542 



rOYAGE FROM WAIGIOU [cnxv. ixxviu 



Now, ho^^'ever, came the climax of our troubles. The 

 swell produced by the squall made us jerk our cable a good 

 deal, and it suddenly snapped low down in the water. 

 W'e drifted out to sea, and immediately set our mainsail, 

 but we were now without any anchor, and in a vessel so 

 pfjorly manned that it could not be rowed a^iainsfc the most 

 feeble cun-eut or the slightest wind, it would be madness to 

 approach tliese liangerous shores except in the moat perfect 

 culm. We had also only three days' food left. It was 

 fherefore out of the question malving any further attempts 

 to get round tbe point %vilhout assistance, and 1 at once 

 determined to nm to the village of Gani-diluar, about ten 

 miles further north, \\diere we nndei-stood there was a good 

 harbour, and where we might get provisions and a few 

 more rowers. Hitherto winds and currents had invariably 

 opposed our pa.ssage southward and we might have ex- 

 pected them to be favourahle to us now we had turned our 

 bowsprit in an opposite direction. But it immediately fell 

 cahn, and then after a time a westerly land breeze set in, 

 which would not serve us, and we had to row again for 

 houi-s, and when niglit came had not reached the village. 

 We were so fortunate, however, as to tind a deep sheltered 

 cove where the water was quite smooth, and we con- 

 structed a temporary anchor by filling a sack with stones 

 from our ballast,, which being well secured by a network 

 of rattans held us safely during tlie night. The next 

 morning my men went on shore to cut wood suitable for 

 njaking fresh anchors, and about noon, the current tui'uing 

 in our favour^ we proceeded to the vdlt^e, where we fouutl 

 an excellent and well -protected anchorage. 



On inquiry, we found that tbe head men resided at the 

 other (lani on the western side of the peninsula, and it 

 was necessary to seiul messengers across (about half a 

 day's journc}') to inform them of my arrival, and to beg 

 them to assist me. I then succeeded in buying a little 

 sago, some dried deer-meat and cocoa-nute, which at once 

 relieved our immediate want of something to eat. At 

 night we found our bag of stones still held us very well, 

 and we slept tranquilly. 



The next day ((Jctoher 12th), my men set to work 

 making anchors and oara. The native Malay anchor xs 



