ip6 Travels into the Levant. Part II. 
fort of fparks does, which difappear as foon as they are feen, I took notice of 
"* them to the Captain and the rert (hat were upon the Qiiartcr Deck, and asked 
them what they were -, they all told me they were CartiaJJet ■■, and they knew^iiy 
that, that we were ntar Laud; for thefe Excrements are not commonly fecn but 
very near the (hoar, and are the fore runners of a Gale of Wind : but when the 
Captain confidered them, and faw them coming in fo great a quantity, he ac- 
knowledged to me, that he had never feen fo many of them together i and 
-about eight a Clock the Lead being heaved out, we found thirty Fathom wa- 
ter. After eight a Clock we faw no more Caniajfes. A little after eight the 
Wind blew very frefli, which made us take in the Main-Top-Sail. At the 
fame time we perceived to the Windward at Eaf}^ North-Eafi^ a great light 
which all prefently knew to be fome great fire a flioar, and we fiw many fuch 
until midnight, which confirmed us in the opinion that we were very near 
the Land ot Viu. Wherefore we Steered on our Courfe Somh-Ead , bearing 
rather to South than Eajh About eleven a Clock the Wind flackened much. 
Ihurfday the laft day of the year one thoufand fix hundred fixty five, about 
three a Clock in the morning, the Wind turned Nortb-Eajl^ and we (till Steered 
our Courfe South-Eafl. About break of day we made to the Leeward, South oi 
us, a great Ship, with all Sails abroad, even their Top-Gallant-Sails, though it 
was no good weather for carrying fuch Sails i which made us conclude it was 
the Mafulipatan, which put out from Congo^ the fame day that we did in the 
morning, and which we thought had been at Comoron. In all appearance he 
* took our Ship for an Englifh man, for the Captain of the Mafalipatan was a 
Hollander J and therefore he had put out his Top-Gallant-Sails to run for iti 
and the truth is, he made fo good way, that in an hours time he was got almofl 
out of light. Half an hour after fix, wc caft out the Lead, and had thirty five 
Fathom water. According to the G unncrs Obfervation at noon, we were in 
twenty degrees forty minutes Latitude, and in four and twenty hours time we 
had made feven and twenty Leagues and a half. We were then becalmed, and 
half an hour after five, we had thirty three Fathom water. At eight of the 
Clock at night we had a fmall Gale from Nortb-Eafiy which made us Steer 
away Eaji^ South Eaji. At midnight having founded we found ftill thirty three 
Fathom water. 
Friday New- years-day one thoufand fix hundred fixty and fix, at five a Clock 
in the morning, we had twenty fix Fathom water. At break of day we made 
to the Leeward, Souths South-Eaji of us, the fame Ship which we faw the day 
before, but fomewhat nearer to us. We alfo made Land, which was known to 
Point of Dill, be the Point of main Land, called the Point of Di«, and immediately after we 
The Ifle of made the Ifland, which bears the fame name, and is near the main Land of the 
f"'he°pfmf of C4»7%«. This Ifland was anciently called, (I think,) Alamhater, 
^«f/f, flamba- 'V" 'nthe Latitude of twenty degrees forty minutes, or one and twenty degrees; 
tir. ' the fortuguefe are maflers of it , and have a Town there of the fame name 
with the Ifland, and a Fcrt which is thought to be impregnable, being fur- 
rounded with two Ditches, filled with the water of the Sea, and the firfi big 
enough to admit of Ships j being befides defended by feveral ftone-Baftions, 
built very high upon a Rock which are mounted with many great Guns that 
play on all Hands -, fo that it will be no eafie task to take it, unlefs being un- 
provided of Viduals an Enemy might attempt to flarvc it: it hath^no water 
but Ciftern- water, yet every Houfe has its Ciftern. There is a good Port 
in and heretofore all the Trade of the Indies was managed there , and 
chicul be- at Chaottl, which is another place belonging to the Fortuguefe i but the Dutch 
longing to the fo ordered matters , that it was wholly removed to Stirrat , where it is at 
About feven a Clock we found by obferving the Land, that we had made eight 
Leagues fince the day before at nooni for you muft know that fo foon as they 
make Land^ they heave the Leg no mote, to know the Ships running, becaufe it 
is well enough known by the Land. At eight a Clock the Wind turned Eajl 
