n6 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [October, 



the Supply lay at Batavia the feafon was more unhealthy than had 

 ever been known before ; every hofpital was full, and feveral hun- 

 dreds of the inhabitants had died. Lieutenant Ball, at this grave of 

 Europeans, buried his lieutenant, his gunner, and feveral of his fea- 

 men. He had tried for fome days to touch at Norfolk Ifland, but 

 ineffectually, being prevented by an eafierly wind. 



By the return of this veffel feveral comforts were introduced into 

 the fettlement ; her commander having paid the kindeft attention to 

 the wants of the officers by procuring their refpeCtive inveftments. 



In his paffage to Batavia, Lieutenant Ball had feen fome iflands ; to 

 which, conjefturing,, from not finding them in any charts which he 

 had on board, that he might claim being the difcoverer of them, he 

 gave names accordingly. Although anxious to make an expeditious 

 paffage, he had the mortification to be baffled by contrary winds both 

 to and from Batavia ; and at that fettlement, inftead of finding trie 

 Governor-general (to whom in his orders he was directed to apply 

 for permiflion to purchafe provifions, and for a fhip to bring them) 

 ready to forward the fervice that he came upon, which he reprefented 

 as requiring the utmoft expedition, he was referred to the Sabandhaar, 

 Mr. N. Engelhard, who, after much delay and; pretence of difficulty 

 in procuring a veffel, produced one, a fnow, which they eftimated at 

 three hundred and fifty tons burthen, and demanded to be paid for, 

 her at the rate of eighty rix-dollar$ for every ton freight, amounting 

 together to twenty-eight thoufand rix-dollars, each rix-dollar being 

 computed at forty-eight Dutch pennies; and the freight was. to be 

 paid although the veffel mould be loft, on the paffage. 



As it was impoffible to hire any veffel there upon more reafonable 

 terms, Lieutenant Ball was compelled to engage the one offered. Of 

 the provifions that he was inftruded to procure, the whole quantity 

 of flour (two hundred thoufand pounds) was not , to be had, he being 

 able to purchafe only twenty thoufand and twenty-one pounds, for 

 which they charged ten ftivers per pound ; an addition of about one- 

 third of a penny per pound was charged for grinding it, making, with 



the 



