with an intention of purchasing provisions for our
sea-store. As we entered the town, the king was riding out, attended by
twenty carabineers or body-guards, well mounted, and respectably armed.
He passed us with all the _sang froid_ imaginable, scarce deigning to
glance at us.

In purchasing a pig, the man finding a good price for it, offered to
traffic with us for the charms of his daughter, a very pretty young girl.
But none of us seemed inclined that way, as there were many good things
we stood much more in need of.

At one o'clock, being high water, we embarked again in our boats for
Coupang. We sailed along the coast all day till it was dark; and, fearful
lest we should over-shoot our port in the night, put into a bay. After
laying some time, we observed a light; and after hallooing and making a
noise, the natives came down with torches in their hands, waded up
alongside of us, and offered their assistance, which we accepted of, in
lighting fires, and dressing the victuals we had brought with us, that no
time might be lost in landing or cooking the next day.

At day break, we again proceeded on our voyage, and at five in the
afternoon we landed at Coupang. The Governor, Mynheer Vanion, received us
with the utmost politeness, kindness, and hospitality. The
Lieutenant-Governor, Mynheer Fry, was likewise extremely kind and
attentive, in rendering every assistance possible, and in giving the
necessary orders for our support and relief in our present distressed
state.

Next morning being Sunday, as we supposed, the 17th of September, we were
preparing for Church, to return thanks to Almighty God, for his divine
interposition in our miraculous preservation; but were disappointed in
our pious intentions; for we found it was Monday, the 18th, having lost a
day by performing a circuit of the globe to the westward.

CHAP. V.

OCCURRENCES AT COUPANG; VOYAGE TO BATAVIA, &c.; ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.

THIS is the Montpelier of the East to the Dutch and Portuguese
settlements in India; and, from the salubrity of its air, is the
favourite resort of valetudinarians and invalids from Batavia and other
places. This island is fertile, variegated with hill and dale, and
equally beautiful as diversified with Rotti, and its appendant isles. It
is as large as the island of Great Britain. Its principal trade is wax,
honey, and sandlewood; but the whole of its revenues do not defray the
expence of the settlement to the Company