THE AUTHOR'S ARRIVAL AT THE ISLAND TIMOR.

We had now for some days small gales from the south-south-west to the
north-north-west, and the sky still more cloudy especially in the
mornings and evenings. The 14th it looked very black in the north-west
all the day; and a little before sunset we saw, to our great joy, the
tops of the high mountains of Timor, peeping out of the clouds which had
before covered them as they did still the lower parts.

We were now running directly towards the middle of the island on the
south side: but I was in some doubt whether I should run down alongshore
on this south side towards the east end; or pass about the west end, and
so range along on the north side, and go that way towards the east end:
but as the winds were now westerly I thought it best to keep on the south
side, till I should see how the weather would prove; for, as the island
lies, if the westerly winds continued and grew tempestuous I should be
under the lee of it and have smooth water, and so could go alongshore
more safely and easily on this south side: I could sooner also run to the
east end where there is the best shelter, as being still more under the
lee of the island when those winds blow. Or if, on the other side, the
winds should come about again to the eastward, I could but turn back
again (as I did afterwards) and passing about the west end, could there
prosecute my search on the north side of the island for water, or
inhabitants, or a good harbour, or whatever might be useful to me. For
both sides of the island were hitherto alike to me, being wholly
unacquainted here; only as I had seen it at a distance in my former
voyage.

SEARCH FOR FRESH WATER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND, IN VAIN.