418 BATAVIA TO CAPE OF GOOD HOPE cu. xvi 
left Batavia, and still imagined that they increased instead 
of decreasing, although my opinion was universally thought 
improbable. To-day, however, the mystery was discovered, 
for on getting up water Dr. Solander, who happened to 
stand near the scuttle-cask, observed an infinite number 
of them in their water-state, which, as soon as the sun had 
a little effect upon the water, began to come out in real 
effective mosquitos incredibly fast. 
2nd. We saw that there were many houses and much 
cultivation upon Cracatoa, so that probably a ship which 
chose to touch here in preference to Prince’s Island might 
meet with refreshments. 
4th. Soon after dinner-time to-day we anchored under 
Prince’s Island and went ashore. The people who met us 
carried us immediately to a man who they told us was their 
king, and with whom, after a few compliments, we proceeded 
to business. This was to settle the price of turtle, in which 
we did not well agree. This, however, did not at all dis- 
courage us, as we doubted not but that in the morning we 
should have them at our own price. So we walked a little 
way along shore and the Indians dispersed. One canoe, 
however, remained, and, just as we went off, sold us three 
turtle on a promise that we should not tell the king. 
5th. Ashore to-day trading: the Indians dropped their 
demands very slowly, but were very civil. Towards noon, 
however, they came down to the offered price, so that before 
night we had bought up a large supply of turtle. In the 
evening I went to pay my respects to his Majesty the king, 
whom I found in his house in the middle of a rice-field, cook- 
ing his own supper; he received me, however, very politely. 
11th. My servant, Sander, whom I had hired at Batavia, 
having found out that these people had a town somewhere 
along shore to the westward, and not very far off, I resolved 
to visit it; but knowing that the inhabitants were not at all 
desirous of our company, kept my intentions secret from 
them. In the morning I set out, accompanied by our second 
lieutenant, and went along shore, telling all whom I met 
that I was in search of plants, which indeed was also the 
