Journey to the Main-land. 445 



CHAPTER XXXL 



THE ARU ISLANDS JOUEISTEY AND RESIDENCE IN THE 



INTERIOR. 

 MARCH TO MAY, 1857. 



My boat was at length ready, and having obtained two 

 men besides my own servants, after an enormous amount of 

 talk and trouble, we left Dobbo on the morning of March 13th 

 for the main-land of Aru. By noon we reached the mouth of 

 a small river or creek, which we ascended, winding among man- 

 grove swamps, with here and there a glimpse of dry land. In 

 two hours we reached a house, or rather a small shed, of the 

 most miserable description, which our steersman, the orang- 

 kaya of Wamma, said was the place we were to stay at, and 

 where he had assured me we could get every kind of bird and 

 beast to be found in Aru. The shed was occupied by about 

 a dozen men, women, and children ; two cooking-fires wei'e 

 burning in it, and there seemed little prospect of my obtaining 

 any accommodation. I however deferred inquiry till I had 

 se§n the neighboring forest, and immediately started off with 

 two men, net, and guns, along a path at the back of the house. 

 In an hour's walk I saw enough to make me determine to give 

 the place a trial, and on my return, finding the orang-kaya was 

 in a strong fever-fit, and unable to do any thing, I entered into 

 negotiations with the owner of the house for the use of a slip 

 at one end of it about five feet wide, for a week, and agreed 

 to pay as rent one " parang," or chopping-knife. I then im- 

 mediately got my boxes and bedding out of the boat, hung up 

 a shelf for my bird-skins and insects, and got all ready for 

 work next morning. My own boys slept in the boat to guard 

 the remainder of my property ; a cooking-place, sheltered by 

 a few mats, was arranged under a tree close by, and I felt that 

 degree of satisfaction and enjoyment which I always experi- 

 ence when, after much trouble and delay, I am on the point of 

 beginning work in a new locality. 



