343 



[chap. iXlT. 



house in the l>ows, wliere we could boil our rice and 

 make oiir coffee, every one of course bringing his own 

 provisions, and armngiug his meal-tiniea as he founti 

 most convenient The passafre would have been agree- 

 able enough but for tlie drendful "tom-toms," or wooden 

 druius, which are beaten ioceassantly wldle the men 

 are rowing. Two men were engaged constantly at them, 

 making a fearful din the whole voyage. The ittwerg are 

 men sent by the Sidtan of Temate. Tlieyget about three- 

 pence a day, and find tljeir own provisions. Each man 

 had a strong wooden "betel" box, on which he genen^Uy 

 sat, a sleeping-mat, and a change of clothes— rowing 

 naked, with oidy a sarong or a waist-cloth. They sleep in 

 their places, covered with their mat, which keeps out tlie 

 rain pretty well. They chew betel or smoke cigarettes 

 incessantly ; eat dry sago and a little salt fish ; seldom 

 sing while rowing, except w-hen excited and wanting to 

 reach a stopping- pi ace, and do not talk a great deal. 

 Tliey are mostly Malays, witli a sprinkling of AlfuTOS from 

 Gilolo, and Papuans from Guebo or Waigiou, 



One afternoon wo stayed at iMakian ; many of the men 

 went on shore, ami a great deal of plantains, bananas, and 

 other fruits were brought on board. AVe then went on a 

 little way, and in tlie evening anchored again. When 

 going to bed for the night, I put out my candle, there 

 Iwing still a glimmering lamp burning, and, missing ray 

 handkercldef, tliotight 1 saw it on a box which formed one 

 side of niy bed» and put out niy hand to t4ike it. I quickly 

 drew back on feeling something cool and ver)' smooth, 

 whicli niovetl as I touched it. " Jlring the light,\uick," I 

 crii'd ; here's a snake," And there he was, sure enough, 

 nicfly coiled up, with his head Just raised to inquire who 

 had disturbed liim. It was now necessary to catch or kill 

 him neatly, or he would escape among the piles of miscel- 

 laneous luggage, and we should hardly sleep comfortably 

 On<j of the cx-conviuts volunteered to catch him with his 

 hand wrapped up in a cloth, but from the way he went 

 aliout it 1 saw he was nervous and would let tlie thing go, 

 so I would not allow him to make the attempt I then got 

 a cliopping-knife, and c^irefully moving my insect nets, 

 which hung just over tlie snake and prevented nie getting 



