Page 421
An.1687
Isle of Formosa. Orange Island.
In going to them we sailed by the South West end of Formosa, leaving it on our larboard side. This is a large Island ; the South end is in lat. 21 d. 20 m. and the North end in 25 d. 10 m. North lat. the longitude of this Isle is laid down from 142 d. 5 m. to 143 d. 16 m. reckoning East from the pike of Tenariffe; so that 'tis but narrow; and the Tropick of Cancer crosses it. It is a high and woody Island, and was formerly well inhabited by the Chinese, and was then frequently visited by English Mer- chants, there being a very good Harbour to secure their Ships. But since the Tartars have conquered China, they have spoiled the Harbour, (as I have been informed) to hinder the Chinese that were then in Rebellion, from fortifying themselves there; and ordered the foreign Merchants to come and trade on the Main.
The 6th day of August we arrived at the five Islands that we were bound to, and anchored on the East side of the Northermost Island, in 15 fa- thom, a Cables length from the shore. Here, con- trary to our expectation, we found abundance of Inhabitants in fight; for there were 3 large Towns all within a league of the Sea; and another larger Town than any of the three, on the back side of a small hill close by also, as we found afterwards. These Islands lye in lat. 20 d. 20 m. North lat. by my observation, for I took it there, and I find their Longitude according to our Drafts, to be 141 d. 50 m. These Islands having no particular Names in the Drafts, some or other of us made use of the Seamiens priviledge, to give them what names we pleased. Three of the Islands were pretty large; the Westermost is the biggest. This the Dutch men who were among us called the Prince of Orange's Island, in honour of his present Ma- jesty. It is about 7 or 8 leagues long, and about 2 leagues wide ; and it lies almost N. and S. The