d work. Then it settles and becomes clear, and
is presently fit to drink. This is an excellent Liquor, and very much
like English Beer, both in Colour and Taste. It is very strong, and I
do believe very wholesome: For our Men, who drunk briskly of it all day
for several Weeks, were frequently drunk with it, and never sick after
it. The Natives brought a vast deal of it every day to those aboard
and ashore: For some of our Men were ashore at work on Bashee Island;
which Island they gave that Name to from their drinking this Liquor
there; that being the Name which the Natives call'd this Liquor by:
and as they sold it to our Men very cheap, so they did not spare
to drink it as freely. And indeed from the plenty of this Liquor,
and their plentiful use of it, our Men call'd all these Islands,
the Bashee Islands.

What Language these People do speak I know not: for it had no affinity
in sound to the Chinese, which is spoke much through the Teeth;
nor yet to the Malayan Language. They called the Metal that their
Ear-rings were made of Bullawan, which is the Mindana word for Gold;
therefore probably they may be related to the Philippine Indians; for
that is the general Name for Gold among all those Indians. I could not
learn from whence they have their Iron; but it is most likely they go
in their great Boats to the North end of Luconia, and Trade with the
Indians of that Island for it. Neither did I see any thing beside Iron,
and pieces of Buffaloes Hides, which I could judge that they bought
of Strangers: Their Cloaths were of their own Growth and Manufacture.

These Men had Wooden Lances, and a few Lances headed with Iron;
which are all the Weapons that they have. Their Armour is a piece of
Buffaloe-hide, shaped like our Carters Frocks, being without Sleeves,
and sowed both sides together, with holes for the Head and the Arms to
come forth. This Buff-Coat reaches down to their Knees: It is close
about their Shoulders, but below it is 3 Foot wide, and as thick as
a Board.

I could never perceive them to Worship any thing, neither had they any
Idols; neither did they seem to observe any one day more than other. I
could never perceive that one Man was of greater Power than another;
but they seemed to be all equal; only every Man ruling his own House,
and the Children Respecting and Honouring their Parents.

Yet 'tis probable that they have some Law, or Custom, by which they
are govern'd; for while we lay here we saw a young