the assistance of some Chinese fishers, we procured also some fresh provisions from the main land, not thinking it safe to venture there ourselves, lest we may have been brought into trouble by the governor of that part of the country.  While here, on the 5th September, we had a sudden short shift of the monsoon from the S.W. blowing with great fury; which was also experienced by other vessels then coming on the coast of China.  We again put to sea on the 18th September, turning to windward night and day on the outside of all the islands, which are very numerous all along this coast, but with which we were unacquainted after passing beyond Emoy.  Besides, the hydrography of this coast is hitherto so very imperfect, that we could not trust in any degree to our draughts, owing to which our navigation was both difficult and dangerous.

[Footnote 320:  From a letter to a member of the Royal Society, dated in September, 1701.—­Harris.]

[Footnote 321:  This must have been the straits of Macasser, as Banda is far out of the way between Borneo and China.—­E.]

[Footnote 322:  Emoy or Amoy, was on the coast of China, opposite to the island of Formosa, and appears, from the Annals, to have been the first port frequented by the ships of the India Company for the Chinese trade.—­E.]

[Footnote 323:  The islands of Pe-la-yang are, in the indicated latitude, off the estuary of the principal river of the province of Fo-kien.—­E.]

On the 1st October, we got into the latitude of 30 deg.  N. where we came to anchor near the land, and found our way by boat to Chusan,[324] about twelve leagues within the islands, whence we got a pilot, who brought our ship safely to that place on the 11th of the month.  The Chinese government have granted us a settlement on that island, with the liberty of trade; but do not allow us to go up to Ning-po,[325] which is six or eight hours sail to the westwards, all the way among islands, of which this of Chusan is the largest, being eight or nine leagues from E. to W. and four or five from N. to S.

[Footnote 324:  Tcheou-chan, an island about twenty English miles in length from E. to W. in lat. 30 deg. 23’ N. long. 121 deg. 43’ E. off the estuary of Ning-po river, in the province of Che-kiang, is obviously the Chusan of the text—­E.]

[Footnote 325:  The city of Ning-po stands at the head of a bay, stretching from the S. side of the estuary of the river of the same name, in lat. 30 deg. 10’ N. long. 121 deg.  E. It appears, from the Annals, that the English had been excluded from trading at Canton, by the influence of the Portuguese in Macao.—­E.]