more northerly.  We saw the day before, betwixt 2 and 3, a spout but a small distance from us.  It fell down out of a black cloud that yielded great store of rain, thunder, and lightning:  this cloud hovered to the southward of us for the space of three hours, and then drew to the westward a great pace; at which time it was that we saw the spout, which hung fast to the cloud till it broke; and then the cloud whirled about to the south-east, then to east-north-east; where, meeting with an island, it spent itself and so dispersed; and immediately we had a little of the tail of it, having had none before.  Afterward we saw a smoke on the island Kosiway, which continued all night.

1700.

They descry the coast of new guinea.

On New Year’s Day we first descried the land of New Guinea, which appeared to be high land; and the next day we saw several high islands on the coast of New Guinea, and ran in with the mainland.  The shore here lies along east-south-east and west-north-west.  It is high even land, very well clothed with tall flourishing trees, which appeared very green and gave us a very pleasant prospect.  We ran to the westward of four mountainous islands; and in the night had a small tornado, which brought with it some rain and a fair wind.  We had fair weather for a long time; only when near any land we had some tornadoes; but off at sea commonly clear weather; though if in sight of land we usually saw many black clouds hovering about it.

They anchor on the coast of new guinea.

On the 5th and 6th of January we plied to get in with the land; designing to anchor, fill water, and spend a little time in searching the country, till after the change of the moon; for I found a strong current setting against us.  We anchored in 38 fathom water, good oazie ground.  We had an island of a league long without us, about 3 miles distant; and we rode from the main about a mile.  The easternmost point of land seen bore east by south half south, distance 3 leagues:  and the westernmost west-south-west half south, distance 2 leagues.  So soon as we anchored we sent the pinnace to look for water, and try if they could catch any fish.  Afterwards we sent the yawl another way to see for water.  Before night the pinnace brought on board several sorts of fruits that they found in the woods, such as I never saw before.

A description of the place, and of A strange fowl found there.