Page 473
An.1688
A Land Animal like Craw-fish.
they could not get it off. At noon both our Ca- noas returned aboard: and the Carpenters brought aboard a good Tree, which they afterwards made a Pump with, such a one as they made at Mindanao. The other Canoa brought aboard as many Boobies, and Men of War Birds, as sufficed all the Ships Company, when they were boiled. They got also a sort of Land Animal, somewhat resembling a large Craw-fish, without its great Claws. These crea- tures lived in holes in the dry sandy ground, like Rabbits. Sir Francis Drake in his Voyage round the world makes mention of such that he found at Ter- nate, or some other of the Spice Islands, or near them. They were very good sweet Meat, and so large that 2 of them were more than a Man could eat; being almost as thick as ones Leg. Their Shells were of a dark brown: but red when boiled.
This Island is of a good heighth, with steep Cliffs against the S. and S. W. and a sandy Bay on the North side: but very deep water steep to the shore. The Mold is blackish, the Soil fat, producing large Trees of divers sorts.
About one a clock in the Afternoon we made sail from this Island, with the wind at S. W. and we steered N. W. Afterwards the winds came a- bout at N. W. and continued between the W. N. W. and the N. N. W. several days. I observed, that the winds blew for the most part out of the West, or N. W. and then we had always rainy weather, with Tornadoes, and much Thunder and Light- ning: but when the wind came any way to the Southward, it blew but faint, and brought fair weather.
We met nothing of remark till the 7th day of A- pril, and then, being in Lat. 7 d. S. we saw the Land of Sumatra at a great distance, bearing North. The 8th day we saw the East end of the Island Su- matra