the shore when the danger was perceived, and she
then tacked and escaped with considerable difficulty. The fright which
this occasioned produced a mutiny, in which all the seamen insisted
with the commodore either to return immediately, or to give them
security for payment of their wages, in case they should be so
unfortunate as to suffer shipwreck. This request seemed just and
reasonable, being daily exposed to excessive fatigue in these stormy
and unknown seas, and at the same time ran the hazard of losing all
the reward of their labours, as it is the custom in Holland that the
seamen lose their wages if the ship is lost in which they sail.
The commodore listened to their complaints with much humanity, and
immediately gave them assurance upon oath, that they should have their
wages to the uttermost farthing, and kept his promise with the utmost
exactness; for, though the African was lost before, and both the other
ships were condemned at Batavia, yet every one of their respective
crews received their full wages on their arrival at Amsterdam.

The island of _Aurora_ was about four leagues in extent, the whole
being covered with delightful verdure, and adorned with lofty trees
interspersed with smaller wood. But, as the coast was found to be all
foul and rocky, they left this island also without landing. Towards
evening of the same day, they had sight of another island, to which
therefore they gave the name of _Vesper_.[1] This was about twelve
leagues in circuit, all low land, yet verdant and containing abundance
of trees of various sorts. Continuing their course to the west in
about the latitude of 15 deg. S. they next morning discovered another
country; and, as it was covered with smoke, they concluded it
was inhabited, and made there all sail to come to it, in hopes of
procuring refreshments. On approaching nearer, some of the inhabitants
were seen diverting themselves off the coast in their canoes. They
also perceived by degrees, that what they had at first supposed to
be one country or large island, was in reality abundance of islands
standing close together, among which they had now entered so far, that
they found it difficult to get out again. In this situation, a man was
sent to the mast-head to look out for a passage, and as the weather
was quite serene, they had the good fortune to get out once more into
the open sea without injury; although in passing by several steep
ranges of rocks, they had reason to con