; who hovered about our Ship to see the Issue. Then
we beckned to them to come aboard again, being very loth to lose a
Commerce with them. Some of the Boats came aboard again, and they
were always very Honest and Civil afterward.
We presently after this sent a Canoa ashore, to see their manner of
living, and what Provision they had: The Canao's Crew were made very
welcome with Bashee drink, and saw abundance of Hogs, some of which
they bought, and returned aboard. After this the Natives brought
aboard both Hogs and Goats to us in their own Boats; and every day we
should have 15 or 20 Hogs and Goats in Boats aboard by our side. These
we bought for a small matter; we could buy a good fat Goat for an
old Iron Hoop, and a Hog of 70 or 80 pound weight for 2 or 3 pound
of Iron. Their drink also they brought off in Jars, which we bought
for old Nails, Spikes, and Leaden Bullets. Besides the fore-mentioned
Commodities, they brought aboard great quantities of Yams and Potatoes;
which we purchased for Nails, Spikes, or Bullets. It was one Man's
work to be all day cutting out Bars of Iron into small pieces with a
cold Chisel: And these were for the great Purchases of Hogs and Goats,
which they would not sell for Nails, as their Drinks and Roots. We
never let them know what Store we have, that they may value it the
more. Every Morning, as soon as it was light, they would thus come
aboard with their Commodities; which we bought as we had occasion. We
did commonly furnish our selves with as many Goats and Roots as served
us all the day; and their Hogs we bought in large Quantities, as we
thought convenient; for we salted them. Their Hogs were very sweet;
but I never saw so many Meazled ones.
We filled all our Water at a curious Brook close by us in Grafton's
Isle, where we first anchored. We stayed there about three or four
days, before we went to other Islands. We sailed to the Southward,
passing on the East-side of Grafton Island, and then passed thro'
between that and Monmouth Island; but we found no Anchoring till we
came to the North end of Monmouth Island, and there we stopt during
one Tide. The Tide runs very strong here, and sometimes makes a short
chopping Sea. Its course among these Islands is S. by E. and N. by
W. The Flood sets to the North, and Ebb to the South, and it riseth
and falleth 8 Foot.
When we went from hence, we coasted about 2 Leagues to the Southward,
on the West side of Monmouth Island; and finding no
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