untry suddenly changes for the worse, as if
it was not the same island in any respect.

[Sidenote: 1789. JUNE 13.]

That we might not run past any settlement in the night, I determined to
preserve my station till the morning, and therefore hove to under a
close-reefed fore-sail, with which the boat lay very quiet. We were here
in shoal water; our distance from the shore being half a league, the
westernmost land in sight bearing W S W 1/2 W. Served bread and water
for supper, and the boat lying too very well, all but the officer of the
watch endeavoured to get a little sleep.

At two in the morning, we wore, and stood in shore till day-light, when
I found we had drifted, during the night, about three leagues to the W S
W, the southernmost land in sight bearing W. On examining the coast, and
not seeing any sign of a settlement, we bore away to the westward,
having a strong gale, against a weather current, which occasioned much
sea. The shore was high and covered with wood, but we did not run far
before low land again formed the coast, the points of which opening at
west, I once more fancied we were on the south part of the island; but
at ten o'clock we found the coast again inclining towards the south,
part of it bearing W S W 1/2 W. At the same time high land appeared from
S W to S W by W 1/2 W; but the weather was so hazy, that it was doubtful
whether the two lands were separated, the opening only extending one
point of the compass. I, for this reason, stood towards the outer land,
and found it to be the island Roti.

[Sidenote: 1789. JUNE 13.]

I returned to the shore I had left, and in a sandy bay I brought to a
grapnel, that I might more conveniently calculate my situation. In this
place we saw several smokes, where the natives were clearing their
grounds. During the little time we remained here, the master and
carpenter very much importuned me to let them go in search of supplies;
to which, at length, I assented; but, finding no one willing to be of
their party, they did not choose to quit the boat. I stopped here no
longer than for the purpose just mentioned, and we continued steering
along shore. We had a view of a beautiful-looking country, as if formed
by art into lawns and parks. The coast is low, and covered with woods,
in which are innumerable fan palm-trees, that look like cocoa-nut walks.
The interior part is high land, but very different from the more eastern
parts of the island, where it is exceeding