The next day, having a fresh gale of wind, we got under a high island, about 4 or 5 leagues round, very woody, and full of plantations upon the sides of the hills; and in the bays by the waterside are abundance of coconut-trees.  It lies in the latitude of 3 degrees 25 minutes south, and meridian distance from Cape Mabo 1316 miles.  On the south-east part of it or 3 or 4 other small woody islands; one high and peaked, the other low and flat; all bedecked with coconut-trees and other wood.  On the north there is another island of an indifferent height, and of a somewhat larger circumference than the great high island last mentioned.  We passed between this and the high island.  The high island is called in the Dutch charts Anthony Cave’s Island.  As for the flat low island and the other small one, it is probable they were never seen by the Dutch; nor the islands to the north of Gerrit Dennis Island.

Its inhabitants.

As soon as we came near Cave’s Island some canoes came about us and made signs for us to come ashore, as all the rest had done before; probably thinking we could run the ship aground anywhere, as they did their proas; for we saw neither sail nor anchor among any of them, though most eastern Indians have both.  These had proas made of one tree, well dug, with outlagers on one side:  they were but small yet well shaped.  We endeavoured to anchor but found no ground within a mile of the shore:  we kept close along the north side, still sounding till we came to the north-east end, but found no ground; the canoes still accompanying us; and the bays were covered with men going along as we sailed:  many of them strove to swim off to us but we left them astern.  Being at the north-east point we found a strong current setting to the north-west; so that though we had steered to keep under the high island, yet we were driven towards the flat one.  At this time 3 of the natives came aboard:  I gave each of them a knife, a looking-glass, and a string of beads.  I showed them pumpkins and coconut-shells, and made signs to them to bring some aboard, and had presently 3 coconuts out of one of the canoes.  I showed them nutmegs, and by their signs I guessed they had some on the island.  I also showed them some gold-dust, which they seemed to know, and called out “manneel, manneel,” and pointed towards the land.  A while after these men were gone 2 or 3 canoes came from the flat island, and by signs invited us to their island; at which the others seemed displeased, and used very menacing gestures and (I believe) speeches to each other.  Night coming on we stood off to sea; and, having but little wind all night, were driven away to the north-west.  We saw many great fires on the flat island.  These last men that came off to us were all black, as those we had seen before with frizzled hair:  they were very tall, lusty, well-shaped men; they wear great things in their noses, and paint as the others, but not much; they make the same signs of friendship, and their language seems to be one:  but the others had proas, and these canoes.  On the sides of some of these we saw the figures of several fish neatly cut; and these last were not so shy as the others.