The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online

XXXV.] VOYAGE FROM CERAM TO WAIGIOU. 397the afternoon I crossed over to the other side of the island, andmade a large tire, in order that our men might see we were stillthere.The next day (24th) I determined to have another search forwater ; and when the tide was out rounded a rocky point andwent to the extremity of the island without finding any sign ofthe smallest stream. On our way back, noticing a very smalldry bed of a watercourse, I went up it to explore, althougheverything was so dry that my men loudly declared it was uselessto expect water there ; but a little way up I was rewardedby finding a few pints in a small pool. We searched higher upin every hole and channel where Avater marks appeared, butcould find not a drop more. Sending one of my men for a largejar and teacup, we searched along the beach till we found .signsof another dry watercourse, and on ascending this were so fortunateas to discover two deep sheltei'ed rock-holes containingseveral gallons of water, enough to fill all our jars. When thecup came we enjoyed a good drink of the cool pure water, andbefore we left had carried away, I believe, every drop on theisland.In the evening a good-sized j^rau appeared in sight, makingapparently for the island where our men were left, and we hadsome hopes they might be seen and picked up, but it passedalong mid-channel, and did not notice the signals we tried tomake. I was now, however, pretty easy as to the fate of themen. There was plenty of sago on our rocky island, and therewould probably be some on the flat one they were left on. Theyhad choppers, and could cut down a tree and make sago, andwould most likely find suflicient water by digging. Shell-fishwere abundant, and they would be able to manage very well tillsome boat should touch there, or till I could send and fetch them.The next day we devoted to cutting wood, filling up our jarswith all the water we could find, and making ready to sail inthe evening. I shot a small lory closely resembling a commonspecies at Ternate, and a glossy stai-ling which difiered from theallied birds of Ceram and Matabello. Large wood-pigeons andcrows were the only other birds I saw, but I did not obtainspecimens.About eight in the evening of June 25tli we started, andfound that with all hands at work we could just haul up ourmainsail. AVe had a fair wind during the night and sailed northeast,finding ourselves in the morning about twenty miles westof the extremity of Waigiou with a number of islands intervening.About ten o'clock we ran full on to a coral reef, wliichalarmed us a good deal, but luckily got safe off" again. Abouttwo in the afternoon we reached an extensive coral reef, andwere sailing close alongside of it, when the wind suddenlydropped, and we drifted on to it before we could get in ourheavy mainsail, which we were obliged to letpartly overboard.run down and fallWe had much difficulty in getting off", but at