VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 75 



came nearer, we saw that they were a pecuHar kind of fields in- 

 terspersed with green. 



Our Captain knew this country very well, it was the first 

 of the Nequebar * islands, which is called '• Kare Xequebar." 

 He therefore ordered the ship to be steered towards its north- 

 eastern coast, in such manner as not to come too near a stony 

 bank stretching far into the sea. The more we approached the 

 land, the more agreeable it seemed to the eye, on a-.-count of the 

 pleasant change of wood with green fields and trees standing in 

 thin rows between them. There was such perpetual change of 

 scenery, that it was almost impossible to believe this island to be 

 inhabited by uncivilized people. One field was specially conspic- 

 uous. It reached in a slope down to the sea, and there was bor- 

 dered by a row of thinly planted trees, the waves beating against 

 it with great violence ; in all other parts the sea was bordered by 

 thick trees like by a wall. After this we passed another side of 

 the island pretty closely, this coast not being dangerous at all, 

 and at the same time we came behind the wind. The ship cast 

 anchor a quarter of a German mile from the shore, the water 

 being fifteen fathoms deep. It was then 3 o'clock in the 

 afternoon. 



Necquebar. (Xicobar) 



The country seemed to be level and flat for about one Ger- 

 man mile, and was thickly overgrown with trees down to the 

 seashore. There were some semicircular opening's hewn out, 

 in which one could perceive several houses with thatched roofs. 



We had scarcely cast anchor, when some of the natives of 

 of Necquebar came in their canoes, they arrived rowing in 

 silence. There canoes were long', narrow and pointed, they 

 were hewn out of trees, the best of them having a thin staff 

 about 1^ man's height, right in front, at the end of which was 

 fastened a little flag by means of diametrical pieces of wood, the 

 flag howe\ er was not moveable, and stood out straight in front 

 There were two bamboos tied to the top of the canoe, about one 

 foot apart from each other, and at one side there was a kind of 

 wing fastened to the same, for the purpose of preventing the 

 canoe from being overset. 



* Isicobar. 



