They boast very much of their strength here, and say they are able at any time to drive the Dutch away from the island, had they permission from the king of Portugal so to do.  But though they boast thus of their strength yet really they are very weak; for they have but a few small arms and but little powder:  they have no fort, nor magazine of arms; nor does the viceroy of Goa send them any now:  for though they pretend to be under the king of Portugal they are a sort of lawless people, and are under no government.  It was not long since the viceroy of Goa sent a ship hither, and a land-officer to remain here:  but Captain More put him in irons, and sent him aboard the ship again; telling the commander that he had no occasion for any officers; and that he could make better officers here than any that could be sent him from Goa:  and I know not whether there has been any other ship sent from Goa since:  so that they have no supplies from thence:  yet they need not want arms and ammunition, seeing they trade to Batavia.  However they have swords and lances as other Indians have; and though they are ambitious to be called Portuguese, and value themselves on their religion, yet most of the men and all the women that live here are Indians; and there are very few right Portuguese in any part of the island.  However of those that call themselves Portuguese I was told there are some thousands; and I think their strength consists more in their numbers than in good arms or discipline.

The land from hence trends away east by north about 14 leagues, making many points and sandy bays, where vessels may anchor.

Port Ciccale.

Fourteen leagues east from Laphao there is a small harbour called Ciccale by the Portuguese, and commended by them for an excellent port; but it is very small, has a narrow entrance, and lies open to northerly winds:  though indeed there are two ledges of rocks, one shooting out from the west point and the other from the east point, which break off the sea; for the rocks are dry at low water.  This place is about 60 leagues from the south-west end of the island.

The hills, water, lowlands, soil, woods, metals, in the island Timor.

The whole of this island Timor is a very uneven rough country, full of hills and small valleys.  In the middle of it there runs a chain of high mountains, almost from one end to the other.  It is indifferently well watered (even in the dry times) with small brooks and springs, but no great rivers; the island being but narrow, and such a chain of mountains in the middle that no water can run far; but, as the springs break out on one side or other of the hills, they make their nearest course to the sea.  In the wet season the valleys and low lands by the sea are overflown with water; and then the small drills that run into the sea are great rivers; and the gullies, which are