CHAP. XXXV.] TO WAIOIOU. 347 



with which they were everywhere clothed. It took us 

 three days to get to the entrance of the gnlf, and then the 

 wind was such as to prevent onr going any further, and we 

 might have had to wait for days or weeks, when, much to 

 my surprise and gratification, a boat arrived from Muka 

 with one of the head men, who had in some mysterious 

 manner heard I was on my way, and had come to my as- 

 sistance, bringing a present of cocoa-nuts and vegetables. 

 Being thoroughly acquainted with the coast, and having 

 several extra men to assist us, he managed to get the prau 

 along by rowing, poling, or sailing, and by night had 

 broiight us safely into harbour, a great relief after our 

 tedious and unhappy voyage. We had been already eight 

 days among the reefs and islands of Waigiou, coming a 

 distance of about fifty miles, and it was just forty days 

 since we had sailed from Goram. 



Immediately on our arrival at Muka, I engaged a small 

 boat and three natives to go in search of my lost men, and. 

 sent one of my own men with them to make sure of their 

 going to the right island. In ten days they returned, but 

 to my great regret and disappointment, without the men. 

 The weather had been very bad, and though they had 

 reached an island within sight of that in which the men 

 were, they could get no further. They had waited there 

 six days for better weather, and then, having no more 

 provisions, and the man I had sent with them being very 



