Page 412
An.1687
China Jonks, like Well-boats.
Guide came before the Bell, he fell flat on his face, and beckned to us, seeming very desirous to have us do the like. At the inner side of the Temple against the Walls, there was an Altar of white hewn Stone. The Table of the Altar was about 3 foot long, 16 inches broad, and 3 inches thick. It was raised about two foot from the ground, and supported by 3 small pillars of the same white Stone. On this Altar there were several small Earthen Vessels; one of them was full of small sticks that had been burned at one end. Our Guide made a great many signs for us to fetch and to leave some of our meat there, and seemed very importunate, but we refused. We left him there, and went aboard; I did see no other Tem- ple nor Idol here.
While we lay at this place, we saw several small China Jonks, sailing in the Lagune between the Islands and the Main, one came and anchored by us. I and some more of our men went aboard to view her: She was built with a square flat Head as well as Stern, only the head or fore part was not so broad as the Stern. On her Deck she had little thatcht Houses like Hovels, covered with Palmeto Leaves, and raised about 3 foot high, for the Sea- men to creep into. She had a pretty large Cabin, wherein there was an Altar and a Lamp burning, I did but just look in, and saw not the Idol. The Hold was divided in many small partitions, all of them made so tight, that if a leak should spring up in any one of them, it could go no farther, and so could do but little damage, but only to the Goods in the bottom of that room where the leek springs up. Each of these rooms belong to one or two Merchants, or more, and every man freights his Goods in his own room; and probably lodges there, if he be on board himself. These Jonks have only two Mafts, a Main-maft and a Fore-maft. The Fore-