412 



HISTORY OF THE SEA. 



and roots. At sunrise they prostrated themselves with their 

 faces towards the east, and lighted fires as morning burnt-offer- 

 ings to their idols, of which there were many upon the coast." 

 Of these supposed idols we shall speak hereafter. 



During the landing, in which one hundred and fifty of the 

 erew took part, an islander was accidentally shot ; and sub- 

 sequently, as some of them touched, from curiosity, the Dutch 

 fire-arms, a volley of bullets was discharged at them, and among 

 the killed was the man who had first gone on board the admi- 

 ral's ship. The consternation and grief of the natives was very 

 great: they brought all kinds of provisions as ransom for the 

 dead bodies. They threw themselves upon their knees, and 

 offered branches of palms in sign of peace. The Dutch carried 

 their outrages no further, but exchanged assurances of good 

 will. They gave sixty yards of painted cloth for eight hundred 

 fowls, some bundles of sugarcane, and a large quantity of plan- 

 tains, cocoanuts, figs, and potatoes. Roggewein was of opinion 

 that the island might be colonized to advantage, as the air was 

 wholesome and the soil rich : the low lands seemed fitted to pro- 

 duce corn, and the higher grounds well adapted to vineyards. 

 He intended to land with a sufficient force to make a general 

 survey; but, in the mean time, a west wind forced him from his 

 anchorage and drove him out to sea. 



He soon found himself in the wide tract which had obtained 

 the name of Bad Sea, on account of the brackish water of one 

 of its islands. Through this region he sailed eight hundred 

 leagues, and, by a change of wind, was driven with his consorts 

 among a number of islands, by which they were considerably 

 embarrassed. The Africa, which drew the least water, was sent 

 in advance, but soon got upon the rocks and fired signals of dis- 

 tress. Night came on, and the natives, alarmed by the reports, 

 kindled fires and came in crowds to the shore. The Dutch, 

 whose confusion of mind seems to have been extreme, fired upon 

 them without ceremony, that they might have as few dangers as 



