236 THE ARU ISLANDS. [chap. xxxi. 



At five the next morning we started aoain, and in 

 an hour overtook four large praus containing 'the " Com- 

 niissie," who had come from Dobho to make their 

 official tour round the islands, and had passed us in the 

 night. I paid a visit to the Dutchmen, one of w-hom 

 spoke a little English, but we found that we could get 

 on much better with Malay. They told me that they 

 had been delayed going after the pirates to one of the 

 northern islands, and had seen three of their vessels but 

 could not catch them, because oni being pursued they 

 rowed out in the wind's eye, wdiieh they are enabled to do 

 by having about fifty oars to each boat. Having had some 

 tea with them, I bade them^ adieu, and' turned up a narrow 

 channel which our pilot said would take us to the village 

 of Watelai, on the west side of Aru. After going some 

 miles we found the channel nearly blocked up with coral, 

 so that our boat grated along the bottom, crunching what 

 may truly be called the living rock. Sometimes all hands 

 had to get out and wade, to lighten the vessel and lift it 

 over the shallowest places ; but at length we overcame all 

 obstacles and reached a wid'e bay or estuary studded with 

 little rocks and islets, and opening to the western sea and 

 the numerous islands of the " blakang-tana." I now found 

 that the village we were going to was miles away ; that we 

 should have to go out to sea, and round a rocky point. A 

 squall seemed coming on, and as I have a horror of small 



