CANOE DESCRIBED. 295 



especially the former^ much sharper and more 

 rakmg*. On the side opposite to the outrig-g-er there 

 was a small slig'htly projecting- stag-e of two planks 

 only. The paddles were six and a half feet in 

 leng-th^ much clumsier than those seen in other parts 

 of New Guinea^ and without the carving* on the 

 handle^ the blade also differed slig-htly in shape^ 

 being' more elliptical. After paddling* inshore a 

 short distance the}" made sail and landed near the 

 point. The sail resembled the common one of the 

 Louisiade^ being* long*^ narrow^ square at the ends^ 

 and stretched between two yards or masts^ and 

 in setting* was merely stuck upon end and sup- 

 ported by g'uys fore and aft. 



During* our stay at this anchorage we had fine 

 weather^ with lig*ht variable winds of short duration^ 

 g-enerally from the westward, but sometimes from 

 the northward^ and the thermometer rang'ed between 

 77° and 84^ 



Sept. 26th, — Weig*hed in the afternoon with a 

 very lig'ht air from >S.W.; and stood to the N.AV.^ 

 but by sunset^ when we anchored hi 27 fathoms 

 mud^ we had made only about eig*lit miles. The 

 weather w^as very sultry all day with the ther- 

 mometer from 82'' to 84^" in the shade. In the 

 evening* we g*ot a land breeze from about east^ Avhich 

 lasted most of the nig'ht. 



Sejjt. 26tJt. — Soon after day lig'ht we were visited 

 by a party of natives who came from an opening* in 

 the low land at the north-east corner of the bay — 



