IN THE PACIFIC. 231 



northward have to round Cape Mala, and 

 those coming from the south generally sight 

 it. I was particularly anxious to examine this 

 place, and tried in vain to effect a landing, but 

 the heavy surf prevented me, and I was obliged 

 to content myself with a sketch of the point. 

 Thinking it possible that we might be able to 

 get on shore lower down the coast, and so 

 reach the point, we ran down to the south- 

 ward, and anchored off the mouth of the 

 river Juera. A heavy surf was breaking across 

 the bar, at the entrance of the river, and as 

 far as we could see on either side ; but at length, 

 after considerable difficulty, we succeeded in 

 landing on a precipitous part of the coast, and 

 scrambling up the cliffs overhead. From this 

 place we found it impossible to penetrate in- 

 land, on account of the dense and thorny 

 jungle ; after struggling for several hours, and 

 getting our clothes torn, we had to give it up, 

 and effect an ignominious retreat by way of a 

 precipice, down which we came with more 

 expedition than we cared for. So steep was 



