Page 501

An.1688

His Sickness.

by themselves, for they were Mahometans, as all those of the Kingdom of Achin are ; and though during our passage by Sea together, we made them content to drink their water out of the same Coco-shell with us; yet being now no longer under that necessity, they again took up their ac- customed nicery and reservedness. They all lay sick, and as their sickness increas'd, one of them threatned us that if any of them died, the rest should kill us, for having brought them this Voy- age : yet I question whether they would have at- tempted, or the Country people have suffer'd it. We made a shift to dress our own food, for none of these people, though they were very kind in giving us any thing that we wanted, would yet come near us, to assist us in dressing our victu- als: nay they would not touch any thing that we used. We had all Fevers, and therefore took turns to dress victuals, according as we had strength to do it, or stomachs to eat. I found my Fever to encrease, and my head so distempered, that I could scarce stand,therefore I whetted and sharpened my Penknife, in order to let my self blood, but I could not ; for my Knife was too blunt.

We stayed here 10 or 12 days, in hopes to re- cover our health, but finding no amendment, we desired to go to Achin. But we were delayed by the Natives, who had a desire to have kept Mr. Hall and my self, to sail in their Vessels to Malucca, Cadda, or to other places whither they Trade. But finding us more desirous to be with our Country- men, in our Factory at Achin, they provided a large Proe to carry us thither, we not being able to manage our own Canoa. Besides, before this of our Malayan Comrades were gone very sick into the Country, and only one of them and the Por- tuguese remained with us, accompanying us to A- chin, and they both as sick as we.

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