SERWATTY GROUP. 351 



surveyed, is very good during the south-east mon- 

 soon, but affords no shelter when the wind blows in 

 an opposite direction. There may be an anchorage 

 on the south side of the island, which we did not 

 visit, that would be available during the N. W. 

 monsoon. 



After completing our survey at Letti we worked 

 to the eastward, against the monsoon, keeping as 

 close as possible under the lee of the Serwatty group, 

 which enabled us to make a rough survey of the 

 islands composing it. These proved to be very in- 

 correctly laid down in the only chart we had, and 

 from what we saw they require a far more detailed 

 examination than we had time to devote to them ; 

 this would, I have no doubt, lead to the dis- 

 covery of many anchoring places, where vessels 

 might carry on trade with the natives, with much 

 greater ease and safety than they can do when 

 obliged to stand off and on with the vessel while 

 the boats are sent in to trade ; since, by these 

 means, the crew are necessarily divided, are liable 

 to fall an easy prey to the natives, should the latter 

 be inclined to treachery. 



The various traders we met with, during this, as 

 well as on our former visit to the islands, all agreed 

 in warning us against the inhabitants of Timor 



Laut and Baba, as people not at all to be trusted. 



It is much to be hoped that if Port Essington should 

 ever become a place of much trade, that these people 

 will be more civilized, as from the easy communica- 



