ew Guinea, which appeared very high; and we saw
2 headlands, about 20 leagues asunder; the one to the east, and the other
to the west, which last is called the Cape of Good Hope. We found
variation east 4 degrees.

FAULT OF THE CHARTS.

The 15th in the morning between 12 and 2 o'clock it blew a very brisk
gale at north-west and looked very black in the south-west. At 2 it flew
about at once to the south-south-west and rained very hard. The wind
settled some time at west-south-west, and we steered east-north-east till
3 in the morning: then, the wind and rain abating, we steered east half
north for fear of coming near the land. Presently after, it being a
little clear, the man at the bowsprit-end called out, "Land on our
starboard bow." We looked out and saw it plain. I presently sounded and
had but 10 fathom soft ground. The master, being somewhat scared, came
running in haste with this news, and said it was best to anchor: I told
him no, but sound again; then we had 12 fathom; the next cast, 13 and a
half; the 4th, 17 fathom; and then no ground with 50 fathom line. However
we kept off the island and did not go so fast but that we could see any
other danger before we came nigh it. For here might have been more
islands not laid down in my charts besides this. For I searched all the
charts I had, if perchance I might find any island in the one which was
not in the others; but I could find none near us. When it was day we were
about 5 leagues off the land we saw; but, I believe, not above 5 mile, or
at most 2 leagues, off it when we first saw it in the night.

PROVIDENCE ISLAND.

This is a small island but pretty high; I named it Providence. About 5
leagues to the southward of this there is another island which is called
William Schouten's Island and laid down in our charts: it is a high
island and about 20 leagues long.

It was by mere Providence that we missed the small island. For had not
the wind come to west-south-west and blown hard, so that we steered
east-north-east, we had been upon it by our course that we steered
before, if we could not have seen it. This morning we saw many great
trees and logs swim by us; which it is probable came out of some great
rivers on the main.

THEY CROSS THE LINE.

On the 16th we crossed the Line, and found variation 6 degrees 26 minutes
east. The 18th by my observation at noon we found that we had had a
current setting to the southward, and probably that drew us in so nigh
S