520 



VOYAGE FROM CERAM 



[chap. ixxt. 



rocky point and \rent to tlie extremity of the ialr.nd 

 without findiniT any sign of the smallest fltream. On our 

 way back, noticing a very small dry bed of a watercourae. 

 I went up it to explore, although everything was so dry 

 that my men loudly declared it was useless to expect 

 water there ; but a little way up I was rewarded by 

 finding a few pints in a small pool. We searched higher 

 lip in every hole and channel where water marks appeared, 

 but coidd find not a drop more. Sending one of my men 

 for a large jar and teacup, we searched along the beach till 

 we found signs of another dry watercourse, nnd on ascending 

 this were so fortunate as to discover two deep sheltered 

 rock-holes containing several gallons of water, enougli to 

 fill all our jars. Wlieu tlie cup came we enjoyed a good 

 drink of the cool pure %vater, and before we left had carried 

 away, I believe, every drop on the island. 



In the evening a good-sized prau ni>peared in sight, 

 makmg apparently for the island where our men were 

 left, and we had some hopes they might be seen and 

 picked up, but it passed along mid-channel, and did not 

 notice the signals we tried to make, I was now, however, 

 pretty easy as to the fate of the men. There was plenty 

 of sago on om- rocky island, and there would probably be 

 some on the flat one they were left on. They had chop- 

 pers, and could cut down a tree and make sago, and would 

 most likely find sufficient water by digging. SheU-fish 

 were abundant, and they would bo able to manage very 

 well till some boat should touch there, or till I could 

 send and fetch them. The next day we devoted to 

 cutting wood, filling up our jars with all the water we 

 could find, and making reatly to saU in the evening. I 

 shot a small loTy closely resembling a common species 

 al Tern ate, and a glossy starling which differed from the 

 allied birds of Ceram and MatabeUo. Large wood-pigeons 

 and crows were the only other birds I saw, but I did not 

 obtain specimens. 



About eight in the evening of June 25th we started, 

 and found that with all hands at work we could just haul 

 up our mainsail- We had a fair \rind during the night and 

 sailed north-east, finding ourselves in the moming about 

 twenty miles west of the extremity of Waigiou with a 



