for dryed Flesh to carry back with us to Cande, but intending to make discoveries of the way, and provide necessaries for our Flight, as Rice, a Brass Pot to boil our Rice in, a little dryed Flesh to eat and a Deers-skin to make us Shooes of.  And by the Providence of my gracious God, all these things I happened upon and bought.  But as our good hap was, Deers-Flesh we could meet with none.  So that we had time enough to fit our selves; all People thinking that we stayed only to buy Flesh.

[They find it not safe to proceed further this way.] Here we stayed three days; during which we had found the great Road that runs down towards Jafnapatan, one of the Northern Ports belonging to the Dutch, which Road we judged led also towards Manaar a Dutch Northern Port also, which was the Place that we endeavoured to get to, lying above two or three days Journey distant from us.  But in this Road there was a Watch lay, which must be passed.  Where this Watch was placed, it was necessary for us punctually to know, and to endeavour to get a sight of it.  And if we could do this, our intent was to go unseen by Night, the people being then afraid to travayl, and being come up to the Watch, to slip aside into the Woods and so go on untill we were past it; and then strike into the Road again.  But this Project came to nothing, because I could not without suspition and danger go and view this Watch; which layd some four or five miles below this Plain; and so far I could not frame any business to go.

But several inconveniences we saw here, insomuch that we found it would not be safe for us to go down in this Road.  For if we should have slipt away from them by Night, in the Morning we should be missed, and then most surely they would go that way to chace us, and ten to one overtake us, being but one Night before them.  Also we knew not whether or no, it might lead us into the Countrey of the Malabar Prince, of whom we were much afraid.

[Resolve to go back to the River they lately passed.] Then resolving to let the great Road alone, we thought of going right down thro the Woods, and steer our course by the Sun and Moon:  but the Ground being so dry we feared we should not meet with Water.  So we declined that Counsel also.  Thus being in doubt, we prayed God to direct us, and to put it into our hearts which way to take.  Then after a Consultation between our selves, all things considered, we concluded it the best course to go back to Malwat oyah, the River we had well viewed that lay in our way as we came hither.  And back thither we resolved to repair.

CHAP.  X.

The Author’s Progress in his Flight from Anarodgburro, into the Woods, unto their arrival in the Malabars Countrey.