340 THE BANDA GROUP. 



through which the rays of the sun could scarcely 

 penetrate. At Ki Doulan we saw nothing new. 

 The inhabitants had sold nearly all their canoes to 

 the Bughis, who had touched here on their return 

 from Arrou to their own country. 



June 29. — As soon as our survey was finished, 

 we sailed for Banda, where I hoped to find some 

 vessel in which our shipwrecked passengers* might 

 find their way to a more civilized part of the world. 



June 30. — At 8 a. m. we saw Banda, and at 11 

 entered the harbour ; which is formed between the 

 two islands of Great Banda and Banda Neira ; 

 and were here advised by the Resident to take the 

 seamen on to Amboyna ; where the papers requi- 

 site for their embarkation, in a Dutch merchant 

 vessel, could be procured with less difficulty. 



The Banda group consists of three large islands 

 and two smaller ones. The nutmegs, which form 

 the only export of the place, are all grown upon 

 Great Banda, the largest of the three islands. It 

 averages 500 feet in height, and is luxuriantly 

 wooded. Banda Neira, the next in point of size, is 

 the residence of the government officers, the troops, 

 and the convicts. It is not so hio^h as Great Banda, 

 and does not produce a single nutmeg. The third 

 island is called the Gounung Api, or Burning 

 Mountain ; and is, as its name implies, a volcano, 

 from which more or less smoke, impregnated with 

 sulphur, is constantly issuing ; during the westerly 



* Crew of tlie Montreal, lost in Torres Strait, who reached 

 Port Essington in their boats. 



