188 VOYAGE FEOM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 



able eddies, which'gave quite an unusual appearance to the surface 

 of the^sea. After eight o'clock we passed another narrow passage, 

 which is called Rabbits and Coney, xifter that we passed a long 

 narrow island, which is called the Carren island. We took this 

 course in order to avoid some fathomless depths, specially those 

 near an island which is called Three island. It scarcely shows 

 above the water and consists of rocks and sand ; on it grow three 

 small trees apart from each other, by which the island is distin- 

 guished. There were some trees growing in the shape of an 

 arbour on one of the red islands. 



14. — The wind and current were both favourable, so that 

 we passed the Cormans (Carimons?) in the afternoon; the Dutch 

 call them the Cardamums on account of the Cardamum growing 

 wild upon them. Near the point of land Tanjang Bolus lay two 

 small Dutch cruisers and a small English vessel at anchor. We 

 wanted to get some information as to the circumstances of war 

 on the Coromandel coast, and therefore sailed close to them, but 

 our friend did not show any inclination to talk to us and the wind 

 was too favourable to cast anchor, therefore we continued our 

 journey. In the evening we passed the so-called Pullu Pisangs. 

 During the night we had complete calm. 



15. — With weak wind we sailed along the coast and came 

 near to a high mountain, the Mount Formosa. At nine o'clock we 

 saw a Brigantine before us, which we deemed to be a ship com- 

 ing from Bengal. About ten o'clock they fired a cannon and 

 hoisted a French flag. A few minutes after they fired a shot 

 loaded with cartridges on to our ship, which however did not 

 reach us, and again a few minutes after they sent a ball, which 

 however passed the ship without any harm. We had not expec- 

 ted such doubtful compliments but two of our cannons were short- 

 ly loaded with balls and fired off on our opponent, at the same 

 time the English fiag was hoisted. After that we got two more 

 cannons ready, The engagement lasted on, and we shot their 

 flagstaff down twice, and in the end their flag was torn by one 

 of our balls; some of our balls also went through their sails. At 

 last they tried to come up to our stern and to board there, but 

 luckily for us, two of our best cannons were placed there, with 

 which they were most heartily welcomed. This made them decide 

 upon retreating and only from time to time they fired a shot, which 

 however was always doubly answered from our side. About one 



