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 outriggers 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 three of the natives came on board.  I gave each of them a knife, a looking-glass, and a string of beads.  I showed them pumpkins and cocoa-nut shells, and made signs to them to bring some aboard, and had presently three cocoa-nuts 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, two or three 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.  The 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.

Steering away from Cave’s Island south-south-east, we found a strong current against us, which set only in some places in streams, and in them we saw many trees and logs of wood, which drove by us.  We had but little wood aboard; wherefore I hoisted out the pinnace, and sent her to take up some of this driftwood.  In a little time she came aboard with a great tree in tow, which we could hardly hoist in with all our tackles.  We cut up the tree and split it for firewood.  It was much worm-eaten, and had in it some live worms above an inch long, and about the bigness of a goose-quill, and having their heads crusted over with a thin shell.