403 ifJCASS.LU TO THE AliU ISLANDS, [chap, xxviii- 



cook tolerably. lie was to fultil the important office of 

 cook aiid housukueptir, for I could not get any refjidar 

 servants to go to such a terrilily remote country ; one 

 might as well ask a chef de aiisine to go to Patagonia. 



<Jn the fifth day that 1 had spent on board (Dee. loth) 

 the rain a^aged, ainl liind pit^paration.^ were made for 

 btarting. Sails were dried and furled, boats were constantly 

 coming and going, and stores for tlie voyage, fruit, vc^t- 

 tables, tisli, aud palm sugar, were taken on board. In the 

 afternoon two women ariivcd with a large party of friends 

 aud relations, ami at parting there was a general uose- 

 ruUbing (the ilalay kissj, and some tears shed. These 

 were promising symptoms for our getting otf the next 

 day ; and accordingly, at throe in the morning, the owner 

 came on board, the anchor was immediately weighed, and 

 by four set sail. Just as we were fairly otf and clear 

 of tlie other prans, the old juragan repeated some prayers, 

 all around respoiiding wiLli "Allah il A)lah," and a few 

 strokes on a gong as au accoinpanitnent, concluding with 

 all wishing euch other " tsalaamat jalaii," a safe and happy 

 Journey. We had a light breeze, a calm sea, and a tine 

 morning, a prusperou.'s coninieneemcnt of our voyage of 

 about a thousand ndles to the far-famed Aru Islands. 



Tlie wind continued light and variable all day, with a 

 calm in the evenmg betore the land breeze sprang up. We 

 were then passing the island of '* Tanakaki " (foot of the 

 land), at the extreme south of this part of Celeba?. There 

 are some dangerous rocks here, and as I was standing by 

 the bulwarks, I happened to spit over the side ; one of the 

 men begged I would not do so juat now, but spit on deck, 

 as they were much afraid of this placa Kot quite com- 

 prehending, I made him ret '^^^ request, when, seeing he 

 was in earnest, I said, '* Very well, 1 suppose there are 

 'hantus' (spirits) here." Yes," said he, ''and they don't 

 like anything to be thrown overboard ; many a prau luis 

 been lost by doing it," Upon whicli I promised to be 

 very carefuL At simset the good ilahonietans on board 

 all repeated a few words of prayer with a general chorus^ 

 reminding me of the pleasing and impressive " Ave ilaria'* 

 of Catholic countries. 



JJec. 20tk — At sunrise we were opposite the Bontyne 



