Page 492
An.1688
The state of their little Vessel.
&c. Their Ship, the Cygnet of London, now lies sunk in Augustin Bay at Mada- gascar. Of Prince Jeoly, the Painted man, whom the Author brought with him to En- gland, and who died at Oxford. Of his Country the Isle of Meangis; the Cloves there, &c. The Author is made Gunner of Ben- couli, but is forced to slip away from thence, to come for England.
IT was the 15th day of May 1688, about 4 a clock in the afternoon, when we left Nicobar Island, directing our course toward Achin, being 8 men of us in Company, viz. 3 English, 4 Malay- ans, who were born at Achin, and the mungrel Portuguese.
Our Vessel, the Nicobar Canoa, was not one of the biggest, nor of the least size: She was much about the burthen of one of our London Wherrys below Bridge ; and built sharp at both ends, like the fore part of a Wherry. She was deeper than a Wherry, but not so broad, and was so thin and light, that when empty, 4 men could launch her, or hale her ashore on a fandy Bay. We had a good substantial Mast, and a mat Sail, and good Outlagers lafht very fast and firm on each side the Vessel, being made of strong poles. So that while these continued firm, the Vessel could not overset, which she would easily have done without them; and with them too, had they not been made very strong; and we were therefore much beholding to our Achinese Companions, for this contri- vance.
These men were none of them so sensible of the danger as Mr. Hall and my self, for they all con- fided so much in us, that they did not so much as scruple any thing that we did approve of. Neither was