anting for 2 or 3 days, and they knew not what was become of her.
They had their wives and children aboard, and probably came to settle at
some new Dutch factory. The commander also informed us that the Dutch had
lately settled at Ampoulo, Menippe, Bonao, and on a point of Ceram. The
next day we passed out to the southward between Keelang and Bouro. After
this we had for several days a current setting southerly, and a great
tumbling sea, occasioned more by the strong current than by winds, as was
apparent by the jumping of its waves against each other; and by
observation I found 25 miles more southing than our course gave us.

On the 14th we discovered the island Misacomba, and the next day sailed
along to the west on the north side of the island. In some charts it is
called Omba; it is a mountainous island, spotted with woods and
savannahs; about 20 leagues long and 5 or 6 broad. We saw no signs of
inhabitants on it. We fell in nearest to the west end of it; and
therefore I chose to pass on to the westward, intending to get through to
the southward between this and the next isle to the west of it, or
between any other 2 islands to the west, where I should meet with the
clearest passage; because the winds were now at north-east and
east-north-east, and the isle lies nearly east and west; so that if the
winds continued I might be a long time in getting to the east end of it,
which yet I knew to be the best passage. In the night, being at the west
end and seeing no clear passage, I stood off with an easy sail, and in
the morning had a fine land-wind, which would have carried us 5 or 6
leagues to the east if we had made the best of it; but we kept on only
with a gentle gale for fear of a westerly current. In the morning,
finding we had not met with any current as we expected, as soon as it was
light we made sail to the westward again.

After noon, being near the end of the isle Pentare which lies west from
Misacomba, we saw many houses and plantations in the country, and many
coconut-trees growing by the seaside. We also saw several boats sailing
across a bay or channel at the west end of Misacomba, between it and
Pentare. We had but little wind, and that at north, which blows right in
with a swell rolling in withal; wherefore I was afraid to venture in,
though probably there might be good anchoring and a commerce with the
natives. I continued steering to the west, because, the night before at
sun-setting, I saw a small ro