Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
starling which differed from the allied birds of Ceram and Matabello. Large wood-pigeons
and crows were the only other birds I saw, but I did not obtain specimens.
About eight in the evening of June 25th we started, and found that with all hands at work
we could just haul up our mainsail. We had a fair wind during the night and sailed north-
east, finding ourselves in the morning about twenty miles west of the extremity of Waigiou
with a number of islands intervening. About ten o'clock we ran full on to a coral reef, which
alarmed us a good deal, but luckily got safe off again. About two in the afternoon we
reached an extensive coral reef, and were sailing close alongside of it, when the wind sud-
denly dropped, and we drifted on to it before we could get in our heavy mainsail, which we
were obliged to let run down and fall partly overboard. We had much difficulty in getting
off, but at last got into deep water again, though with reefs and islands all around us. At
night we did not know what to do, as no one on board could tell where we were or what
dangers might surround us, the only one of our crew who was acquainted with the coast of
Waigiou having been left on the island. We therefore took in all sail and allowed ourselves
to drift, as we were some miles from the nearest land. A light breeze, however, sprang up,
and about midnight we found ourselves again bumping over a coral reef. As it was very
dark, and we knew nothing of our position, we could only guess how to get off again, and
had there been a little more wind we might have been knocked to pieces. However, in about
half an hour we did get off, and then thought it best to anchor on the edge of the reef till
morning. Soon after daylight on the 27th, finding our prau had received no damage, we
sailed on with uncertain winds and squalls, threading our way among islands and reefs, and
guided only by a small map, which was very incorrect and quite useless, and by a general
notion of the direction we ought to take. In the afternoon we found a tolerable anchorage un-
der a small island and stayed for the night, and I shot a large fruit-pigeon new to me, which I
have since named Carpophaga tumida. I also saw and shot at the rare white-headed kingfish-
er (Halcyon saurophaga), but did not kill it. The next morning we sailed on, and having a
fair wind reached the shores of the large island of Waigiou. On rounding a point we again
ran full on to a coral reef with our mainsail up, but luckily the wind had almost died away,
and with a good deal of exertion we managed to get safely off.
We now had to search for the narrow channel among the islands, which we knew was
somewhere hereabouts, and which leads to the villages on the south side of Waigiou. Enter-
ing a deep bay which looked promising, we got to the end of it, but it was then dusk, so we
anchored for the night, and having just finished all our water could cook no rice for supper.
Next morning early (29th) we went on shore among the mangroves, and a little way inland
found some water, which relieved our anxiety considerably, and left us free to go along the
