he sides and the west end are only boarded three or four
foot high; the rest is all open: there is a small altar in it, with two
steps to go up to it, and an image or two; but all very mean. It is also
thatched with palm or palmetto leaves. Each house has a yard belonging to
it, fenced about with wild canes nine or ten foot high. There is a well
in each yard, and a little bucket with a string to it to draw water
withal. There is a trunk of a tree made hollow, placed in each well, to
keep the earth from falling in. Round the yards there are many
fruit-trees planted; as coconuts, tamarinds and toddy-trees.

They have a small hovel by the sea side where there are six small old
iron guns standing on a decayed platform, in rotten carriages. Their
vents are so big that when they are fired, the strength of the powder
flying out there, they give but a small report like that of a musket.
This is their court of guard; and here were a few armed men watching all
the time we lay here.

The inhabitants of the town are chiefly a sort of Indians of a
copper-colour, with black lank hair: they speak Portuguese and are of the
Romish religion; but they take the liberty to eat flesh when they please.
They value themselves on the account of their religion and descent from
the Portuguese; and would be very angry if a man should say they are not
Portuguese; yet I saw but three white men here, two of which were padres.
There are also a few Chinese living here. It is a place of pretty good
trade and strength, the best on this island, Porta Nova excepted. They
have three or four small barks belonging to the place; with which they
trade chiefly about the island with the natives for wax, gold, and
sandalwood. Sometimes they go to Batavia and fetch European commodities,
rice, etc.

The Chinese trade hither from Macao; and I was informed that about twenty
sail of small vessels come from thence hither every year. They bring
coarse rice, adulterated gold, tea, iron, and iron tools, porcelain,
silks, etc. They take in exchange pure gold, as it is gathered in the
mountains, beeswax, sandalwood, slaves, etc. Sometimes also here comes a
ship from Goa. Ships that trade here began to come hither the latter end
of March; and none stay here longer than the latter end of August. For
should they be here while the north-north-west monsoon blows no cables
nor anchors would hold them; but they would be driven ashore and dashed
in pieces presently. But from March