September the 21st in the morning, being near Timor, I saw a pretty large opening which immediately I entered with my ship, sounding as I went in:  but had no ground till I came within the east point of the mouth of the opening, where I anchored in 9 fathom, a league from the shore.  The distance from the east side to the west side of this opening was about 5 leagues.  But, whereas I thought this was only an inlet or large sound that ran a great way into the island Timor, I found afterwards that it was a passage between the west end of Timor and another small island called Anamabao or Anabao:  into which mistake I was led by my sea-chart, which represented both sides of the opening as parts of the same coast, and called all of it Timor:  see all this rectified, and a view of the whole passage as I found it, in a small map I have made of it.  Table 6 Number 1.

I designed to sail into this opening till I should come to firm land, for the shore was all set thick with mangroves here by the sea, on each side; which were very green, as were also other trees more within-land.  We had now but little wind; therefore I sent my boat away, to sound and to let me know by signs what depth of water they met with, if under 8 fathom; but if more I ordered them to go on and make no signs.  At 11 that morning, having a pretty fresh gale, I weighed and made sail after my boat; but edged over more to the west shore, because I saw many smaller openings there, and was in hopes to find a good harbour where I might secure the ship; for then I could with more safety send my boats to seek for fresh water.  I had not sailed far before the wind came to the south-east and blew so strong that I could not with safety venture nearer that side, it being a lee shore.  Besides, my boat was on the east side of the Timor coast; for the other was, as I found afterwards, the Anabao shore; and the great opening I was now in was the strait between that island and Timor; towards which I now tacked and stood over.  Taking up my boat therefore I ran under the Timor side, and at 3 o’clock anchored in 29 fathom, half a mile from the shore.  That part of the south-west point of Timor where we anchored in the morning bore now south by west, distance 3 leagues:  and another point of the island bore north-north-east, distance 2 leagues.

A Dutch fort, called Concordia.  Their suspicion of the author.

Not long after, we saw a sloop coming about the point last mentioned, with Dutch colours; which I found, upon sending my boat aboard, belonged to a Dutch fort (the only one they have in Timor) about 5 leagues from hence, called Concordia.  The governor of the fort was in the sloop, and about 40 soldiers with him.  He appeared to be somewhat surprised at our coming this way; which it seems is a passage scarce known to any but themselves; as he told the men I sent to him in my boat.  Neither did he seem willing that