VIII.] STRAXDIXG OF THE MARCHESA. 165 



The entrance to the roadstead is a picturesque one. Eastward 

 the Klabat volcano stands up boldly, its graceful cone nearly 7000 

 feet in height ; while to the north the little volcanic island of Tua 

 ]\Ienado forms a shapely pp-amid which reminded us of Gunong 

 Api. On the left bank of a small river, behind a bright sandy 

 beach, the white houses peep out here and there between the dense 

 foliage of fruit-trees and palms. But we had little time for ad- 

 miring the scenery, for an event occurred on our arrival which was 

 within an ace of bringing the cruise of the Marchesa to an abrupt 

 termination. 



The anchorage off JNIenado is an exceedingly bad one, and is 

 only available for ships during the south-east monsoon. The 

 westerly monsoon sends a heavy sea into the bay, which is com- 

 pletely exposed, and hence, at the latter season, any vessel A'isiting 

 this part of Celebes is obliged to anchor at Kema, a small port on 

 the opposite side of the peninsula, whence the goods are conveyed 

 overland to Menado. The two towns, although only twenty miles 

 apart as the crow flies, are really considerably more by road, owing 

 to the moimtainous country which has to be traversed. But even 

 during the south-east monsoon, the anchorage at Menado is ex- 

 tremely unsafe, owing to the steepness of the bottom — the soundings 

 decreasing within a few cables from 150 to 2 fathoms. For this 

 reason hawsers have to be laid out astern and made fast on shore, or 

 the first puff of the land wind drives the vessel off into deep water. 



We were about to take up a position which we afterwards 

 discovered was the Ijest, when a boat rowed out to us with a half- 

 caste on board, who professed to act as harbour-master, and offered 

 to show us the anchorage usually taken up by the Dutch gun-boats. 

 . It did not appear correct by our chart, but as he seemed perfectly 

 confident, w^e dropped gently astern towards the place in com- 

 pliance with his instructions. Directly afterwards a native lie 

 had brought on board spoke to him, when he turned round 

 hurriedly and said, " Niet meer achter," — no more astern. The 

 engines were put at full speed ahead before he spoke, but it was 



