Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
at the peril of their own heads. But anything of this kind would be quite contrary to the sys-
tem adopted by the Dutch Government in its dealings with natives.
GORAM TO WAHAI IN CERAM
When my boat was at length launched and loaded, I got my men together, and actually set
sail the next day (May 27th), much to the astonishment of the Goram people, to whom such
punctuality was a novelty. I had a crew of three men and a boy, besides my two Amboyna
lads; which was sufficient for sailing, though rather too few if obliged to row much. The
next day was very wet, with squalls, calms, and contrary winds, and with some difficulty we
reached Kilwaru, the metropolis of the Bugis traders in the far East. As I wanted to make
some purchases, I stayed here two days, and sent two of my boxes of specimens by a Ma-
cassar prau to be forwarded to Ternate, thus relieving myself of a considerable incumbrance.
I bought knives, basins, and handkerchiefs for barter, which with the choppers, cloth, and
beads I had brought with me, made a pretty good assortment. I also bought two tower mus-
kets to satisfy my crew, who insisted on the necessity of being armed against attacks of pir-
ates; and with spices and a few articles of food for the voyage nearly my last doit was ex-
pended.
The little island of Kilwaru is a mere sandbank, just large enough to contain a small vil-
lage, and situated between the islands of Ceram-laut, and Kissa—straits about a third of a
mile wide separating it from each of them. It is surrounded by coral reefs, and offers good
anchorage in both monsoons. Though not more than fifty yards across, and not elevated
more than three or four feet above the highest tides, it has wells of excellent drinking wa-
ter—a singular phenomenon, which would seem to imply deep-seated subterranean channels
connecting it with other islands. These advantages, with its situation in the centre of the
Papuan trading district, lead to its being so much frequented by the Bugis traders. Here the
Goram men bring the produce of their little voyages, which they exchange for cloth, sago
cakes, and opium; and the inhabitants of all the surrounding islands visit it with the same
object. It is the rendezvous of the praus trading to various parts of New Guinea, which here
assort and dry their cargoes, and refit for the voyage home. Tripang and mussoi bark are the
most bulky articles of produce brought here, with wild nutmegs, tortoise-shell, pearls, and
birds of Paradise, in smaller quantities. The villagers of the mainland of Ceram bring their
sago, which is thus distributed to the islands farther east, while rice from Bali and Macassar
can also be purchased at a moderate price. The Goram men come here for their supplies of
opium, both for their own consumption and for barter in Mysol and Waigiou, where they
have introduced it, and where the chiefs and wealthy men are passionately fond of it.
