by an alegarta, [alligator.] I gave orders to fill our water casks with all speed, and propose in the mean time to seek for refreshment.  The tide flows here nearest east,[161] and rises high.  The 21st we saw four natives, to whom I sent some beads and other baubles, making them understand by signs that we were in want of cattle, when they promised in the same manner to bring plenty next day.  Seeing people on shore next day, I went a-land, and found them a subtle people, strong-built and well-made, almost entirely naked, except a cloth of bark carelessly hung before them.  We bought a calf, a sheep, and a lamb, but they would only deal for silver.  In the afternoon I rowed up the river, which I found shallow and brackish.  The 24th we bought three kine, two steers, and four calves, which cost us about nineteen shillings and a few beads.  These cattle have far better flesh than those we got at Saldanha, and have bunches of flesh on their shoulders, like camels, only more forward.  Some affirmed that the people were circumcised.  We here found the beautiful beast.[162]

[Footnote 161:  As the bay of St Augustine, in lat. 23 deg. 30’ S. is on the west coast of Madagascar, where the coast is direct N. and S. the current of the tide could not set from the east.  The expression in the text, therefore, probably means that it is high-water when the moon is nearly east.—­E.]

[Footnote 162:  This seems to refer to some creature then in the ship, and perhaps brought home with them to England.  Astl.  I. 316. a.—­Mr Finch says, there were in the woods, near the river, great store of beasts, as big as monkies, of an ash colour, having a small head, a long tail like a fox, barred with black and white, and having very fine fur.—­E.]

Where we rode at anchor the water by the ship’s side was very fresh at high water, and very salt at low water, contrary to what might have been expected; and at high water it was very fresh on one side of the ship, and very salt on the other.  In a gust of wind at N.W. on the 25th, our ship drifted and broke a cable, by which we lost the anchor.  We bought this day a calf, a sheep, and a lamb, the sheep having a great tail; all three costing us 2s. 3d. I found certain spiders, whose webs were as strong as silk.  All along the low land from E. to W about half a mile from the shore, there runs a ledge of rocks on which the sea continually breaks, between which and the shore are two fathoms water, wonderfully full of fish, and having a fine beach on which to haul the nets.

The 28th in the morning we got under sail to put to sea.  This bay of St Augustine is a very unfit place for ships to touch at for refreshments, as these are to be had only in small quantities; and the bay is very untoward for riding at anchor, the water being deep and pitty and the ground foul, as appeared by cutting our cable.  By the 15th March we had only got into lat. 15 deg. 40’ S. and I knew not what