e him full satisfaction, that we were innocent Traders,
seeing also the Commodities that we had brought with us: this further
confirmed his opinion concerning us.

[Provide things necessary for their flight.] The People were very
glad of our coming, and gave us an end of an open house to ly in:
but at present they had no dryed Flesh, but desired us to stay two
or three days and we should not fail: which we were very ready to
consent to, hoping by that time to come to the knowledg of the way,
and to learn where about the watch was placed. To Prevent the least
surmise that we were Plotting to run away, we agreed, that Stephen
should stay in the house by the things, while I with some few went
abroad; pretending to enquire for dryed Flesh to carry back with us
to Cande, but intending to make discoveries of the way, and provide
necessaries for our Flight, as Rice, a Brass Pot to boil our Rice
in, a little dryed Flesh to eat and a Deers-skin to make us Shooes
of. And by the Providence of my gracious God, all these things I
happened upon and bought. But as our good hap was, Deers-Flesh we
could meet with none. So that we had time enough to fit our selves;
all People thinking that we stayed only to buy Flesh.

[They find it not safe to proceed further this way.] Here we stayed
three days; during which we had found the great Road that runs down
towards Jafnapatan, one of the Northern Ports belonging to the Dutch,
which Road we judged led also towards Manaar a Dutch Northern Port
also, which was the Place that we endeavoured to get to, lying above
two or three days Journey distant from us. But in this Road there
was a Watch lay, which must be passed. Where this Watch was placed,
it was necessary for us punctually to know, and to endeavour to get a
sight of it. And if we could do this, our intent was to go unseen by
Night, the people being then afraid to travayl, and being come up to
the Watch, to slip aside into the Woods and so go on untill we were
past it; and then strike into the Road again. But this Project came
to nothing, because I could not without suspition and danger go and
view this Watch; which layd some four or five miles below this Plain;
and so far I could not frame any business to go.

But several inconveniences we saw here, insomuch that we found it
would not be safe for us to go down in this Road. For if we should
have slipt away from them by Night, in the Morning we should be
missed, and then most surely they