On the 24th of April the wind was E.S.E. by S. in the morning and forenoon with a weak top-gallant gale and fine weather; at daybreak they got their boat ready and made her sail ahead of them in order to take soundings; they then weighed anchor and set sail, keeping an E.N.E. and N.E. course close to the wind in 111/2, 12, 13, 12, and 111/2 fathom, sharp sandy bottom with small pebbles.  At noon their estimated latitude was 12 deg. 54’ South, and their estimated distance from the land 4 or 41/2 miles.  At sunset they observed Cape Keerweer E. 1/4 point N. of them, and the interior point looking to the river E.N.E.  They had sounded depths of 111/2, 101/2, 11, and 12 fathom sandy bottom, at which last depth they came to anchor just after sunset.  In the course of the day they had seen a good deal of smoke ascend from the land.

On April the 25th the wind was E., E.N.E., and N.N.E. in the morning and forenoon, with a weak breeze and fine weather.  They weighed anchor at daybreak and set sail on a northern course close by the wind over depths of 12, 14, 15 and 17 fathom sandy bottom.  At noon their estimated latitude was 12 deg. 42’ South; the wind continued variable with occasional calms; the land here showed level with a red and white beach; the interior seemed to be covered with straight, tall trees as far as the eye reached.  At sunset they came to anchor and during the night had a moderate top-gallant gale with good weather.

On the 26th of April the wind was E. and E. by S. in the morning and forenoon, with a fresh breeze and fine weather.  At daybreak they weighed anchor and set sail, shaping their course between N.N.W. and N.N.E.; in the forenoon they observed a pretty high hill N.E. by N. 1/4 point N. and a red point N.N.E. 1/2 point E. of them.  They also came upon a deep bay or bight named Vliegenbaay, in which the trees on shore were hardly visible from the top-mast.  The N. corner of the said bay is here known by the name of Aschens hoek.  At noon their estimated latitude was 12 deg. 16’ South.  They also saw columns of smoke rising up, and thought they could discern men and cabins.  At sunset they came to anchor in 121/2 fathom.  During the night the wind was variable.

On the 27 th of April the wind was E. by S.E. in the morning and forenoon with a fresh topsail breeze, a covered sky and dry weather.  At daybreak they weighed anchor and set sail on a N.N.E. course over depths between 121/2 and 14 fathom good anchoring-ground.  The land here begins to fall off to eastward.  They here saw a {Page 99} river with an island lying off its mouth, the river being known as Batavia River, and the island as Buys Eijland.  At noon they took the approximate latitude of 11 deg. 38’ South.  They repeatedly saw columns of smoke rising up from the land; in the afternoon they came to anchor in 11 fathom coarse sand, about 4 miles Off the shore.

On the 28th of April the wind was E. and E.S.E. in the morning and forenoon; they weighed anchor and set sail on a N.E. course.  At noon they took the latitude of 11 deg. 29’ South, being then 31/2 miles off shore, and having passed depths of 11 and 10 fathom, coarse sand and good anchoring-ground.  In the afternoon the wind blew from the E.S.E., S.E., S., S.S.W., with a moderate top-gallant gale and fine weather; course held N.E. by E. and N.E.1/2% point N.; they still kept sailing along low-lying land only.