeward of us, distance about 7 leagues; which we bore away for. It is
called in the Dutch charts Gerrit Denis Isle. It is about 14 or 15
leagues round; high and mountainous, and very woody: some trees appeared
very large and tall; and the bays by the seaside are well stored with
coconut-trees; where we also saw some small houses. The sides of the
mountains are thick set with plantations; and the mould in the new
cleared land seemed to be of a brown-reddish colour. This island is of no
regular figure, but is full of points shooting forth into the sea;
b