We sailed from the Bashees on the 3d October, by the east of the Philippines, and on the 15th, being to the south of Luconia, directed our course west for Mindanao.  On the 16th we anchored between two small isles, in lat. 5 deg. 10’ N. four leagues from the island of Mindanao.  While here, we learnt from a young prince of one of the isles, that Captain Swan and some of his men were still at Mindanao, and in great esteem for their services against the Alfoores:  but I was since informed, that he and his surgeon, when going on board a Dutch ship in the road, were overset by the natives and drowned, by order of rajah Laut, as we supposed, who had seized all his gold.

We sailed on the 2d November for Celebes, and anchored at its N.E. end on the 9th.  The 30th, while steering between two shoals, in lat. 3 deg.  S. ten leagues from Celebes, we saw three waterspouts towards evening.  A waterspout is a piece of a cloud hanging down in a sloping direction, sometimes bending like a bow, but never perpendicular.  Opposite to its extremity the sea begins to foam, and the water is then seen gently moving round in a circle, increasing to a rapid whirling motion, rising upwards, an hundred paces in circumference at the bottom, but lessening gradually upwards to the size of a spout, through which the sea-water appears to be conveyed into the cloud, as is manifest by its blackness and increase of bulk.  After this the cloud, which was before immoveable, drives along for half an hour, accompanied by the spout.  When the sucking is over, and breaks off, all the water which was below the spout, or pendulous cloud, falls again into the sea with a terrible clashing noise.  These spouts are, however, more frightful than dangerous.

We had sight of the Isle of Bouton on the 1st December, and anchored there on the 5th, where we staid till the 11th, procuring eggs, fowls, potatoes, and other provisions from the natives, who are Mahometans, and speak the Malay language.  Continuing our voyage, we saw the N.W. point of Timor on the 28th, and on the 29th stood S. towards New Holland, which we fell in with on the 4th January, 1688, in lat. 16 deg. 50’ S. New Holland is a vast tract of land, but whether island or continent is hitherto unknown.[200] We anchored at a point of land, three leagues to the east of which is a deep bay.  The land was low and sandy, the points only excepted, which were rocky, as were some islands in the bay.  We found here no fresh water, except by digging.  There were various trees, and among these the tree producing dragon’s-blood.  We saw no fruit-trees, nor so much as the track of any animal, except one footstep of a beast, which seemed the size of a large mastiff.  There were a few land-birds, but none bigger than a black-bird, and scarcely any sea-fowl; neither did the sea afford any fish, except tortoises and manatees,[201] both of which are in vast plenty.

[Footnote 200:  It is now known to be a vast island, stretching from the lat. of 11 deg. 40’ to 38 deg. 40’, both S. and from long. 109 deg. 40’ to 154 deg. 50’ both E. being 1870 miles from N. to S. and 2400 miles from E. to W.]