les wide. I now conceived hopes that
our voyage was nearly at an end as no place could appear more eligible
for shipping or more likely to be chosen for a European settlement: I
therefore came to a grapnel near the east side of the entrance in a small
sandy bay where we saw a hut, a dog, and some cattle, and I immediately
sent the boatswain and gunner away to the hut to discover the
inhabitants.

The south-west point of the entrance bore west half south three miles;
the south-east point south by west three-quarters of a mile; and the
island Roti from south by west one quarter west to south-west one quarter
west about five leagues.

While we lay here I found the ebb came from the northward, and before our
departure the falling of the tide discovered to us a reef of rocks about
two cables length from the shore, the whole being covered at high-water
renders it dangerous. On the opposite shore also appeared very high
breakers; but there is nevertheless plenty of room and certainly a safe
channel for a first-rate man of war.

The bay or sound within, seemed to be of a considerable extent, the
northern part being about five leagues distant. Here the land made in
moderate risings joined by lower grounds. But the island Roti to the
southward is the best mark by which to know this place.

I had just time to make these remarks when I saw the boatswain and gunner
returning with some of the natives: I therefore no longer doubted of our
success and that our expectations would be fully gratified. They brought
five Indians and informed me that they had found two families where the
women treated them with European politeness. From these people I learned
that the governor resided at a place called Coupang which was some
distance to the north-east. I made signs for one of them to go in the
boat and show us the way to Coupang, intimating that I would pay him for
his trouble: the man readily complied and came into the boat.

These people were of a dark tawny colour, had long black hair, and chewed
a great deal of betel. Their dress was a square piece of cloth round the
hips in the folds of which was stuck a large knife; a handkerchief
wrapped round the head, and another hanging by the four corners from the
shoulders, which served as a bag for their betel equipage. They brought
us a few pieces of dried turtle and some ears of Indian corn. This last
was the most welcome; for the turtle was so hard that it could not be
eaten without bein