ciiAP. XXX.] DOBBO, 427 



to me insupportable. Something is also to bo put down 

 to freedom from all restraint of dress, hours of meals, &c., 

 and to the civility aud obliging disposition of the captain, 

 I had agreed to have my meals with him, but whenever I 

 wished it I had them in my own berths and at what 

 hours I felt inclined. The crew were all civil and good- 

 tempered, and with very little discipline everything went 

 on smootldy, and the vessel was kept ver}' clean and in 

 pretty good order, so that on the whole I was much 

 delighted with the trip, and was inclined to rate the 

 luxuries of the semi-barl>arous prau as surpassiug those of 

 the most magnificent screw-steamer, that highest result 

 of our civilisation. 



CHAPTER XXX. 



THB ABU ISLAKDS, — EESIDENCE IH DOBBO. 



(jAinJART TO MAROB 1857.) 



ON the 8th of January, 1857, I landed at Dobbo, the 

 tmding settlement of the Eugis and Chinese, who 

 annually visit the Am Islands. It is situated on the 

 small island of Wamnia, upon a spit of sand which 

 projecta out to the north, and is just wide enough to 

 contain three rows of houses. Though at first sight a 

 most strange and desolate-looking place to build a village 

 on, it has many advantages. There is a clear entrance 

 from the west among the coral reefs that border the land, 

 and there is gooci anchorage for vessels, on one side of the 

 village or the otlicr, in both the east and west monsoons. 

 Being fully exposed to the sea-breezes in three directions 

 it is healthy, and the soft sandy beach oJTers great facilities 

 for hauling up the praus, in order to secure them from 

 sea-worms and prepare them for the homeward voyjuge. 

 At its southern e.Ktremity the sand-bank merges in tlie 

 beach of the island, and is backed by a luxuriant growth 

 of lofty forest. The houses are of various sizes, but are 

 ail built after one pattern, being merely large thatched 



