The course from this sound for Ticoo or Priaman is E.N.E. to these shoals.  In passing this sound, keep your lead always going, and come no nearer the large southern island than the depth of sixteen fathoms, as there are shoals towards the east side, and a breach or ledge also off the northern island, on the larboard going in for Priaman.  When nearing the shoals of Ticoo, set the three hummocks on the main, which look like islands, as all the land near them is very low; and when you have these hummocks N.E. by E. then are you near the shoals, and when the hummocks are N.N.E. you are past the shoals.  But great care is necessary everywhere, as it is all bad ground hereabout, till past the high land of Manancabo, which is in lat 4 deg. 30’ S. or thereby.

[Footnote 71:  Pulo Mintao is probably here meant, which is to the south of the line, but touches it at its northern extremity.  The sound in the text, is probably that between Pulo Botoa and Pulo Mintao.—­E.]

We came to anchor in the road of Priaman on the 26th September, where we found the Thomas, and remained fourteen days to refresh our sick men, when the Hector and our ship sailed for Bantam, where we arrived in company with the Janus and Hector on the 23d October.  The 4th November we weighed from the road of Bantam, intending to proceed by the straits of Sunda for Coromandel; but the winds and currents were so strong against us, that we were forced back into the straits of Sunda to refit our ship, which was much weather-beaten.  The 11th December, we anchored again at Pulo Panian, and went to work to trim our ship and take in ballast.  Being ballasted, watered, and refitted, we sailed again on the 10th January, 1613, for the straits of Malacca.  But, being too late in the monsoon, and both wind and current against us, we got no farther than seventy leagues from Bantam by the first of March, with much toil to the men.  Wherefore we concluded to take in wood and water, and to return for Bantam by the outside of Sumatra.

Having again sailed for Coromandel, we were at noon of the 5th June, 1613, in lat. 12 deg.  N. and long. 23 deg.  W. from the salt hills, having been carried by the currents 4 deg. 30’, or ninety leagues out of our reckoning.  Whoever sails from Bantam, either up or down, will find such uncertain reckoning that he may well miss his destined port, unless he looks well to the variation of the needle, which will help materially in ten or fifteen leagues, and indeed there is no other way of dealing with these currents.  We now got sight of the land, which is so very low that the pagodas or pagan churches are first descried.  With the aid of the lead, you may sail boldly on this coast of Coromandel in fifteen fathoms by night, and ten by day; but a steady man must always be kept at the lead on such occasions, as the sea shoals suddenly; for after thirteen fathoms, it will suddenly fall off to shoal water, being like a well or steep bank, and the ground ooze.  The course along the coast is N. by E. to Pullicate, and so to Masulipatam.