of the hospitable and friendly inhabitants of
Coupang and embarked. In the afternoon we sailed, having the launch which
had so much contributed to our preservation in tow. We exchanged salutes
with the fort and shipping as we ran out of the harbour.

The town of Coupang is situated in a great bay which is an excellent road
for shipping. The latitude of the town is 10 degrees 12 minutes south.
According to the Dutch charts it is in 121 degrees 51 minutes east
longitude. Taking the mean between the longitude by my reckoning on our
arrival at Coupang, and the longitude afterwards calculated from our run
to Batavia, gives me for the longitude of Coupang 124 degrees 41 minutes
east.

This settlement was formed in the year 1630 and is the only one the Dutch
have on the island Timor. They have residents in different parts of the
country. On the north side of Timor there is a Portuguese settlement. The
produce of the island is chiefly sandalwood and beeswax: the former
article is now scarce. Wax they have in great plenty. The bees build
their nests in bushes and in the boughs of trees to which the natives
cannot approach but with fire. The honey is put into jars and the wax is
run into blocks of three feet in length and from 12 to 15 inches square.
The natives, at least those who live in the neighbourhood of Coupang, are
of a very indolent disposition, of which the Chinese have taken
advantage, for, though the Malays are very fond of traffic, most of their
trade is carried on in small Chinese vessels of from 10 to 30 tons
burden. There is a market at Coupang for the country people in which
however there is little business done. I have seen a man from the country
come to market with two potatoes: and this is not unusual. These being
sold for two doits (equal to a halfpenny English) serve to supply him
with betel to chew; and the remainder of the day is passed in lounging
about the town. The inland people, who live at a distance from the
Europeans, are strong and active, but their want of cleanliness subjects
them to filthy diseases.

The chief of the natives, or king of the island, is by the Dutch styled
Keyfer (Emperor). This prince lives at a place called Backennassy, about
four miles distant from Coupang. His authority over the natives is not
wholly undisputed; which is by the Dutch attributed to the intrigues of
the Portuguese, who are on the north part of Timor. The island has lately
suffered much by a competition betwee