Warenama, and again at Hatometen, at both of which
places there was much surf and no harbour, so that the
men had to go on shore and come on board by swimming.
Arriving in the evening of March 7th at Batuassa, the first
village belonging to the Eajah of Tobo, and under the
government of Banda, the surf was very heavy, owing to a
strong westward swell. We therefore rounded the rocky
point on which the village was situated, but found it very
little better on the other side. We were obliged, however,
to go on shore here; and waiting till the people 011 the
beach had made preparations, by placing a row of logs from
the water s edge on which to pull up our boats, we rowed
as quickly as we could straight on to them, after watching
till the heaviest surfs had passed. The moment we touched
ground our men all jumped out, and, assisted by those on
shore, attempted to haul up the boat high and dry, but not
having sufficient hands, the surf repeatedly broke into the
stern. The steepness of the beach, however, prevented any
damage being done, and the other boat having both crews
to haul at it, was got up without difficulty.
The next morning, the water being low, the breakers
were at some distance from shore, and we had to watch
for a smooth moment after bringing the boats to the water’s
edge, and so got safely out to sea. At the two next
villages, Tobo and Ossong, we also took in fresh men, who
came swimming through the surf; and at the latter place
the Eajah came on board and accompanied me to Kissa-
laut, where he has a house which he lent me during my
stay. Here again was a heavy surf, and it was with great
difficulty we got the boats safely hauled up. At Amboyna
I had been promised at this season a calm sea and the wind
off shore, but in this case, as in every other, I had been
unable to obtain any reliable information as to the winds
and seasons of places distant two or three days’ journey.
It appears, however, that owing to the general direction of
the island of Ceram (E.S.E. and W.N.W.), there is a heavy
surf and scarcely any shelter on the south coast during
the west monsoon, when alone a journey to the eastward
can be safely made; while during the east monsoon, when I
proposed to return along the north coast to Wahai, I should
probably find that equally exposed and dangerous. But
although the general direction of the west monsoon in the
Banda sea causes a heavy swell, with bad surf on the coast,
yet we had little advantage of the wind ; for, owing I
suppose to the numerous bays and headlands, we had contrary
south-east or even due east winds all the way, and had
to make almost the whole distance from Amboyna by force
of rowing. We had therefore all the disadvantages, and
none of the advantages, of this west monsoon, which I was
told would insure me a quick and pleasant journey.
I was delayed at Kissa-laut just four weeks, although
after the first three days I saw that it would be quite use