of water a day to each man for the last two days. But, to our great joy, we
saw the land, though at a great distance, the evening before, and by a
pleasant gale in the night were by morning within two leagues of the shore.

We never scrupled going ashore at the first place we came at, though, had
we had patience, we might have found a very fine river a little farther
north. However, we kept our frigate on float by the help of two great
poles, which we fastened into the ground to moor her, like poles; and the
little weak ropes, which, as I said, we had made of matting, served us well
enough to make the vessel fast.

As soon as we had viewed the country a little, got fresh water, and
furnished ourselves with some victuals, which we found very scarce here, we
went on board again with our stores. All we got for provision was some
fowls that we killed, and a kind of wild buffalo or bull, very small, but
good meat; I say, having got these things on board, we resolved to sail
along the coast, which lay N.N.E., till we found some creek or river, that
we might run up into the country, or some town or people; for we had reason
enough to know the place was inhabited, because we several times saw fires
in the night, and smoke in the day, every way at a distance from us.

At length we came to a very large bay, and in it several little creeks or
rivers emptying themselves into the sea, and we ran boldly into the first
creek we came at; where, seeing some huts and wild people about them on the
shore, we ran our vessel into a little cove on the north side of the creek,
and held up a long pole, with a white bit of cloth on it, for a signal of
peace to them. We found they understood us presently, for they came
flocking to us, men, women, and children, most of them, of both sexes,
stark naked. At first they stood wondering and staring at us, as if we had
been monsters, and as if they had been frighted; but we found they inclined