Volume II Part 29 (2/2)

Visit from Natives

The Banda Group

Penal Settlement

Adventures of a Javanese

Captain de Stuers

Native dance and sports

Nut the fruit

Arotto

Sail froe of Wauriti

Missionary establishton

SAIL FOR DOBBO

We sailed froton on the 19th of June, and found a very heavy confused sea running outside, which ed to have recourse to the pump every hour On the second day we made the south end of the Arrou Islands, the latitude of which agrees with the position assigned to it in the Ad to close the land, which is very loe shoaled the water suddenly from 15 to 6 fathoms, when at so, and the appearance of the land, I did not think it prudent to stand in closer, but steered to the northward towards Dobbo At sunset we anchored off the village of Maykor, situated at the entrance of a small inlet, and had a visit frotua by the Captain of a Dutch frigate, that had touched on the coast He was very dirty, talked a great deal, and imbibed a considerable quantity of brandy and arrack We allowed hiht, when he returned to his village, leaving one of his boat's crew behind to pilot us round to Dobbo

After leaving Maykor, we had very deep water until we came abreast the island of Babi, off which a shoal extends to the eastward two miles We crossed the end of it in 8 fathoms, and iain strike soundings until ere close off the old Dutch fort, at the entrance of Dobbo harbour Here we anchored, as I wished to see the native village close to it

The anchor was hardly let go, when the ave notice of the approach of soe Dutch flag, was seen pulling towards the brig, with a great many round-bladed paddles

VISIT FROM THE SCHOOLMASTER

Seated in state, in the stern sheets, was an old e coat and trousers, with a white shi+rt and handkerchief His servant who sat behind hi over his head, with very great care, an old Chinese u on board, introduced hiave us a pressing invitation to land and inspect the church, of which he seeerkaya of the village As the rain still continued, I invited thehted at all they saw; and, during the conference, they expressed lishmen were Christians The chief of Wakan, an island which forms the other side of the entrance to Dobbo harbour, also favoured us with a visit He caainst the chief of a neighbouring island, and did not at all understand our refusing his petition

CHURCH AT DOBBO

As soon as the rain cleared off, our visitors landed, and Mr Earl and e, where they were all drawn up to receive us, and saluted us with one e in state, and immediately taken to see the church, which had been a nice building, capable of holding all the inhabitants of the place; but it had latterly been allowed to get very much out of repair In the font they had placed a saucer containing a s towards the restoration of the church, which was not throay, and est donation the church had received for soe, alked for soreat eons, of varied and beautiful plust the splendid kanari trees, which, from all accounts, afford

(Footnote Cannarium commune)

June 23

Mr Earl and e of Dobbo We found it very little changed since our last visit The trading vessels had all sailed, but the village was occupied by a few Dutch traders frohis and Macassars; the greater portion of ere preparing to visit the eastern side of the group to collect the produce for the vessels expected to arrive at the setting-in of the westerlyvessels in the harbour were two large Macassar proas and a Ceramese junk; which were to sail in a few days

Whilst I was e astronomical observations to determine the position of the point, Mr Earl obtained considerable information from the traders

TRADE OF THE ARROU ISLANDS

The commerce of these islands appears to have increased considerably of late years, four or five shi+ps and brigs, with a nuhis proas, whose united creere said to have aoes about two months previous to our visit

The produce of the Arrou Islands consists chiefly of pearls, mother-of-pearl shell, tortoise-shell, birds of paradise, and Trepang; but the trade of Dobbo is not dependent on the productions of the Arrou Islands alone The Bughis proas ie quantities of British calico, iron, hardware, apore, to obtain which Dobbo is visited by the natives of Cera the only spot in this part of the world where British ht for sale fros, tortoise and ris, birds-of-paradise, ebony, clove, and Massay bark, rosamala (an odoriferous wood) and Kayu-buku, a wood much prized for cabinet-work British calicoes and iron are the principal articles taken in exchange for these by the proas from New Guinea