[Footnote 266:  This paragraph is by Purchas, by whom it is placed as here in the text.—­E.]

The 23d March, we entered the Straits of Bangaya,[267] where the captain proposed to seek for water.  While uncertain where to seek it, there came off a praw from the island, by which we learnt that good water might be had on the east shore, where we anchored in 60 fathoms in a most cruel current.  Our long-boat was then sent for water, conducted by the Indian who came in the praw, from whom our people procured some fresh fish at a cheap rate in exchange for china dishes.  In the morning of the 24th we went for another boat-load of water; and this morning by daybreak the natives came off to us in above 100 praws, carrying men, women, and children, and brought us great quantities of fish, both dried and fresh, which they sold very cheap.  They brought us also hogs, both great and small, with plenty of poultry, which they sold very reasonably for coarse white cloth and china dishes; likewise plantains, cassathoe roots, and various kinds of fruit.  The natives remained on board the whole day in such numbers, that we could sometimes hardly get from one part of the deck to another for them.  In the afternoon the King of Bottone, or Booton, sent some plantains to our captain, and a kind of liquor for drinking called Irea-pote, in return for which the captain sent back a rich painted calico.  About ten at night we weighed anchor, in doing which we broke the flukes of both our starboard anchors, for which reason we had to man our long-boat, and tow the ship all night against the current, which otherwise would have carried us farther to leewards than we could have made up again in three days, unless we had got a fresh gale of wind, so strong is the current at this place.

[Footnote 267:  From circumstances in the sequel, these Straits of Bangaya appear to have been between the island of Booton, in about lat. 5 deg.  S. and long. 123 deg. 20’ E., and the south-east leg or peninsula of the island of Celebes.—­E.]

The 19th April the King of Booton sent one of his brothers again on board,[268] to know if he might come to see the ship, of which he was very desirous, having often heard of Englishmen, but had never seen any; on which our captain sent him word that he should think himself much honoured by a visit.  The king came immediately off in his caracol, rowed by at least an hundred oars or paddles, having in her besides about 400 armed men, and six pieces of brass cannon; being attended by five other caracols, which had at the least 1000 armed men in them.  On coming up, our captain sent our surgeon, Francis Kelly, as an hostage for the king’s safety; when he came on board, and was kindly welcomed by our captain, who invited him to partake of a banquet of sweetmeats, which he readily accepted.  Captain Middleton then made enquiry as to what commodities the king had for sale in his dominions.  He made answer, that they