in the mountains inland, I returned to sleep in the boat. Next morning we
proceeded, changing men at Warenama, and again at Hatometen, at both of
which places there was much surf and no harbour, so that the men had to go on
shore and come on board by swimming. Arriving in the evening of March 7th at
Batuassa, the first village belonging to the Rajah of Tobo, and under the
government of Banda, the surf was very heavy, owing to a strong westward
swell. We therefore rounded the rocky point on which the village was situated,
but found it very little better on the other side. We were obliged, however, to go
on shore here; and waiting till the people on the beach had made preparations, by
placing a row of logs from the water's edge on which to pull up our boats, we
rowed as quickly as we could straight on to them, after watching till the heaviest
surfs had passed. The moment we touched ground our men all jumped out, and,
assisted by those on shore, attempted to haul up the boat high and dry, but not
having sufficient hands, the surf repeatedly broke into the stern. The steepness of
the beach, however, prevented any damage being done, and the other boat
having both crews to haul at it, was got up without difficulty.
The next morning, the water being low, the breakers were at some distance
from shore, and we had to watch for a smooth moment after bringing the boats to
the water's edge, and so got safely out to sea. At the two next villages, Tobo and
Ossong, we also took in fresh men, who came swimming through the surf; and at
the latter place the Rajah came on board and accompanied me to Kissalaut,
where he has a house which he lent me during my stay. Here again was a heavy
surf, and it was with great difficulty we got the boats safely hauled up. At
Amboyna I had been promised at this season a calm sea and the wind off shore,
but in this case, as in every other, I had been unable to obtain any reliable
information as to the winds and seasons of places distant two or three days'
journey. It appears, however, that owing to the general direction of the island of
Ceram (E.S.E. and W.N.W.), there is a heavy surf and scarcely any shelter on
the south coast during the west monsoon, when alone a journey to the eastward
can be safely made; while during the east monsoon, when I proposed to return
along the north coast to Wahai, I should probably find that equally exposed and
dangerous. But although the general direction of the west monsoon in the Banda
sea causes a heavy swell, with bad surf on the coast, yet we had little advantage
of the wind; for, owing I suppose to the numerous bays and headlands, we had
contrary south-east or even due east winds all the way, and had to make almost
the whole distance from Amboyna by force of rowing. We had therefore all the
disadvantages, and none of the advantages, of this west monsoon, which I was
told would insure me a quick and pleasant journey.