DAMPIER^S SOJOURN IN GREAT NICOBAR 269 



I found we had gone a point more to the east than I intended, 

 for which reason we steered S. by E. 



" In the afternoon at four o'clock we had a gentle breeze at 

 W.S.W., which continued so till nine, all which time we laid down 

 our oars, and steered away S.S.E. I was then at the helm, and 

 I found by the ripplings of the sea that there was a strong 

 current against us. It made a great noise that might be heard 

 half a mile. At nine o'clock it fell calm, and so continued till 

 ten. Then the wind sprung up again, and blew a fresh breeze 

 all night. 



"The 17th day, in the morning, we looked out for the island 

 Sumatra, supposing that we were now within 20 leagues of it, 

 and the distance from Nicobar to Achin is 40 leagues. But we 

 looked in vain for the island Sumatra, for, turning ourselves 

 about we saw, to our grief, Nicobar Island lying W.N.W., and 

 not above 8 leagues distant. By this it was visible that we 

 had met a very strong current against us in the night. But the 

 wind freshened on us, and we made the best use of it while the 

 weather continued fair. At noon we had an observation of the 

 sun; my lat. was 6° 55', and Mr Hall's was 7° N. 



" The 1 8th day the wind freshened on us again, and the sky 

 began to be clouded. It was indifferent clear till noon, and we 

 thought to have had an observation ; but we were hindered by 

 the clouds that came on the face of the sun when it came on the 

 meridian. This oftens happens, that we are disappointed of 

 making observations by the sun's being clouded at noon, though 

 it shines clear both before and after, especially in places near 

 the sun : and this obscuring of the sun at noon is commonly 

 sudden and unexpected, and for about half an hour or more. 



" We had then also a very ill passage (presage ?), by a great 

 circle about the sun (five or six times the diameter of it), which 

 seldom appears but storms of wind, or much rain, ensue. Such 

 circles about the moon are more frequent, but of less import. We 

 do commonly take great notice of these that are about the sun, 

 observing if there be any breach in the circle, and in what quarter 

 the breach is ; for from thence we commonly find the greatest 



