Deer, and having nothing to salt it up in, we packed it up in the Hide thereof salted, and laid it under a Bench in an open House, on which I lay that Night, and Stephen layd just by it on the Ground, and some three People more lay then in the same House; and in the said House a great Fire, and another in the Yard.  Yet a Tiger came in the Night, and carried Deer and Hide and all away.  But we missing it, concluded it was a Thief.  We called up the People that lay by us, and told them what had happened.  Who informed us that it was a Tiger, and with a Torch they went to see which way he had gone, and presently found some of it, which he let drop by the way.  When it was day we went further, and pickt up more which was scattered, till we came to the Hide it self, which remained uneaten.

[They pass the River that divides the King’s Countrey from the Malabars.] We had now Travelled till Thursday Afternoon, when we crossed the River called Coronda oyah which was then quite dry; this parts the King’s Countrey from the Maladars.  We saw no sign of Inhabitants here.  The Woods began to be very full of Thorns, and shrubby Bushes with Clifts and broken Land; so that we could not possibly go in the Woods; but now the River grew better being clear of Rocks, and dry, water only standing in holes.  So we marched along in the River upon the Sand.  Hereabouts are far more Elephants than higher up:  by Day we saw none, but by Night the River is full of them.

[After four or five days travel they come among Inhabitants.] Friday about Nine or Ten in the Morning we came among the Inhabitants.  For then we saw the footing of People on the Sand, and tame Cattel with Bells about their Necks.  Yet we kept on our way right down the River, knowing no other course to take to shun the People.  And as we went still forwards we saw Coracan Corn, sowed in the Woods, but neither Towns nor People; nor so much as the Voice of Man.  But yet we were somewhat dismayed, knowing that we were now in a Countrey inhabited by Malabars.  The Wanniounay or Prince of this People for fear pay Tribute to the Dutch, but stands far more affected towards the King of Cande. [But do what they can to avoid them.] Which made our care the greater to keep our selves out of his hands; fearing lest if he did not keep us himself, he might send us up to our old Master.  So that great was our terror again, lest meeting with People we might be discovered.  Yet there was no means now left us how to avoid the Danger of being seen.  The Woods were so bad, that we could not possibly Travel in them for Thorns; and to Travel by Night was impossible, it being a dark Moon, and the River a Nights so full of Elephants and other wild Beasts coming to drink; as we did both hear and see laying upon the Banks with a Fire by us.  They came in such Numbers because there was Water for them no where else to be had, the Ponds and holes of Water, nay the River it self in many places being dry.

[As yet undiscovered.] There was therefore no other way to be taken but to Travel on in the River.  So down we went into the Sand, and put on as fast as we could set our Legs to the ground, seeing no People (nor I think no body us), only Buffaloes in abundance in the Water.