e Dutch from making a second descent on their
island: But on this occasion, though the Dutch received them kindly,
and treated them with fairness in purchasing their provisions, they
would only admit a few of them into the ships at once; and when the
islanders attempted to rush on board in crowds, they fired upon them.
On these occasions, the natives all ducked their heads, and when they
raised them again broke out into loud laughter. This exchange was no
sooner over than they weighed anchor and proceeded on their voyage.
The author of this narrative remarks, that such of the sick as had any
strength remaining recovered surprisingly at these islands, through
the excellent refreshments they procured there, while those who were
already quite exhausted soon died.

Leaving these islands of _Moa_ and _Arimoa_, they continued their
voyage through a part of the sea so very full of islands, that finding
it difficult or impossible to count them, they gave them the name of
_Thousand Isles_.[3] Their inhabitants were negroes, of a short squat
make, and their heads covered with thick curled wool, being a bold,
mischievous, and intractable race of savages. They were all naked,
men, women, and children, having no other ornaments except a belt
about two fingers broad, stuck fall of teeth, and bracelets of
the same; and some of them wore light straw hats, adorned with the
feathers of the _Bird-of-Paradise_. These birds are said to be found
no where else but in these islands. Such of these islands as are
situated near the west point of New Guinea are still called the
_Islands of the Popoes_ or _Papuas_, the continent itself being called
the _Land of Papua_, till Schouten imposed upon it the name of _New
Guinea_, chiefly because of its being in the same latitude with _Old
Guinea_.[4]

[Footnote 3: These appear, by the sequel, to have been the islands
at the N.W. extremity of Papua or New Guinea, and from thence to
Celebes--E.]

[Footnote 4: More probably because of its inhabitants being
negroes.--E.]

When the inhabitants of these islands go to Ternate, Banda, Amboina,
or any of the Moluccas, in order to sell their salt pork, amber,[5]
gold-dust, and other merchandise, they always carry some of these
_Birds-of-Paradise_, which they constantly sell dead, affirming that
they find them so, and that they know not whence they come or where
they breed. This bird is always seen very high in the air. It is
extremely light, as its bulk cons