thither from the eastward; yet by the shoals I had hitherto found so far
stretched on this coast, I was afraid I should have the same trouble to
coast all along afterwards beyond that place: and besides the danger of
running almost continually amongst shoals on a strange shore, and where
the tides were strong and high; I began to bethink myself that a great
part of my time must have been spent in being about a shore I was already
almost weary of, which I might employ with greater satisfaction to my
mind, and better hopes of success, in going forward to New Guinea. Add to
this the particular danger I should have been in upon a lee shore, such
as is here described, when the north-west monsoon should once come in;
the ordinary season of which was not now far off, though this year it
stayed beyond the common season; and it comes on storming at first, with
tornadoes, violent gusts, etc. Wherefore quitting the thoughts of putting
in again at New Holland, I resolved to steer away for the island Timor;
where, besides getting fresh water, I might probably expect to be
furnished with fruits and other refreshments to recruit my men, who began
to droop; some of them being already to my great grief afflicted with the
scurvy, which was likely to increase upon them and disable them, and was
promoted by the brackish water they took in last for boiling their
oatmeal. It was now also towards the latter end of the dry season; when I
might not probably have found water so plentifully upon digging at that
part of New Holland as when I was there before in the wet season. And
then, considering the time also that I must necessarily spend in getting
in to the shore through such shoals as I expected to meet with; or in
going about to avoid them; and in digging of wells when I should come
hither: I might very well hope to get to Timor and find fresh water there
as soon as I could expect to get it at New Holland; and with less trouble
and danger.

On the 8th of September therefore, shaping our course for Timor, we were