Page 448
An.1687
They coast along the Isle of Celebes.
and full of Trees : and there are many Brooks of Water run out into the Sea. Indeed all this East side of the Island seems to be but one large Grove of extraordinary great high Trees.
Having with much ado got on this East side, coasting along to the Southward, and yet having but little Wind, and even that little against us, at S. S. W. and sometimes Calm, we were a long time going about the Island.
The 22d day we were in Lat. 1 d. 20 m. South, and being about 3 leagues from the Island standing to the Southward, with a very gentle Land wind, (about 2 or 3 a clock in the morning, we heard a clashing in the Water, like Boats rowing: and fearing some sudden attack, we got up all our Arms, and stood ready to defend our selves. As soon as it was day, we saw a great Proe, built like the Mindanayan Proe's, with about 60 men in her; and 6 smaller Proe's. They lay still about a mile to. Windward of us, to view us; and probably de- sign'd to make a prey of us, when they first came out: but they were now afraid to venture on us.
At last we shewed them Dutch Colours, thinking thereby to allure them to come to us; for we could not go to them: but they presently rowed in to- ward the Island, and went into a large opening; and we saw them no more; nor did we ever see any other Boats, or Men, but only one fishing Ca- noa, while we were about this Island; neither did we see any House on all the Coast.
About 5 or 6 leagues to the South of this place, there is a great Range of both large and small Islands : and many shoals also that are not laid down in our Drafts; which made it extremely troublesom for us to get through. But we past be- tween them all and the Island Celebes, and anchored against a sandy Bay in 8 fathom sandy ground, about half a mile from the main Island: being then in lat. 1 d. 50 m. South.
Here