us (though we gave
them no cause of terror) or for some differences among themselves.

We stood to the northward till 7 in the evening; then saw a rippling;
and, the water being discoloured, we sounded, and had but 22 fathom. I
went about and stood to the westward till 2 next morning, then tacked
again and had these several soundings: at 8 in the evening, 22; at 10,
25; at 11, 27; at 12, 28 fathom; at 2 in the morning 26; at 4, 24; at 6,
23; at 8, 28; at 12, 22.

ARRIVAL AT MABO, THE NORTH-WEST CAPE OF NEW GUINEA. A DESCRIPTION OF IT.

We passed by many small islands and among many dangerous shoals without
any remarkable occurrence till the 4th of February, when we got within 3
leagues of the north-west cape of New Guinea, called by the Dutch Cape
Mabo. Off this cape there lies a small woody island, and many islands of
different sizes to the north and north-east of it. This part of New
Guinea is high land, adorned with tall trees that appeared very green and
flourishing. The cape itself is not very high, but ends in a low sharp
point; and on either side there appears another such point at equal
distances, which makes it resemble a diamond. This only appears when you
are abreast of the middle point; and then you have no ground within 3
leagues of the shore.

COCKLE ISLAND.

In the afternoon we passed by the cape and stood over for the islands.
Before it was dark we were got within a league of the westermost; but had
no ground with 50 fathom of line. However, fearing to stand nearer in the
dark, we tacked and stood to the east, and plied all night. The next
morning we were got 5 or 6 leagues to the eastward of that island; and,
having the wind easterly, we stood in to the northward among the islands,
sounded, and had no ground. Then I sent in my boat to sound, and they had
ground with 50 fathom near a mile from the shore. We tacked before the
boat came aboard again for fear of a shoal that was about a mile to the
east of that island the boat went to; from whence also a shoal point
stretched out itself till it met the other: they brought with them such a
cockle as I have mentioned in my Voyage round the World, found near
Celebes; and they saw many more, some bigger than that which they brought
aboard, as they said; and for this reason I named it Cockle Island. I
sent them to sound again, ordering them to fire a musket if they found
good anchoring; we were then standing to the southward, with a fine
breeze. As soon as