come to the southern side of New Guinea; and if they were unable to find a passage through that country, to the west or north, they would inevitably be lost, since it would be impossible for them to get back again, by reason of the east winds which continually reign in these seas.  For these reasons, and others which he urged, he proposed, that they should now alter their course to the northwards, so as to fall in with the north side of New Guinea.[120] This proposal was embraced by all the company, and it was immediately determined to change the course to N.N.W.  Accordingly, holding their course in that new direction, they saw two islands at noon of the 19th, about eight leagues from them, N.E. by E. and seeming to be a cannon-shot distant from each other.[121] Upon this they steered N.E. with fair weather and a scanty wind, meaning to approach this island, but could only get within a league of it on the 21st, when they were visited by two canoes, the people in which began immediately to threaten them with loud cries, and at the same time seemed preparing to dart their assagays or spears:  but, on a discharge from the ship, they made off in haste, leaving two of their companions behind them who were slain, and a shirt they had stolen from the ship.  Next day other natives came to the ship on friendly and peaceable terms, bringing cocoa-nuts, ubes-roots, and roasted hogs, which they bartered for knives, beads, and nails.

[Footnote 120:  It is almost needless to mention, that if Schouten had continued his course in the former parallel of between 15 deg. and 16 deg.  S. he must have fallen in with the group of islands now called the New Hebrides, and afterward with the northern part of New South Wales.—­E.]

[Footnote 121:  This was only one island, in lat. 15 deg.  S. and long. 180 deg. 10’ W. which they named Horn Island.—­E.]

The natives of this island were all as expert swimmers and divers as those in Traitor’s Island, and as well versed in cheating and stealing, which they never failed to do when an opportunity offered.  Their houses stood all along the shore, being thatched with leaves, and having each a kind of penthouse to shed off the rain.  They were mostly ten or twelve feet high, and twenty-five feet in compass, their only furniture within being a bed of dry leaves, a fishing-rod or two, and a great club, even the house of their king being no better provided than the rest.  At this island the Dutch found good convenience for watering; and on the 26th they sent three of their principal people on shore as hostages, or pledges, of friendship with the islanders, retaining six of them aboard in the same capacity.  The Dutch pledges were treated on shore with great respect by the king, who presented them with four hogs; and gave strict orders that none of his people should give the smallest disturbance to the boat while watering.  The natives stood in great awe of their king, and were very fearful of having any of their crimes made known to him.  One of them having stolen a cutlass, and complaint being made to one of the king’s officers, the thief was pursued and soundly drubbed, besides being forced to make restitution; on which occasion the officer signified, that it was well for the culprit that the king knew not of his crime, otherwise his life would certainly have been forfeited.