fishes ready drawn, which I could not put into the present volume because
they were found in countries to the description whereof the following
narrative does not reach. For, being obliged to prepare for another
voyage sooner than I at first expected, I have not been able to continue
the ensuing narrative any further than to my departure from the coast of
New Holland. But if it please God that I return again safe, the reader
may expect a continuation of this voyage from my departure from New
Holland till the foundering of my ship near the island of Ascension.

In the meantime to make the narrative in some measure complete I shall
here add a summary abstract of the latter part of the voyage, whereof I
have not had time to draw out of my journals a full and particular
account at large. Departing therefore from the coast of New Holland in
the beginning of September 1699 we arrived at Timor September 15 and
anchored off that island. On the 24th we obtained a small supply of fresh
water from the governor of a Dutch fort and factory there; we found also
there a Portuguese settlement and were kindly treated by them. On the 3rd
of December we arrived on the coast of New Guinea; where we found good
fresh water and had commerce with the inhabitants of a certain island
called Pulo Sabuda. After which, passing to the northward, we ranged
along the coast to the easternmost part of New Guinea, which I found does
not join to the mainland of New Guinea, but is an island, as I have
described it in my map, and called it New Britain.

It is probable this island may afford many rich commodities, and the
natives may be easily brought to commerce. But the many difficulties I at
this time met with, the want of convenience to clean my ship, the fewness
of my men, their desire to hasten home, and the danger of continuing in
these circumstances in seas where the shoals and coasts were utterly
unknown and must be searched out with much caution and length of time,