Pearling Life at the Present Day. 169 



of this work. She has large and comfortable ac- 

 commodation, having a high poop. She carries 

 eight dingies, each 14 ft. 6 in. in length, six being 

 carried on davits, and two on deck ; and she draws 

 7 ft. 6 in. aft, and carries sufficient fresh water to 

 last 80 men for three months. 



We will first describe a prospecting cruise, and 

 then return to an- ordinary pearling cruise on old 

 grounds. 



In September, 1883, the " Sree Pas-Sair" left 

 Singapore in charge of Mr. Chippindall, with a 

 crew of Malay sailors, a Chinese carpenter, cook and 

 " boy." In Sooloo seven men only were shipped, 

 although sixty were required ; but these natives 

 had never served a white man before, and were 

 afraid to leave their country. The vessel then pro- 

 ceeded to the island of Solor, not far from Timor, 

 and having recruited sixty-one Solorese divers, and 

 signed them on before the Dutch Governor at 

 Koepang, Mr. Chippindall sailed for the Australian 

 coast, being accompanied by the late Mr. Harry E. 

 Streeter, a son of the author. There was thus a 

 total of seventy-eight men on board. Admiralty 

 Gulf was visited, and thoroughly searched, but to 

 no purpose ; and the vessel continued her course 

 eastwards along the coast, prospecting all the way. 

 At one place seven days were employed in 



