2 7 o ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY (J ul y, 



human fkulls ; and in one, in which there was a much larger, pile of 

 fkulls than in any other that they had vifited, they obferved fome gum 

 burning before a wooden image* 



This ifland was fuppofed to be about eight miles in length, five in 

 breadth, and fifteen in circumference ; a coral reef feemed to guard it 

 from all approach, except on the north-weft part, which formed a 

 bay, where the fhip anchored in thirteen fathoms water. Frefh water 

 was feen only in one place. 



Mr. Bampton did not arrive at Timor until the i ith of September, 

 having been detained in the Straits by a moft difficult and dangerous 

 navigation. By this paffage he had an opportunity of difcovering that 

 the Straits, which were named after Torres, and fuppofed to have been 

 paffed firft by him in the year 1606, and afterwards by Green in 1722, 

 could never have exifted ; for Mr. Bampton now obferved, that New 

 Guinea extended ninety miles to the fouthward of this fuppofed 

 track. 



The villains who had broken into Mr. Kent's houfe, had the auda- 

 city to fend that gentleman a letter in miferable verfe, claiming to 

 themfelves the honour of having been the robbers of the Parfon's 

 ftore-room. The letter was accompanied by a pocket-book belonging 

 to Mr. Kent, with fome of his papers ; but none of the bills which 

 were in it when it was ftolen were returned. The infolence of this 

 proceeding, and the frequency of thofe nocturnal vifits, furprifed and 

 put all perfons upon their guard ; but that the enemy was within their 

 own doors there was no doubt. An honeft fervant in that country 

 •was an invaluable treafure ; they were compelled to take them, as 

 chance mould direct, from among the common herd; and if any one 

 was found who had fome remains of principle in him, he was fure to 

 be foon corrupted by the vice which every where furrounded him. 

 The ftate of the Colony called loudly for reform or punifhment. The 

 criminal Court was fummoned, and two notorious offenders were 

 condemned and executed 5 another was feverely punifhed ; but on 



being 



