86 CERAM. [chap. XXV. 



storm and rain at sea, and we arrived at Awaiya late in 

 the evening, with all our baggage drenched, and ourselves 

 thoroughly uncomfortable. All the time I had been in 

 Ceram I had suffered much from the irritating bites of an 

 invisible acarus, which is worse than mosquitoes, ants, 

 and every other pest, because it is impossible to guard 

 against them. This last journey in the forest left me 

 covered from head to foot with inflamed lumps, which, 

 after my return to Amboyna, produced a serious disease, 

 confining me to the house for nearly two months, — a not 1 

 very pleasant memento of my first visit to Ceram, which 

 terminated with the year 1859. 



It was not till the 24th of February, 1860, that I started 

 again, intending to pass from village to village along the 

 coast, staying where I found a suitable locality. I had a 

 letter from the Governor of the Moluccas, requesting all 

 the chiefs to supply me with boats and men to carry me 

 on my journey. The first boat took me in two days to 

 Amahay, on the opposite side of the bay to Awaiya. The 

 chief here, wonderful to relate, did not make any excuses 

 for delay, but immediately ordered out the boat which was 

 to carr}^ me on, put my baggage on l)oard, set up mast 

 and sails after dark, and had the men ready that night ; 

 so that we were actually on our way at five the next 

 morning, — a display of energy and activity I scarcely ever 

 saw before in a native chief on such an occasion. We 



