ere we saw about
40. or 50. of them standing vpon the shore with their bowes; wherewith our
men durst not land, for they seemed to be a cruell kind of people, and
altogether wild, for they went all naked, not hauing any thing before their
priuy members. They were of a reddish colour, but when our men saw no
aduantage they turned again vnto their shippes.

The seuenth of Iuly we saw the point of the land of Sumatra, which is a
verie high land descending downewarde with a long end.

The 11. of the same Month we were close vnder the land, where there lay an
Island, and there we ankered.

The 12. of Iuly in the morning we saw certaine ships, whereof one came vnto
vs, wee rowed vnto it with a shalop, and spake with it, but we could not
vnderstand them, but they shewed vs where we should haue water, which made
vs glad, that wee might once againe haue our bellies full of water: it
being almost foure Monthes that wee had not seene any land, nor taken in
any fresh victuailes. We sent our Pinace to the firme land of Sumatra,
there to seeke for some reliefe: for that where we lay there dwelt not any
man. [Sidenote: The maner of the Gouernor of Soumatras comming on bord.]
The 13. of July the Captain or principall ruler of Sumatra came abord our
ships to see them, which was done with great solemnitie, hee being
apparelled after the Turkish manner, with a wreath about his heade, and a
fearefull countenance, small eyes, great eye browes, and little beard, for
a man might tell all the haires vpon his chinne: he brought vs a present of
Betele, which are leaues which they continually chaw, and eat it with
chalke.

This Island of Sumatra or Taprobana (as it is saide) is the greatest of all
the Orientall Islandes, it is diuided from the firme land of Malacca by a
straight and dangerous sea, by reason of many Islandes and cliffes that are
within it: Out of this Island as some men are of opinion, Salomon had his
Gold wherewith he beautified the Temple, and his owne pallace, and then in
the Bible it should be named Orphir, for certainly Sumatra is rich of mynes
of Golde, Siluer, and Mettall, and the inhabitants thereof are very expert
in melting of brasse peeces: Therein is a fountaine of pure Balsame, the
Portingalles haue no fortresse therein, yet they traffique in certaine
hauens, specially in Pedir and Campar: There is also in this Island a place
called Manancabo, where they make poinyardes and daggers, by them calde
cryses, which are