Page 394
An. 1687
The convenient Site of Pulo Condore.
the Sea for 10 months in the year. The latter end of March they begin to dry away, and in April you fhall have none in the Brooks, but what is lodged in deep holes; but you may dig Wells in fome places. In May, when the Rain comes, the Land is again replenifhed with water, and the Brooks run out into the Sea.
Thefe Iflands lye very commodioufly in the way to and from Japan, China, Manila, Tunquin, Co- chinchina, and in general all this moft Eafterly Coaft of the Indian Continent; whether you go through the Streights of Malacca, or the Streights of Sunda, between Sumatra and Java: and one of them you muft pafs in the common way from Eu- rope, or other parts of the Eaft Indies; unlefs you mean to fetch a great compafs round moft of the Eaft India Iflands, as we did. Any Ship in diftrefs may be refrefhed and recruited here very conve- niently; and befides ordinary accommodations, be furnifhed with Mafts, Yards, Pitch and Tar. It might alfo be a convenient place to ufher in a Commerce with the Neighbouring Country of Cochinchina, and Forts might be built to fecure a Factory; particularly at the Harbour, which is capable of being well fortified. This place there- fore being upon all thefe Accounts fo valuable, and withal fo little known, I have here inferted a draft of it, which I took during our ftay there.
The Inhabitants of this Ifland are by Nation Cochinchinefe, as they told us, for one of them fpake good Malayan: which Language we learnt a fmat- tering of, and fome of us fo as to fpeak it pretty well while we lay at Mindanao, and this is the com- mon Tongue of Trade and Commerce (though it be not in feveral of them the Native Language) in moft of the Eaft India Iflands, being the Lingua Franca, as it were, of thefe parts. I believe 'tis the vulgar Tongue at Malacca, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo;