my clerk, whom I sent in the boat,
went for the shore, as I had directed him, to see if the government would
answer my salute: but it was now near night, and he had only time to
speak with the ship-bander, who told him that the government would have
answered my salute with the same number of guns if I had fired as soon as
I anchored; but that now it was too late. In the evening my boat came
aboard and the next morning I myself went ashore, visited the Dutch
general, and desired the privilege of buying such provision and stores as
I now wanted; which he granted me.

I lay here till the 17th of October following, all which time we had very
fair weather, some tornadoes excepted. In the meantime I supplied the
carpenter with such stores as were necessary for refitting the ship;
which proved more leaky after he had caulked her than she was before: so
that I was obliged to careen her, for which purpose I hired vessels to
take in our guns, ballast, provision and stores.

ENGLISH SHIPS THEN IN THE ROAD.

The English ships that arrived here from England were first the Liampo,
commanded by Captain Monk, bound for China; next the Panther commanded by
Captain Robinson; then the Mancel frigate, commanded by Captain Clerk.
All these brought good tidings from England. Most of them had been
unfortunate in their officers; especially Captain Robinson, who said that
some of them had been conspiring to ruin him and his voyage. There came
in also several English country vessels; first a sloop from Benjarr,
commanded by one Russel, bound to Bengal, next the Monsoon, belonging to
Bengal: she had been at Malacca at the same time that His Majesty's ship
the Harwich was there: afterwards came in also another small ship from
Bengal.

While we stayed here all the forenamed English ships sailed hence; the 2
Bengal ships excepted. Many Dutch ships also came in here, and departed
again before us. We had several reports concerning our men-of-war in
India, and much talk concerning rovers who had committed several spoils
upon the coast and in the Straits of Malacca. I did not hear of any ships
sent out to quash them. At my first coming in I was told that 2 ships had
been sent from Amboina in quest of me; which was lately confirmed by one
of the skippers, whom I by accident met with here. He told me they had 3
protests against me; that they came to Pulo Sabuda on the coast of New
Guinea 28 days after my departure thence, and went as far as Schouten's