he fire, and so
carry it home when they return. We came sometimes afterwards to the
places where they had meat thus a-drying, but did not touch any of it.

But to proceed: I did not think to stop anywhere till I came near the
fort; which yet I did not see: but, coming to the end of this passage, I
found that if I went any farther I should be open again to the sea. I
therefore stood in close to the shore on the east side, and anchored in 4
fathom water, sandy ground; a point of land still hindering me from
seeing the fort. But I sent my boat to look about for it; and in a short
time she returned, and my men told me they saw the fort, but did not go
near it; and that it was not above 4 or 5 miles from hence. It being now
late I would not send my boat thither till the next morning: meanwhile
about 2 or 300 Indians, neighbours of the fort, and sent probably from
thence, came to the sandy bay just against the ship; where they stayed
all night, and made good fires. They were armed with lances, swords and
targets, and made a great noise all the night: we thought it was to scare
us from landing, should we attempt it: but we took little notice of them.

THE AUTHOR'S PARLEY WITH THE GOVERNOR OF THE DUTCH FORT. THEY, WITH GREAT
DIFFICULTY, OBTAIN LEAVE TO WATER.

The next morning, being September the 23rd, I sent my clerk ashore in my
pinnace to the governor to satisfy him that we were Englishmen: and in
the King's ship, and to ask water of him; sending a young man with him
who spoke French. My clerk was with the governor pretty early; and in
answer to his queries about me, and my business in these parts, told him
that I had the King of England's commission, and desired to speak with
him. He beckoned to my clerk to come ashore; but as soon as he saw some
small arms in the stern-sheets of the boat he commanded him into the boat
again, and would have him be gone. My clerk solicited him that he would
allow him to speak with him; and at last the governor consented that he
should come ashore, and sent his lieutenant and 3 merchants with a guard
of about a hundred of the native Indians to receive him. My clerk said
that we were in much want of water, and hoped they would allow us to come
to their watering-place and fill. But the governor replied that he had
orders not to supply any ships but their own East India Company; neither
must they allow any Europeans to come the way that we came; and wondered
how we durst come near their fort.