138 
LARAT. 
anchored in eleven fathoms, sancl and coral, 
three-quarters of a mile from the shore. On 
landing, the contrast to the Australian shores 
we had so recently sailed from was very strik- 
ing. We left a land covered with the monoton- 
ous interminable forest of the eucalyptus or 
gum-tree, which, from the peculiar structure of 
its leaf, affords but little shelter from the tropical 
sun ; shores fringed with impenetrable man- 
groves, . . . the natives black, the lowest in 
the scale of civilised life. . . . We landed on a 
beach, along which a luxuriant growth of cocoa- 
nut trees extended for more than a mile, under 
the shade of which were sheds neatly constructed 
of bamboo and thatched with palm-leaves, for 
the reception of their canoes. The natives who 
thronged the beach were of a light tawny colour, 
mostly line athletic men, with an intelligent 
expression of countenance/ 1 
On the morning of the 13th we finished our 
final packing in much discomfort, for the ship 
rolled badly, and the cabin windows were closed 
(always a misery to me) against spray and rain. 
It cleared when we were passing Molu and Vor- 
date, smaller neighbouring islands ; and as we 
drew near to Larat the sun shone out brightly, 
that we might not land on our adventurous life 
