Derde reys, gedaan voor de Engelsche Maatschappy na Oost-Indien, met drie scheepen, de Draak, Hector, en ...

On the 22nd, we were at the latitude of 34 degrees, 4 minutes. I proceeded 33 miles East by North, and we had a Southern and South-South-Western wind. However, according to that calculation, the ship should have been at 33 degrees, 12 minutes, and we found ourselves, due to the current, fifty minutes further South. From this it appears that those who, without paying attention to the current, rely upon mere calculation and estimation, are necessarily led far astray from the track.

I must admit that the current here must be very strong, as we quickly had the land to the North-East, and then again to the South-West. But I conjectured that when we come further East, and have passed this region, the current will no longer be as strong.

On the 25th, we were at 34 degrees, 51 minutes latitude. We progressed, according to our estimation, in four and a half watches, nine miles North-East by East with a South-Western wind, and in two watches with a Southern wind towards the East and North-East. Meanwhile, contrary to all estimation, we were constantly driven Southward.

On the 26th, we had the latitude of 35 degrees, 28 minutes. We progressed with a South-South-Eastern wind thirteen miles or more towards the East-North-East, and found that the current was not as strong as before.

See land.

On the 17th of February, we saw land again, lying eight miles Eastward of us, and we were by estimation at the latitude of 24 degrees, 20 minutes. We steered towards it for over six hours, when, being no more than four miles from land, we had to turn, as the ship Hector was too far behind us to proceed. We took soundings there and found no bottom at 80 or 90 vadem fathoms, which was not strange, as it is low and flat land.

Two Islands.

Around noon, we were abeam of two small islands, where we conjectured we would find a good Ree roadstead/anchorage, but as we did not know at what height we were, we held off until