James Cook - A Journal of the proceedings of His Majesty's Bark Endeavour on a voyage round the world, by Lieutenant James Cook, Commander, commencing the 25th of May 1768 - 23 Oct. 1770: No. 342

From New Guinea to Batavia

Septr. 1770  237:30 W. it may be about 8 leagues in length from E to W but of what breadth I know not because I only saw the N side. there are as I am told 3 Bays where Ships can Anchor, the best is on the SW side of the SE point. The one we lay in is called Seba lies on the NW side of the Island, this bay is very well shelter'd from the SE Trade wind, but lays wholy open to the NW. The Land of this Island which bounds the Sea is in general low, but in the Middle of the Island are Hills of a moderate height & the whole is agreeably diversified with woods & Lawns, which afford a most pleasing prospect from the Sea. We were told that the Island is but indifferently water'd in the dry Season especially towards the latter end of it at which time there is no running Stream upon the whole Island only small Springs which are all at a Distance from the Seaside. The dry season commences in March or April & ends in Novr., the remaining 3 or 4 Months they have Westerly winds with rain & this is the time their Crops of Rice, Calivances, & Indian Corn are brot. forth, which are Articles that this Island produceth.
Produce [in margin]
They also breed a great Number of Cattle viz. Buffaloes, Horses, Hogs, Sheep & Goats. many of the former are sent to Concordia where they are kill'd & salted in order to be sent to the more Northern Island which are under the Dominion of the Dutch. Sheep & Goats flesh is dried up on this Island packed up in Bales & sent to Concordia for the same purpose. The Dutch resident from whom we had this information told us that the Dutch at Concordia had lately behaved so ill to the Natives of Timor that they were obliged to have recourse to this Island & others Adjacent for Provisions for their own subsistance & likewise Troops (Natives of this Island) to assist the Dutch against those of Timor. Besides the above Productions here are an Emmence Number of Palm Trees from which is extracted the Palm Wine, as it is called, a very sweet agreeable cooling Liquor. what they do not immediately use they boil down & make Syrup or Sugar of which they keep in Earthen jars. here are likewise Cocoa Nutts, Tamerind Trees, Limes &ct. but in no great plenty. Indico, Cotton & Cinnamon, sufficient to serve the Natives these last Articles we were told the Dutch discourage the growth of ~ 
The Island is divided into 5 Kingdoms wch. have lived in Peace & Amity with each other for these hundred Years. at present the whole Island is partly under the direction of the Dutch East India Company who have a resident or Factor who constantly lives here without whose leave the Natives are not to supply any other Nation with anything whatever, but the whole produce of the Isld. besides what serves themselves is in a manor the property of the Company. The Company by way of a Tribute oblige them to raise & pay Annually a certain quantity of Rice, Indian Corn & Callivances for which the Company makes Each of the Kings a yearly present of a Cask of Arrack & some other Trifles the