A Voyage to New Holland | Page 4

for the greater satisfaction of the curious
reader, to present him with exact cuts and figures of several of the
principal and most remarkable of those birds, beasts, fishes and plants,
which are described in the following narrative; and also of several
which, not being able to give any better or so good an account of, as by
causing them to be exactly engraven, the reader will not find any
further description of them, but only that they were found in such or
such particular countries. The plants themselves are in the hands of the
ingenious Dr. Woodward. I could have caused many others to be drawn
in like manner but that I resolved to confine myself to such only as had
some very remarkable difference in the shape of their principal parts
from any that are found in Europe. I have besides several birds and
fishes ready drawn, which I could not put into the present volume
because they were found in countries to the description whereof the
following narrative does not reach. For, being obliged to prepare for
another voyage sooner than I at first expected, I have not been able to
continue the ensuing narrative any further than to my departure from
the coast of New Holland. But if it please God that I return again safe,
the reader may expect a continuation of this voyage from my departure
from New Holland till the foundering of my ship near the island of
Ascension.
In the meantime to make the narrative in some measure complete I
shall here add a summary abstract of the latter part of the voyage,
whereof I have not had time to draw out of my journals a full and

particular account at large. Departing therefore from the coast of New
Holland in the beginning of September 1699 we arrived at Timor
September 15 and anchored off that island. On the 24th we obtained a
small supply of fresh water from the governor of a Dutch fort and
factory there; we found also there a Portuguese settlement and were
kindly treated by them. On the 3rd of December we arrived on the coast
of New Guinea; where we found good fresh water and had commerce
with the inhabitants of a certain island called Pulo Sabuda. After which,
passing to the northward, we ranged along the coast to the easternmost
part of New Guinea, which I found does not join to the mainland of
New Guinea, but is an island, as I have described it in my map, and
called it New Britain.
It is probable this island may afford many rich commodities, and the
natives may be easily brought to commerce. But the many difficulties I
at this time met with, the want of convenience to clean my ship, the
fewness of my men, their desire to hasten home, and the danger of
continuing in these circumstances in seas where the shoals and coasts
were utterly unknown and must be searched out with much caution and
length of time, hindered me from prosecuting any further at present my
intended search. What I have been able to do in this matter for the
public service will, I hope, be candidly received; and no difficulties
shall discourage me from endeavouring to promote the same end
whenever I have an opportunity put into my hands.
May 18 in our return we arrived at Timor. June 21 we passed by part of
the island Java. July 4 we anchored in Batavia Road, and I went ashore,
visited the Dutch General, and desired the privilege of buying
provisions that I wanted, which was granted me. In this road we lay till
the 17th of October following, when, having fitted the ship, recruited
myself with provisions, filled all my water, and the season of the year
for returning towards Europe being come, I set sail from Batavia, and
on the 19th of December made the Cape of Good Hope, whence
departing January 11 we made the island of St. Helena on the 31st; and
February the 21st the island of Ascension; near to which my ship,
having sprung a leak which could not be stopped, foundered at sea;
with much difficulty we got ashore where we lived on goats and turtle;
and on the 26th of February found, to our great comfort, on the
south-east side of a high mountain, about half a mile from its top, a

spring of fresh water. I returned to England in the Canterbury East
India ship. For which wonderful deliverance from so many and great
dangers I think myself bound to return continual thanks to Almighty
God; whose divine providence if it shall please to bring me safe again
to my native country from my present intended voyage; I hope to
publish a particular account of