a third of a mile wide separating it from each of them
It is surrounded by coral reefs, and offers good anchorage
in both monsoons. Though not more than fifty yards
across, and not elevated more than three or four feet above
the highest tides, it has wells of excellent drinking water_
a singular phenomenon, which would seem to imply deep-
seated subterranean channels connecting it with other
islands. These advantages, with its situation in the centre
of the Papuan trading district, lead to its being so much
frequented by the Bugis traders. Here the Goram men
bring the produce of their little voyages, which they exchange
for cloth, sago cakes, and opium; and the inhabitants
of all the surrounding islands visit it with the
same object. It is the rendezvous of the praus trading to
various parts of Hew Guinea, which here assort and dry
their cargoes, and refit for the voyage home. Tripang and
mussoi bark are the most bulky articles of produce
brought here, with wild nutmegs, tortoise-shell, pearls, and
birds of Paradise, in smaller quantities. The villagers of
the mainland of Ceram bring their sago, which is thus
distributed to the islands farther east, while rice from
Bali and Macassar can also be purchased at a moderate
price. The Goram men come here for their supplies of
opium, both for their own consumption and for barter in
My sol and Waigiou, where they have introduced it, and
where the chiefs and wealthy men are passionately fond of
it Schooners from Bali come to buy Papuan slaves, while
[he sea-wandering Bugis arrive from distant Singapore in
[heir lumbering praus, bringing thenee the produce of the
¡Chinamen’s workshops and Kling’s bazaar, as well as of
Ithe looms of Lancashire and Massachusetts.
' One of the Bugis traders who had arrived a few days
■before from Mysol, brought me news of my assistant
■Charles Allen, with whom he was well acquainted, and who,
■he assured me, was making large collections of birds and
■insects, although he had not obtained any birds of Paradise;
■Silinta, where he was staying, not being a good place for
■them. This was on the whole satisfactory, and I was
■anxious to reach him as soon as possible.
Leaving Kilwaru early in the morning of June 1st, with la strong east wind, we doubled the point of Ceram about
■noon, the heavy sea causing my prau to roll about a good
■deal, to the damage of our crockery. As bad weather
■seemed coming on, we got inside the reefs and anchored
lopposite the village of "Warus-warus to wait for a change.
■The night was very squally, and though in a good harbour
■we rolled and jerked uneasily; but in the morning I had
■gieater cause for uneasiness in the discovery that our
| entire Goram crew had decamped, taking with them all
Ithey possessed and a little more, and leaving us without
1 any small boat in which to land. I immediately told my
■ Amboyna men to load and fire the muskets as a signal of