CTIAr. XXXV.] 



TO IVAIQIOU, 



523 



by a projecting point, so that it was no wonder we did not 

 discover it amid the dense forest vegetation which e^^e.iy- 

 ■where covers these ifilaiids to the water's edge. A Httle 

 way inside it becomes boiuided by precipitous rocks, after 

 winding among which for about two miles, we emerged 

 into what seemed a lake, but which wa.s in fact a deep 

 guLf having a narrow entrance on the south coast. This 

 gulf was studded along its shores with nurabei*s of rocky 

 islets, mostly mushroom shaped, from the water having 

 worn away the lower part of the soluble coralline lime- 

 stone, leaving them overhanging from ten to twenty feet 

 Every islet was covered with strange-looking slmibs and 

 trees, and was generally crowned by lofty and elegant 

 palms, which also studded the riilges of the mountainous 

 shores, forming one of the most singular and picturesque 

 landscapes I have ever seen. The current which had 

 brought us througli the narrow strait now ceased, and we 

 were obhged to row, which with our short and heavy prau 

 was slow work. I went on shore several times, but tlie 

 rocks were so precipitous, sharp, and honeycombed, that I 

 found it impossible to get through the tangled thickets 

 with which they were everywhere clothed. It took us 

 three days to get to the entrance of the gulf, and then the 

 wiud was such as to prevent our going any further, and we 

 might have had to wait for days or weeks, when, much to 

 my surprise and gratification, a boat anived from Miika 

 with one of the head men, who liad in some mysterious 

 manner heard I was on my way, and hail come to ray as- 

 sistance, bringing a present of cocoa-nuts and vegetables.- 

 Being thoroughly acquainted with the coast, and having 

 several extra men to assist us, he managed to get the prau 

 along by romng, poling, or sailing, and by night had 

 brought u3 safely into harbour, a great relief after owe 

 tedious and unhappy voyage. We had been already eight 

 days among the reefs and islands of Waigiou, coming a 

 distance of about fifty miles, and it was just forty days 

 since we had sailed from Goram. 



Immediately on oiu- arrival at JIuka, I engaged a small 

 boat and three natives to go in search of ray lost men, and 

 sent one of ray own men with them to make sm^ of their 

 going to the right island. In ten days they returned, but 



