78 CERA2L [chap. xxv. 



that with people in this low state of civilization religion 

 is almost wholly ceremonial, and that neither are the 

 doctrines of Christianity comprehended, nor its moral 

 precepts obeyed. At the same time, as far as my own 

 experience goes, I have found the better class of " Orang 

 Sirani" as civil, obliging, and industrious as the Malays, 

 and only inferior to them from their tendency to get 

 intoxicated. 



Having written to the Assistant Kesident of Saparua 

 (who has jurisdiction over the opposite part of the coast of 

 Ceram) for a boat to pursue my journey, I received one 

 rather larger than necessary with a crew of twenty men. 

 I therefore bade adieu to my kind friend Captain Van der 

 Beck, and left on the evening after its arrival for the 

 village of Elpiputi, which we reached in two days. I 

 had intended to stay here, but not liking the appearance 

 of the place, which seemed to have no virgin forest near 

 it, I determined to proceed about twelve miles further up 

 the bay of Amahay, to a village recently formed, and 

 inhabited by indigenes from the interior, and where some 

 extensive cacao plantations were being made by some 

 gentlemen of Amboyna. I reached the place (called 

 Awaiya) the same afternoon; and with the assistance of 

 ;Mr. Peters (the manager of the plantations) and the native 

 chief, obtained a small house, got all my things on shore, 

 and paid and discharged my twenty Ijoatmen, two of 



