Series 03: Joseph Banks - Endeavour journal, 25 August 1768 - 12 July 1771 (vol. 2) - No. 0430
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 430]
326.
off Timor.
Hills and vales on the East End of it some of our people saw Houses but I did not the North side had frequent sandy beaches near which grew some few of the Fan Palm but the greatest part was coverd with a kind of brushy wood trees which had few or no leaves upon them the opening between Timor & the Island calld by Dampeir Anabao we plainly saw which appeard narrow. Anabao itself lookd much like Timor, only was rather less high. we saw on it no signs of cultivation, but saw as it was misty, & we were well on the other side of the streights which we judgd to be 5 Lgs over, we saw it but very indifferently. off the Western End of it was a small low sandy Island coverd with trees, before night however we had left all behind us.
About 10 O'Clock a Phaenomenon appeard in the heavens in many things resembling the Aurora Borealis but differing materialy in others it consisted of a dull reddish light reaching in hight about 20 degrees above the Horizon its extent was very different at different times but never less than 8 or 10 points of the compass through