300 NEW GUINEA. [chap, xsxiv. 



We started on the 25tli of March in the schooner 

 Hester Helena, belonging to my friend Mr. Duivenboden, 

 and bound on a trading voyage along the north coast of 

 New Guinea. Having calms and light airs, we were 

 three days reaching Gan^ near the south end of 

 Gilolo, where we stayed to fill up our water-casks and 

 buy a few provisions. We obtained fowls, eggs, sago, 

 plantains, sweet potatoes, yellow pumpkins, chilies, fish, 

 and dried deer's meat ; and on the afternoon of the 

 29th proceeded on our voyage to Dorey harbour. We 

 found it, however, by no means easy to get along ; for so 

 near to the equator the monsoons entirely fail of their 

 regularity, and after passing the southern point of Gilolo 

 we had calms, light puffs of wind, and contrary currents, 

 which kept us for five days in sight of the same islands 

 between it and Poppa. A squall then brought us on to 

 the entrance of Dampier's Straits, where we were again 

 becalmed, and were three more days creeping through 

 them. Several native canoes now came off to us from 

 Waigiou on one side, and Batanta on the other, bringing 

 a few common shells, palm-leaf mats, cocoa-nuts, and 

 pumpkins. They were very extravagant in their de- 

 mands, being accustomed to sell their trifles to whalers 

 and China ships, whose crews will purchase anything at 

 ten times its value. My only purchases were a float 

 belonging to a turtle-spear, carved to resemble a bird. 



