all danger is avoided.  We remained here nine days, when we again made sail.  In the morning of the 28th we had sight of Ceylon, some eight or nine leagues E.S.E. being in lat. 7 deg.  N. At 4 p.m. we were close in with that island, in thirteen, fifteen, and sixteen fathoms.  The 1st of March, at 6 p.m. we were abreast of Columbo, the lat. of which is about 6 deg. 30’ N. [7 deg. 2’]; having twenty-four and twenty-five fathoms three leagues off.  The 12th we stood in with the land, and anchored in twenty-four fathoms, the wind being S.E. and S. I sent my boat ashore four leagues to the north of Punta de Galle, and after some time a woman came to talk with one of our Indians who was in the boat.  She said we could have no provisions:  but by our desire she went to tell the men.  Afterwards two men came to us, who flatly refused to let us have any thing, alleging that our nation had captured one of their boats; but it was the Hollanders not the English.  The 14th, in the morning, the southern point of Ceylon, called Tanadare [Dondra], bore E.S.E. of us, some five leagues off.  This point is in lat. 5 deg. 30’ [5 deg. 54’ N.], and is about ten or twelve leagues E.S.E. from Punta de Galle.  The 17th we were near one of the sands mentioned by Linschoten, being two leagues from the land.  We had twenty-five fathoms water, and on the land, right opposite this sand, is a high rock like a great tower.  The land here trends E.N.E.[88]

[Footnote 88:  Owing probably to careless abbreviation by Purchas, this solitary notice is all that is given of the voyage between Dondra-head in Ceylon and Acheen, in the north-west end of Sumatra, to which the observation in the text seems to refer.—­E.]

Sec.3. Occurrences at Acheen, in Sumatra.

At noon of the 12th April, 1613, we came to anchor in the road of Acheen, in twelve fathoms, but ships may ride in ten or even eight fathoms; the best place in which to ride being to the eastward of the castle, and off the river mouth.  I landed the merchants on the 13th; but the king did not come to town till the 15th, when he sent me his chop or licence to land, which was brought by an eunuch, accompanied by the Xabander and six or eight more, to whom I gave 120 mam.  I landed along with them, and two hours afterwards the king sent me a present of some provisions, I having sent him on my landing a present of two pieces;[89] the custom being to make the king some small present on landing, in return for which he sends several dishes of meat.

[Footnote 89:  These pieces, so often mentioned in the early voyages, were probably fowling-pieces, or European fire-arms.—­E.]