rapnel, off a small fort
and town, which the pilot told me was Coupang.

Among the things which the boatswain had thrown into the boat before we
left the ship, was a bundle of signal flags that had been made for the
boats to show the depth of water in sounding; with these I had, in the
course of the passage, made a small jack, which I now hoisted in the
main shrouds, as a signal of distress; for I did not choose to land
without leave.

Soon after day-break a soldier hailed me to land, which I instantly did,
among a croud of Indians, and was agreeably surprised to meet with an
English sailor, who belonged to one of the vessels in the road. His
captain, he told me, was the second person in the town; I therefore
desired to be conducted to him, as I was informed the governor was ill,
and could not then be spoken with.

Captain Spikerman received me with great humanity. I informed him of our
miserable situation; and requested that care might be taken of those who
were with me, without delay. On which he gave directions for their
immediate reception at his own house, and went himself to the governor,
to know at what time I could be permitted to see him; which was fixed to
be at eleven o'clock.

I now desired every one to come on shore, which was as much as some of
them could do, being scarce able to walk: they, however, got at last to
the house, and found tea with bread and butter provided for their
breakfast.

[Sidenote: 1789. JUNE 14.]

The abilities of a painter, perhaps, could never have been displayed to
more advantage than in the delineation of the two groups of figures,
which at this time presented themselves. An indifferent spectator would
have been at a loss which most to admire; the eyes of famine sparkling
at immediate relief, or the horror of their preservers at the sight of
so many spectres, whose ghastly countenances, if the cause had been
unknown, would rather have excited terror than pity. Our bodies were
nothing but skin and bones, our limbs were full of sores, and we were
cloathed in rags; in this condition, with the tears of joy and gratitude
flowing down our cheeks, the people of Timor beheld us with a mixture of
horror, surprise, and pity.

[Sidenote: 1789. JUNE 14.]

The governor, Mr. William Adrian Van Este, notwithstanding his extreme
ill-health, became so anxious about us, that I saw him before the
appointed time. He received me with great affection, and gave me the
fullest proofs that he w