he night ensuing, with very hard Rain, and we were
forced to scud with our bare Poles till 3 a Clock in the morning. Then
the Wind slacken'd, and we brought our Ship to, under a mizen, and
lay with our Head to the Westward. The 27th day the Wind abated much,
but it rained very hard all day, and the Night ensuing. The 28th day
the Wind came about to the N.E. and it cleared up, and blew a hard
Gale, but it stood not there, for it shifted about to the Eastward,
thence to the S.E. then to the South, and at last settled at S.W. and
then we had a moderate Gale and fair Weather.

It was the 29th day when the Wind came to the S.W. Then we made all
the Sail we could for the Island again. The 30th day we had the Wind at
West, and saw the Islands; but could not get in before night. Therefore
we stood off to the Southward till two a Clock in the morning; then we
tackt, and stood in all the morning, and about 12 a clock, the 1st day
of October, we anchored again at the place from whence we were driven.

Then our six men were brought aboard by the Natives, to whom we gave
3 whole Bars of Iron, for their kindness and civility, which was an
extraordinary to them. Mr. Robert Hall was one of the Men that was
left ashore. I shall speak more of him hereafter. He and the rest of
them told me, that after the Ship was out of sight, the Natives began
to be more kind to them than they had been before, and persuaded them
to cut their Hair short, as theirs was, offering to each of them
if they would do it, a young Woman to Wife, and a small Hatchet,
and other Iron Utensils, fit for a Planter, in Dowry; and withal
shewed them a piece of Land for them to manage. They were courted
thus by several of the Town where they then were: but they took up
their head quarters at the House of him with whom they first went
ashore. When the Ship appeared in sight again, then they importuned
them for some Iron, which is the chief thing that they covet, even
above their Ear-rings. We might have bought all their Ear-rings, or
other Gold they had, with our Iron-bars, had we been assured of its
goodness; and yet when it was touch'd and compar'd with other Gold,
we could not discern any difference, tho' it look'd so pale in the
lump; but the seeing them polish it so often, was a new discouragement.

This last Storm put our Men quite out of heart: for although it was not
altogether so fierce as that which we were in on the Coast of China,
which was still fresh in Mem