chouten's Island. For this 24 hours we steered east by north with a
large wind, yet made but an east by south half south course; though the
variation was not above 7 degrees east.

The 21st we had a current setting to the northward, which is against the
true trade monsoon, it being now near the full moon. I did expect it
here, as in all other places. We had variation 8 degrees 45 minutes east.
The 22nd we found but little current; if any, it set to the southward.

A SNAKE PURSUED BY FISH.

On the 23rd in the afternoon we saw 2 snakes; and the next morning
another, passing by us, which was furiously assaulted by 2 fishes that
had kept us company 5 or 6 days. They were shaped like mackerel and were
about that bigness and length, and of a yellow-greenish colour. The snake
swam away from them very fast, keeping his head above water; the fish
snapped at his tail; but when he turned himself that fish would withdraw,
and another would snap; so that by turns they kept him employed; yet he
still defended himself and swam away a great pace till they were out of
sight.

The 25th betimes in the morning we saw an island to the southward of us
at about 15 leagues distance. We steered away for it, supposing it to be
that which the Dutch call Wishart's Island; but, finding it otherwise, I
called it Matthias; it being that saint's day. This island is about 9 or
10 leagues long, mountainous and woody, with many savannahs, and some
spots of land which seemed to be cleared.

SQUALLY ISLAND.

At 8 in the evening we lay by, intending, if I could, to anchor under
Matthias Isle. But the next morning, seeing another island about 7 or 8
leagues to the eastward of it, we steered away for it; at noon we came up
fair with its south-west end, intending to run along by it and anchor on
the south-east side: but the tornadoes came in so thick and hard that I
could not venture in. This island is pretty low and plain, and clothed
with wood; the trees were very green, and appeared to be large and tall,
as thick as they could stand one by another. It is about 2 or 3 leagues
long, and at the south-west point there is another small low woody island
about a mile round, and about a mile from the other. Between them there
runs a reef of rocks which joins them. (The biggest I named Squally
Island.)

THE MAIN OF NEW GUINEA.

Seeing we could not anchor here I stood away to the southward to make the
main. But, having many hard squalls and tornadoes, we wer