ring round the eye of an azure blue colour; it is named
the “ spectacled flycatcher” (Monarcha telescopthalma),
and was first found in New Guinea, along with the other,
by the French naturalists during the voyage of the dis-
covery-ship Coquille.
Feb. 18ih.—Before leaving Macassar, I had written to
the Governor of Amboyna requesting him to assist me
with the native chiefs of Aru. I now received by a
vessel which had arrived from Amboyna a very polite
answer, informing me that orders had been sent to give
me every assistance that I might require; and I was just
congratulating myself on being at length able to get a boat
and men to go to the mainland and explore the interior,
when a sudden check came in the form of a piratical
incursion. A small prau arrived which had been
attacked by pirates and had a man wounded. They
were said to have five boats, but more were expected to be
behind, and the traders were all in consternation, fearing
that their small vessels sent trading to the “ blakang tana ”
would be plundered. The Aru natives were of course
dreadfully alarmed, as these marauders attack their
villages, burn and murder, and carry away women and
children for slaves. Not a man will stir from his village
for some time, and 1 must remain still a prisoner in
Dobbo. The Governor of Amboyna, out of pure kindness,
has told the chiefs that they are to be responsible
for my safety, so that they have an excellent excuse
for refusing to stir.
Several praus went out in search of the pirates, sentinels
were appointed, and watch-fires lighted on the beach to
guard against the possibility of a night attack, though it
was hardly thought they would be bold enough to attempt
to plunder Dobbo. The next day the praus returned, and
we had positive information that these scourges of the
Eastern seas were really among us. One of Herr Warz-
bergen’s small praus also arrived in a sad plight. It had
been attacked six days before, just as it was returning
from the “ blakang tana.” The crew escaped in their
small boat and hid in the jungle, while the pirates came
up and plundered the vessel. They took away everything
but the cargo of mother-of-pearl shell, which was too
bulky for them. All the clothes and boxes of the men, and
the sails and Cordage of the prau, were cleared off. They
had four large war boats, and fired a volley of musketry
as they came up, and sent off their small boats to the
attack. After they had left, our men observed from their
concealment that three had stayed behind with a small
boat; and being driven to desperation by the sight of the
plundering, one brave fellow swam off armed only with
his parang, or chopping-knife, and coming on them unawares
made a desperate attack, killing one and wounding
the other two, receiving himself numbers of slight wounds,
P 2