LANDING THROUGH THE SURF. 



207 



From Amakai we sailed westward across Elpa- 

 piiti Bay to the peninsula already described as re- 

 joicing in the melodious name of Kaihobo. Here, at 

 a small village, a native of Amboina had established 

 himself, and commenced planting cocoa-trees^ w^hich 

 we foimd thriving most satisfactorily, even better 

 than in the gardens I had previously visited on Am- 

 boina. At the present prices this is the most profit- 

 able product that can be raised in the Moluccas, and 

 the good result of this trial shows what enormous 

 quantities might be shipped yearly from this single 

 great island of Ceram, if foreigners or natives would 

 devote themselves to its cultm-e, 



Near by were two villagers of Alfiu'a, who had 

 been induced to abandon their old habits of roaming 

 among the mountains and make for themselves a fixed 

 dwelling-place. The rajah of each place came to 

 the village where we landed, to acknowledge hie 

 allegiance to the Dutch Government. From that 

 place we proceeded southward along the eastern 

 shore of the peninsula. While we were in the bay, 

 the opposite shore sheltered us from the hea^^^ south- 

 easterly swell that now rolled in before a di'i\dng 

 rain-storm, and made our round-bottomed pram roll 

 and pitch so that the rowera could scarcely use their 

 oars. At length, near night, we came to anchor off 

 a village that the Eesident was obliged to ^dsit. It 

 was situated on a straight, open beach, which de- 

 scended so abruptly beneath the sea, that the high 

 swell never once broke before finding itself suddenly 

 stopped in its rapid course ; it rose up in one huge 

 Tvall that reeled forward and feU on the steep shore 



