THE RETURN TO ENGLAND 87 



The ship was leaking in several places, and, as 

 a result of her long and dangerous circuit, was 

 becoming unfit to continue her voyage in safety. 

 It was necessary that she should be repaired in a 

 port equipped with the necessary appliances, and 

 Batavia was the only place where this could be 

 done. Further, disease and homesickness had 

 laid hold of the crew and the travellers. An 

 early return was imperative. Cook did not wish 

 to land on the island of Timor, but, being in 

 want of water and provisions, he anchored off 

 the coast of a smiling and verdant little island, 

 called Savu, where the Dutch had just estab- 

 lished a trading-station. 



The palms, coconuts, tamarinds, lemons and 

 oranges which spread their branches under a sky 

 of wonderful softness, the sheep pasturing on the 

 lovely hills, the friendly and courteous islanders, 

 sent, between them, a ray of sunshine into the 

 hearts of the Englishmen, who for weeks and 

 weeks had been accustomed to nothing but the 

 dangers of the sea and the hostility of the In- 

 dians. 



Cook procured plenty of provisions of Savu, 

 in spite of the selfish restrictions of the Dutch 

 manager of the trading port, who rejoiced in the 

 name of Lange, and who might have learnt from 

 the natives a lesson in sincerity and honesty. 



After a short stay in this enchanted isle, where 

 Mr. Lange's spite would not allow the English 



