414 MACASSAR TO THE ARU ISU.VDS [cjiap. xxviti. 



Dec. — At daybreak the K<5 Islands (pronounced 

 ktty) were in sight, wht^re we are to atay a few days. 

 About noon we rou tided the iinrtijern point, and end(ia* 

 voured to coast along to the anchorage; but being now on 

 the leeward i^ide of the islan<l, the wind came in \nolent 

 irrerridar gusts, and then leaving us altogether, we were 

 carried back by a strong can-ent Just then two boats- 

 load of natives appeared, and out owner having agreed 

 with them to t^DW us into har))0UT, they tried to do so, 

 assisted by our own boat, but could make no way. We 

 were therefore obliged to anchor in a very dangerous place 

 on a rocky bottooi, and we were engaged till nearly dark 

 getting hawsers secured to some rocks under water. The 

 coast of along which we bad piissed was very pic- 

 turesque. Light coloured limestone rocks rose abniptly 

 from tlie water to the height of several hundred feet, every- 

 where broken into jutting peaks and pinnacles, we^ither- 

 worn intf> sharp points and honeycombed surfaces, and 

 clothed throughout with a most varied and luxuriant 

 vegetation. The cliffs above the sea offered to our view 

 screw-pines and arborescent Liliacese of strange forms, 

 mingled with shrubs and creepers ; while the higher 

 slopes supported a dense growth of forest trees. Here and 

 there little bays and inlets presented beaches of dazzling 

 whiteness. The water vvas transparent as crystal, and tinged 

 the roek-strewii slope which plunged steeply into its 

 unfathoniable depths with colours varying from emerald 

 lo lapis-lazulL The sea was calm ns a lake, and tho 

 glorious sun of the tropics threw a flood of golden light 

 over alb The scene was to me inexpressibly delightful 

 I was in a new world, and could dream of the wonderful 

 productions bid in tliose rocky foi'ests, and in those azure 

 abysses. But few European feet had ever trodden the 

 shoves I gazed upon ; its plants, and animals, and men 

 were alike almost unknown, and I could not help sijccu- 

 lating on what my wanderings there for a few days might 

 bring to light 



