CANOE DESCRIBED. 295 



especially the former, much sharper and more 

 raking-. On the side opposite to the outrig-g-er there 

 was a small slig-htly projecting' stage of two planks 

 only. The paddles were six and a half feet in 

 length, much clumsier than those seen in other parts 

 of New Guinea, and without the carving on the 

 handle, the blade also differed slightly in shape, 

 being" more elliptical. After paddling inshore a 

 short distance they made sail and landed near the 

 point. The sail resembled the common one of the 

 Louisiade, being' long', narrow, square at the ends, 

 and stretched between two yards or masts, and 

 in setting' was merely stuck upon end and sup- 

 ported by guys fore and aft. 



During- our stay at this anchorag'e we had fine 

 weather, with hght variable winds of short duration, 

 generally from the westward, but sometimes from 

 the northward, and the thermometer ranged between 

 77° and 84°. 



Sept. 2Sth. — Weighed in the afternoon with a 

 very light air from S.W., and stood to the N.W., 

 but by sunset, when we anchored in 27 fathoms 

 mud, we had made only about eight miles. The 

 weather was very sultry all day with the ther- 

 mometer from 82° to 84° in the shade. In the 

 evening we got a land breeze from about east, which 

 lasted most of the night. 



Sept. 2Qth.—Soon after daylight we were visited 

 by a party of natives who came from an opening' in 

 the low land at the north-east corner of the bay — 



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