5o Voyage of the Novara. 



or sky. Although on our excursion to Kar-Nicobar we had 

 to endure great heat, it was liere that for the first time we 

 experienced in all its discomfort the oppressive, relaxing 

 sultriness of the tropical atmosphere, when satm-ated with 

 vapour. The thermometer stood pretty regularly at 84^ to 

 ^^"^ Fahr., nor was it possible to find any relief by plunging 

 into the water, which was if anything even warmer than the 

 air. Hemmed in on all sides, and with the welcome bene- 

 ficent sea-breeze frequently ceasing to blow for a week to- 

 gether, it was speedily pronounced a riddle, impossible to be 

 solved, how this harbour came to be once and again selected 

 by German and Danish Missionaries for the purposes of 

 colonization, unless the key to the mystery be found in its 

 secure situation, the exquisite beauty of the mountain land- 

 scape, and the numerous clear spots around. 



The very morning after our arrival we set out on a small 

 reconnoitring excursion to examine the ground, in order to 

 decide, among so many objects claiming our attention at 

 once, what, considering the brief time at oui' disposal, we 

 might hope to undertake successfully, and what must once 

 for all be abandoned. Our first visit was to the village of 

 Itoe, which lay directly opposite our frigate's anchorage. 

 The natives had all fled into the forest, only their dogs 

 having remained behind, who saluted us with a tremendous 

 howl. The huts, six or eight in number, had a poor, miser- 

 able appearance, and were built close to a cocoa forest, so 

 that there was not the slightest space to move about in be- 



