East Coast, Sf V. D:s Land.] INTRODUCTION. Ixxix 
and they got to anchor, an hour after sunset, " in a good port, in Tasmaw, 
1*1 1642 
" 22 fathoms, whitish good-holding sand ; wherefore we ought to 
" praise God Almighty." This port is called Frederik Hendrik's 
Bay, in the chart. 
Next morning early, two armed boats were sent to an inlet ( the 
inner bay ) , situate four or five miles to the north-westward of the 
ships, in order to search for fresh water, wood, and refreshments. 
They returned in the afternoon, and the officers gave the following 
account. 
They rowed four or five miles round the point of the inlet, 
along a high and level shore. Wild greens were plentiful ; some 
resembled those at the Cape of Good Hope, " and may be used 
" in place of wormwood;" others were long and saltish, and like 
sea parsley. They found many dry ..gullies, and one watering place 
in which the water was good, but obtained with difficulty, and in 
very small quantities. Some human voices were heard, and a sound 
like that of a trumpet, or little gong, which was not far off ; but 
they could see no person. Amongst the trees, two were remarked 
whose thickness was two, or two and a half fathoms, and the first 
branches from sixty to sixty-five feet above the ground. The bark 
had been taken off with a flint stone, and steps were cut, full five. feet 
one from the other; whence the natives were presumed to be very 
tall, or able to get up these trees by some artifice. They supposed the 
steps to be made for the purpose of getting at the nests of 
birds ; and that some of them had not been cut above four days 
before. They observed traces on the ground, as if made by the 
claws of a tiger ; and saw the excrements, as was thought, of 
quadrupeds. Some well-looking gums, which dropped from the 
trees and somewhat resembled gum-lac, were brought on board. 
Off the east point of the (inner) bay, they found thirteen to four- 
teen feet water ; and that the tide flowed about three feet. They 
there saw a number of men, of wild ducks, and geese ; but inland 
