256 DAMPIER'S SOJOURN IN GREAT NICOBAR 



this boat, but to hinder me and some others from going ashore, 

 for he knew that we were ready to make our escapes, if an 

 opportunity presented itself; and he thought that, by abusing 

 and robbing the natives, we should be afraid to trust ourselves 

 amongst them. But yet this proceeding of his turned to our 

 greater advantage, as shall be declared hereafter. 



"May the ist, we ran down by the north-west end of the 

 island Sumatra, within 7 or 8 leagues of the shore. All this 

 west side of Sumatra which we thus coasted along, our English- 

 men at Fort St George call the west coast simply, without 

 adding the name Sumatra. The prisoners who were taken the 

 day before showed us the islands that lie off Achin Harbour, 

 and the channels through which ships go in ; and told us also 

 that there was an English factory at Achin. I wished myself 

 there, but was forced to wait with patience till my time was 

 come. 



" We were now directing our course towards the Nicobar 

 Islands, intending there to clean the ship's bottom in order to 

 make her sail well. 



" The fourth day, in the evening, we had sight of one of the 

 Nicobar Islands. The southermost of them lie about 40 leagues 

 N.N.W. from the N.W. end of the island Sumatra. The most 

 southerly of them is Nicobar itself, but all the cluster of islands 

 lying south of the Andaman Islands are called by our seamen 

 the Nicobar Islands. 



" The inhabitants of these islands have no certain converse 

 with any nation, but as ships pass by them they will come 

 aboard in their praus and offer their commodities to sale, 

 never inquiring of what nation they are ; for all white people 

 are alike to them. Their chiefest commodities are ambergris 

 and fruits. 



" Ambergris is often found by the native Indians of these 

 islands, who know it very well ; as also know how to cheat 

 ignorant strangers with a certain mixture like it. Several of 

 our men bought such of them for a small purchase. Captain 

 Weldon also about this time touched at some of these islands 



