A Continuation of a Voyage to New Holland | Page 8

somewhat
surprised at our coming this way; which it seems is a passage scarce
known to any but themselves; as he told the men I sent to him in my
boat. Neither did he seem willing that we should come near their fort
for water. He said also that he did not know of any water on all that part
of the island, but only at the fort; and that the natives would kill us if
they met us ashore. By the small arms my men carried with them in the
boat they took us to be pirates, and would not easily believe the account
my men gave them of what we were and whence we came. They said
that about 2 years before this there had been a stout ship of French
pirates here; and that after having been suffered to water, and to refresh
themselves, and been kindly used, they had on a sudden gone among
the Indians, subjects of the fort, and plundered them and burnt their
houses. And the Portuguese here told us afterwards that those pirates,
whom they also had entertained, had burnt their houses and had taken
the Dutch fort (though the Dutch cared not to own so much) and had
driven the governor and factory among the wild Indians their enemies.
The Dutch told my men further that they could not but think we had of
several nations (as is usual with pirate vessels) in our ship and
particularly some Dutchmen, though all the discourse was in French
(for I had not one who could speak Dutch) or else, since the common
charts make no passage between Timor and Anabao, but lay down both
as one island; they said they suspected we had plundered some Dutch
ship of their particular charts, which they are forbid to part with.
With these jealousies the sloop returned towards their fort, and my boat
came back with this news to me: but I was not discouraged at this news;
not doubting but I should persuade them better when I should come to
talk with them. So the next morning I weighed and stood towards the
fort. The winds were somewhat against us so that we could not go very
fast, being obliged to tack 2 or 3 times: and, coming near the farther
end of the passage between Timor and Anabao, we saw many houses
on each side not far from the sea, and several boats lying by the shore.

The land on both sides was pretty high, appearing very dry and of a
reddish colour, but highest on the Timor side. The trees on either side
were but small, the woods thin, and in many places the trees were dry
and withered.
THE ISLAND ANABAO DESCRIBED.
The island Anamabao, or Anabao, is not very big, not exceeding 10
leagues in length and 4 in breadth; yet it has 2 kingdoms in it, namely
that of Anamabao on the east side towards Timor and the north-east
end; and that of Anabao, which contains the south-west end and the
west side of the island; but I known not which of them is biggest. The
natives of both are of the Indian kind, of a swarthy copper-colour, with
black lank hair. Those of Anamabao are in league with the Dutch, as
these afterwards told me, and with the natives of the kingdom of
Kupang in Timor, over against them, in which the Dutch fort
Concordia stands: but they are said to be inveterate enemies to their
neighbours of Anabao. Those of Anabao, besides managing their small
plantations of roots and a few coconuts, do fish, strike turtle, and hunt
buffaloes, killing them with swords, darts, or lances. But I know not
how they get their iron; I suppose by traffic with the Dutch or
Portuguese, who send now and then a sloop and trade thither, but well
armed; for the natives would kill them, could they surprise them. They
go always armed themselves; and when they go a-fishing or a-hunting
they spend 4 or 5 days or more in ranging about before they return to
their habitation. We often saw them after this at these employments;
but they would not come near us. The fish or flesh that they take,
besides what serves for present spending, they dry on a barbecue or
wooden grate, standing pretty high over the fire, and so carry it home
when they return. We came sometimes afterwards to the places where
they had meat thus a-drying, but did not touch any of it.
But to proceed: I did not think to stop anywhere till I came near the fort;
which yet I did not see: but, coming to the end of this passage, I found
that if I went any farther I should be open