Miscellanea Curiosa, Vol. 3 · Royal Society
_SIR_,
My last to you was from the Island of _Borneo_, in which I gave you an account of our arrival there the 17th of _July_, where we staid but two Days, the Season of the Year being so far past, and from thence made the best of our way through the Streights of _Banca_ with favourable Winds and Weather, till we came on the Coast of _China_ the 13th of _August_, then we had variable Winds which carried us abreast of _Emuy_ the 19th following, at which time the North East Winds setting in fresh, put us in great fears of losing our passage; whereupon we were forced to turn it up against Wind and Current all the Way, the Weather so favouring us, that we were never but by our Top-sails, else we should have lost more Ground in one Day, than we could have gain'd in eight.
The last of _August_ we came to an Anchor under the _Crocodile_ Islands, both to shelter us from the bad Weather, (which is generally expected on this Coast at new and full Moon, and has been fatal to a great many Ships) and also to look for fresh Water, which was now grown scarce with us, not having recruited since we came from the Cape of _Good Hope_: These are three small Islands lying in the Latitude of 26 Degrees, about six Leagues from the River of _Hocksieu_; on _two_ whereof we found very good fresh Water, with a convenient Watering-place on the South West side of the innermost of the _three_; and by the assistance of a few _Chinese_ Fishermen we procured some fresh Provisions from the main-land, because we did not reckon it safe to adventure our selves thither, lest we should have been brought into Trouble by the Government there. While we lay here, on the fifth of _September_ we had a suddain short shift of the Moonsoon to S. W. the fury whereof others felt, in coming upon the Coast of _China_ at the same time. The 8th of _September_ we put to Sea again, turning to Windward Night and Day without all the Islands, which are very numerous along this Coast, to which we were altogether strangers beyond _Emuy_, and the Hydrography thereof is hitherto so imperfect, that there was no trusting to our Drafts, which made our Navigation somewhat more dangerous: However, on the first of _October_ we got into the Latitude of 30 Degrees, where we came to an Anchor near the Land, until we found the way by Boat to _Chusan_, about 12 Leagues within the Islands; from whence we had a Pilot, who carried us safely thither on the 11th of _October_.
Upon this Island the _Chineses_ have granted us a Settlement and Liberty of Trade, but not to _Ning-po_, which is 6 or 8 hours sail to the Westward, all the way among Islands; this being the largest, is 8 or 9 Leagues in length from East to West, and 4 or 5 Leagues in breadth; about 3 Leagues from that point of the Main-Land called Cape _Liampo_ by the _Portugueze_, but _Khi-tu_ by the _Chinese_: At the West End of this Island is the Harbour very safe and convenient, where the Ships ride within call of the Factory, which is built close by the shore on a low plain Valley, with near 200 Houses about it for the Benefit of Trade; inhabited by Men, whose Jealousie has not as yet permitted them to let their Wives dwell here; for the Town where they are, is ¾ of a Mile further from the Shore, enviorn'd with a fine Stone Wall, about 3 Miles in Circumference, mounted with 22 square Bastions placed at irregular distances, besides 4 great Gates, on which are planted a few old Iron Guns, seldom or never used: The Houses within are very meanly built: Here the _Chumpeen_ or Governour of the Island lives, and betwixt three and four thousand beggarly Inhabitants, most part Souldiers and Fishermen; for the Trade of this place being newly granted, has not as yet brought any considerable Merchants hither.
The Island in general abounds with all sorts of Provisions, such as Cows, Buffalo's, Goats, Deer, Hogs wild and tame, Geese, Ducks and Hens; Rice, Wheat, Calavances, Cole-worts, Turnips, Potatoes, Carrots, Beetes and Spinach; But for Merchandize there's none but what comes from _Ning-po_, _Hang-cheu_, _Nankin_ and the Inland Towns, some of which I hope to see, when I have acquir'd a little of the _Chinese_ Language. Here also the Tea grows in great plenty on the tops of the Hills, but it is not in that esteem with what grows on more Mountainous Islands. Altho this Island is pretty well stor'd with People, yet its far from what it was in _F. Martinius_'s time, when he describes _Cheuxan_: and this puts me in mind, that the Superstitious Pilgrimages thereto, mention'd by him, must be meant of the Island _Pou-to_, which lies 9 Leagues from hence, and 3 Miles to the Eastward of this Island, whither (they say) the Emperour designs in the Month of _May_ next (being his Birth-day, and the 40th Year of his Age) to come to worship in an Ancient Pagoda there, famous for Sanctity; having sent one of his _Bonzes_ already thither to get all things in order. _Chusan_, _Novemb. 22. 1701._
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.