CHAP, xxiii.] ARRIVAL. 35 



On the evening of October 21st we reached our destina- 

 tion, having been twelve days on the voyage. It had been 

 fine weatlier all the time, and, although very hot, I had 

 enjoyed myself exceedingly, and had besides obtained 

 some experience in boat work among islands and coral 

 reefs, which enabled me afterwards to undertake much 

 longer voyages of the same kind. The village or town of 

 Batchian is situated at the head of a wide and deep bay, 

 where a low isthmus connects the northern and southern 

 mountainous parts of the island. To the south is a fine 

 range of mountains, and I had noticed at several of our 

 landing-places that the geological formation of the island 

 was very different from those around it. Whenever rock 

 was visible it was either sandstone in thin layers, dipping 

 south, or a pebbly conglomerate. Sometimes there was 

 a little coralline limestone, but no volcanic rocks. The 

 forest had a dense luxuriance and loftiness seldom found 

 on the dry and porous lavas and raised coral reefs of 

 Ternate and Gilolo ; and hoping for a corresponding ricli- 

 ness in the birds and insects, it was with much satisfaction 

 and with considerable expectation that I began my explo- 

 rations in the hitherto unknown island of Batchian. 



D 2 



