cfQAF. vsxi.] JOURNEY TO THE MAlNlAm 



441 



CHAPTER XXXL 



TUB ARU ISLANDS— JOUltSEY AND RESIDENCE IN 

 THE INTESTOR. 



(MAKCll TO MAT 1857.) 



MY boat was at length reritly, and having obtained two 

 men besides my ow^i sen^aiits, after an enormous 

 amount of talk and trouble, we left Dobbo on the morning 

 of March 13th, for tlie mainland of Am. By noon we 

 reached the mouth of a small river or creek, which we 

 ascended, windiug among mangrove swamps, with here 

 and there a glimpse of dry land. In two hours we reached 

 a house, or rather small shed, of the most raisenible de- 

 scription, which our st-eei^sman, the "Oraug-kaya" of 

 Warama, said was the place we were to stay at, and where 

 he had assured me we could get every kind of bird and 

 beast to he found in Am, The shed was occupied by 

 about a dozen men, women, and children ; tw^o cooking 

 fires were burning in it, and there si^med little prospect 

 of my obtaining any accommodation, I however deferred 

 inquiry till I had seen the neighbouring forest, and imme- 

 diately started off with two men, net, and guns, along a 

 path at the back of the house. In an hour's walk I saw 

 enough to make me determine to give the place a trial, ami 

 on my return, finding the " Orang-kaya" was in a strong 

 fever-fit and unable to do anything, I entered into nego- 

 tiations with the owner of the house for the use of a slip 

 at one end of it about five feet wide, for a week, and agreed 

 to pay as rent one *' parang," or chopping-knife. I then 

 immediately got my boxes and bedding out of the boat, 

 hung up a shelf for my bird-skins and insects, and got all 

 ready for work next morning. My own boys slept in the 

 boat to guard the remainder of my property \ a cooking 

 place sheltered by a few mats was arranged under a tree 

 close by, and I felt tliat degree of satisfaction and enjoy- 

 ment which I always experience when, aft^r much trouble 



