My friend the Eajah of Ammer (commonly called Rajah I
of Goram) told me that a few years ago, before the I
Dutch had interfered in the affairs of the island, the I
trade was not carried on so peaceably as at present I
rival praus often fighting when on the way to the same
locality, or trafficking in the same village. Now such a
thing is never thought of—one of the good effects of
the superintendence of a civilized government. Disputes
between villages are still, however, sometimes settled by
fighting, and I one day saw about fifty men, carrying long I
guns and heavy cartridge-belts, march through the village.
They had come from the other side of the island on some
question of trespass or boundary, and were prepared for
war if peaceable negotiations, should fail.
While at Manowolko I had purchased for. 100 florins
(91.) a small prau, which was brought over the next day
as I was informed it was more easy to have the necessary
alterations made in Goram, where several I\ c workmen
were settled.
As soon as we began getting my prau ready I was
obliged to give up collecting, as I found that unless I was
constantly on the spot myself very little work would be
done. As I proposed making some long voyages in this
boat, T determined to fit it up conveniently, and was
obliged to do all the inside work myself, assisted by my
two Amboynese boys,. I had plenty of visitors, surprised
■ see a white man at work, and much astonished at the
■ovel arrangements I was making in one of their native
vessels. Luckily I had a few tools of my own, including a
L a ll saw and some chisels, and these were now severely
|ried, cutting arid fitting heavy iron-wood planks for the
looring and the' posts that support the triangular mast.
Being of the best London make, they stood the work well,
In d without them it would have been impossible for me
to have finished my boat with half the neatness, or in
llouble the time. I had a Ke workman to put in new ribs,
for which I bought nails of a Bugis trader, at 8c?. a pound.
■My gimlets were, however, too small; and having no augers
Rye were obliged to bore all the holes with hot irons, a
Rnost tedious and unsatisfactory operation.
I Five men had engaged to work at the prau till finished,
Rn d then go with me to My sol, Waigiou, and Ternate. Their
Rdeas of work were, however, very different from mine, and
Rl had immense difficulty with them; seldom more than
Rfcwo or three coming together, and a hundred excuses being
I given for working only half a day when they did come.
I [Met they were constantly begging advances of money,
I paying they had nothing to eat. When I gave it them they
I [were sure to stay away the next day, and when I refused
I [any further advances some of them declined working any
Ipnore. As the boat approached completion my difficulties
I [with the men increased. The uncle of one had commenced