On the 3rd of March, being about 5 leagues to leeward of the great island, we saw the mainland ahead; and another great high island to leeward of us, distance about 7 leagues; which we bore away for.  It is called in the Dutch charts Gerrit Denis Isle.  It is about 14 or 15 leagues round; high and mountainous, and very woody:  some trees appeared very large and tall; and the bays by the seaside are well stored with coconut-trees; where we also saw some small houses.  The sides of the mountains are thick set with plantations; and the mould in the new cleared land seemed to be of a brown-reddish colour.  This island is of no regular figure, but is full of points shooting forth into the sea; between which are many sandy bays, full of coconut-trees.  The middle of the isle lies in 3 degrees 10 minutes south latitude.

Its inhabitants.

It is very populous; the natives are very black, strong, and well-limbed people; having great round heads, their hair naturally curled and short, which they shave into several forms, and dye it also of divers colours, namely red, white and yellow.  They have broad round faces with great bottle noses, yet agreeable enough, till they disfigure them by painting, and by wearing great things through their noses as big as a man’s thumb and about four inches long; these are run clear through both nostrils, one end coming out by one cheek-bone, and the other end against the other; and their noses so stretched that only a small slip of them appears about the ornament.  They have also great holes in their ears, wherein they wear such stuff as in their noses.

Their proas.

They are very dexterous active fellows in their proas, which are very ingeniously built.  They are narrow and long with outlagers on one side; the head and stern higher than the rest, and carved into many devices, namely some fowl, fish, or a man’s head, painted or carved:  and though it is but rudely done, yet the resemblance appears plainly, and shows an ingenious fancy.  But with what instruments they make their proas or carved work I know not; for they seem to be utterly ignorant of iron.  They have very neat paddles with which they manage their proas dexterously and make great way through the water.  Their weapons are chiefly lances, swords and slings, and some bows and arrows:  they have also wooden fishgigs for striking fish.  Those that came to assault us in Slingers Bay on the main are in all respects like these; and I believe these are alike treacherous.  Their speech is clear and distinct; the words they used most when near us were “vacousee allamais,” and then they pointed to the shore.  Their signs of friendship are either a great truncheon, or bough of a tree full of leaves put on their heads; often striking their heads with their hands.

Anthony Cave’s island.