VOL. XXVI J I'HILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 443 



out into the main sea, so that they could not gain any of the neighbouring 

 ones. They were thus driven before the wind for 70 days together, without 

 being able to make any land. At last, out of all hopes of returning to their 

 own country, and half dead through want of water and provisions, they resolved 

 to give themselves up to the mercy of the winds, and land at the first island 

 westerly that they should come to; and thus at length were driven to this coast, 

 when a Guivamois, then on shore, perceiving them, and judging by the make 

 and smallness of their vessels, that they were strangers, and out of their way, 

 took a piece of cloth, and made them a signal of entering the road he directed, 

 to avoid the shoals and banks of sand they would otherwise run upon. These 

 poor people were so frighted at the sight of this stranger, that they began to 

 put out to sea again ; but notwithstanding all their endeavours, the wind forced 

 them back a second time towards the shore. When they came near, the Gui- 

 vamois again made the signal as before ; but seeing they did not mind it, but 

 would unavoidably be lost, he threw himself into the sea, and swam to one of 

 their little vessels, on purpose to bring them safe into shore. He was no 

 sooner got to them, but the women with their children at their backs, and all 

 that were in that vessel, threw themselves overboard, and swam to the other ; 

 seeing himself alone in the vessel, he resolved to follow them, and getting on 

 board the second, showed them how to avoid the shoals, and brought them safe 

 to land. In the mean time they stood immoveable, and resigned themselves up 

 entirely to the conduct of this stranger, as so many prisoners. 



The inhabitants of Guivam, running to the shore, received them very kindly, 

 and brought them wine and other refreshments. They eat cocoas very freely, 

 being the fruit of the palm-trees of this country. They gave them rice boiled 

 in water, which is eaten here and all over Asia, as bread is in Europe. They 

 looked on it with surprise, and taking some grains of it threw it on the ground, 

 imagining it to be worms. But they eat greedily of the large Palavan roots. 



They brought to them two women, who had formerly been driven on shore 

 on the coast of Guivam, and who understood a little the language of this 

 country. One of the women found among those strangers one of her rela- 

 tions, who as soon as they knew each other fell a weeping. The inhabitants 

 of Guivam strove with each other who should entertain these strangers at their 

 houses, and furnish them with provisions and clothes, and other necessaries. 

 Of the 35 persons that embarked there remained only 30, 5 dying through 

 want of provisions and other hardships in so long a voyage, and some time after 

 their arrival here another died. 



They relate that their country consists of 32 islands, which cannot be far 

 distant from the Marianas, as may be judged by the make and smallness of their 



3 L 2 



