264 DAMPIER'S SOJOURN IN GREAT NICOBAR 



the island Sumatra ; and accordingly we presently consulted 

 how to purchase a canoe from the natives. 



"It was a fine clear moonlight night in which we were 

 left ashore, therefore we walked in the sandy bay to watch 

 when the ship would weigh and be gone, not thinking our- 

 selves secure in our new gotten liberty till then. About eleven 

 or twelve o'clock we saw her under sail, and then we returned 

 to our chamber, and so to sleep ; this was the 6th of May. 



" The next morning betimes, our landlord with four or five 

 of his friends came to see his new guests, and was somewhat 

 surprised to see so many of us, for he knew of no more than 

 myself Yet he seemed to be very well pleased, and enter- 

 tained us with a large calabash of toddy which he brought 

 with him. Before he went away again (for wheresoever we 

 came they left their houses to us, but whether out of fear or 

 superstition I know not) we bought a canoe of his for an axe, and 

 we did presently put our chests and clothes in it, designing to 

 go to the south end of the island, and be there till the monsoon 

 shifted, which we expected every day. 



" When our things were stowed away, we with the Achinese 

 entered with joy into our new frigate, and launched off from 

 the shore. We were no sooner off but our canoe overset, 

 bottom upwards. We preserved our lives well enough by 

 swimming, and dragged also our chests and clothes ashore ; 

 but all our things were wet. I had nothing of value but my 

 journal and some drafts of land of my own taking, which I 

 much prized, and which I had hitherto carefully preserved : Mr 

 Hall had also such another cargo of books and drafts, which 

 were now like to perish. But we presently opened our chests 

 and took out our books, which, with much ado, we did after- 

 wards dry ; but some of our drafts that lay loose in our chests 

 were spoiled. 



"We lay here afterwards three days, making great fires to dry 

 our books. The Achinese in the meantime fixed our canoe 

 with outlayers on each side ; and they also cut a good mast 

 for her, and made a substantial sail with mats. 



