LANDING THROUGH THE SURF. 207 



From Amatai we sailed westward across Elpa- 

 piiti Bay to tlie peninsula already described as re- 

 joicing in the melodious name of Kaihobo. Here, at 

 a small village, a native of Amboina had established 

 himself, and commenced planting cocoa-trees, which 

 we found thriving most satisfactorily, even better 

 than in the gardens I had previously visited on Am- 

 boina. At the present prices this is the most profit- 

 able product that can be raised in the Moluccas, and 

 the good result of this trial shows what enonnous 

 quantities might be shipped yearly from this single 

 great island of Ceram, if foreigners or natives would 

 devote themseh es to its culture. 



Near by wei'e two villagers of Alfura, who had 

 been induced to abandon their old habits of roaming 

 amono; the mountains and make for themselves a fixed 

 dwelling-place. The rajah of each place came to 

 the village where we landed, to acknowledge his 

 allesriance to the Dutch Government. From that 

 place we proceeded southward along the eastern 

 shore of the peninsula. While we were in the bay, 

 the opposite shore sheltered us from the heavy south- 

 easterly swell that now rolled in before a dri^dng 

 rain-storm, and made our round-bottomed ^r«t^s roll 

 and pitch so that the rowers could scarcely use their 

 oars. At length, near night, we came to anchor off 

 a village that the Resident was obliged to visit. It 

 was situated on a straight, open beach, which de- 

 scended so abruptly beneath the sea, that the high 

 swell never once broke before finding itself suddenly 

 stopped in its rapid course ; it rose up in one huge 

 Avail that reeled forward and fell on the steep shore 



