RELATION OF PROCEEDINGS AT TIMOR AND ROTTEE-NEW OF SHORES-SCENERY AND THUNDER STORM-DEPARTURE FOR THE INTERIOR-DIFFICULTIES OF THE ROUTE -SICKNESS AND MORTALITY AMONG THE STOCK-CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY. HORSES AND DURING the absence of the schooner, we had our attention fully engaged in forming a garden, collecting specimens, and building sheds for the stores. So difficult and rocky was the country we were in, that I was employed for several days in finding a route by which unloaded horses could travel from the beach in Hanover Bay to the point where we were encamped, for the landing-place at the end of the ravine was so rocky, as to be impracticable for that purpose. Mr. Walker at length discovered a pass in the cliffs, and by constructing a winding path in this, he thought that we should be able to get loaded horses out of the valley. I feared that he was too sanguine, and therefore daily renewed my search in all directions. I travelled up the entire length of the ravine that we were encamped in, but found that even granting it was not 116 RETURN OF THE LYNHER. flooded, we should find great difficulty in emerging by this route. These circumstances made me resolve upon the return of the schooner to re-embark the stores, and land them again either upon a point I had fixed upon on the south bank of Prince Regent's River, or upon the neck of land I have before mentioned, which lay between Port George the Fourth and Hanover Bay; but I could not finally decide upon either of the points, until the return of the vessel should enable me to examine the coast between Port George the Fourth and Camden Sound; for my party only consisted of nine men, of whom, with the exception of three or four, I knew nothing, and after what I had seen of the treacherous disposition of the natives, I did not think, in my position, it would be prudent to absent myself from them for any length of time. Amidst such exciting and busy scenes, the time flew rapidly away until the 17th of January, when about 11 A.M., the report of a carronade came echoing up the valley. This was the preconcerted signal which was to announce to us that the vessel was safely at anchor in Hanover Bay. We were of course all anxiety to hear an account of their adventures, and to ascertain whether the horses were safe. I hastened directly to the landing-place, where I met Mr. Lushington and a party coming ashore from the schooner. The following outline of their transactions was soon given : TRANSACTIONS AT COEPANG AND ROTTEE. 117. They had quitted Hanover Bay on the 21st December, at 9 A.M., and reached Coepang, in the Island of Timor, on the 1st of January. For the first three days until they got clear of the land, they had every evening, soon after sunset, heavy squalls from the N.E., accompanied with thunder, lightning, and rain; the prevalent wind was, however, from the N.W. The Lynher remained at Coepang until the 7th, during which time they completed their water, and collected cocoa nuts, bread-fruit trees, &c., to be planted in Australia; but as Mr. Lushington found that he should be able more easily to obtain ponies at the island of Rottee, than at Coepang, they sailed on the morning of the 7th for that place, and at 7 P. M. came to in the harbour of Rougun, in eleven fathoms water, with muddy bottom. They were enabled to procure at Rottee the requisite number of horses, by the evening of the 11th of January. The people of this island appeared to be excessively ignorant,-knew but little of the nature and value of money,—and were much astonished when they were shewn a watch. Their favourite mode of disposing of their property was by barter; the articles they prized most were muskets and coarse gunpowder, but they preferred having the gunpowder in a claret bottle, as if this was considered by them to be some definite measure which bore a certain value. They were not very particular about the quality of the muskets, provided their outward form and appearance were tole 118 MODE OF BARTER AT ROTTEE. rably good. I have since ascertained that the natives of the little frequented islands of the Archipelago invariably prefer an old musket to a new one, as they conceive a totally new one may be unsafe, from having been made merely for the purpose of sale; whilst one which has seen service has been indisputably manufactured for use. If they entertain any doubt about the goodness of a musket, they generally insist upon the seller's firing it off. The people of Rottee are not allowed to fix themselves what is to be the price of their horses all the details of the sale are settled by an assemblage of chiefs their constant cry in bartering (if anything else is offered to them,) is "schnapper, schnapper," a musket, a musket. They refused at first to take percussion guns in exchange, but when they saw Captain Browse cock one of these, pour a quantity of water over the lock, and fire it off, their astonishment knew no bounds, and they then eagerly bartered for them. When they found that all the muskets were exhausted, they were content to take money and other articles in lieu: an old dress waistcoat of mine, and a regulation breastplate, procured eight small sheep; and Captain Browse got fourteen goats for a pair of old pistols. The authorities give every encouragement to the trader; but the duties exacted are high, for at Coepang and Rottee, they demand six rupees duty for every horse exported, or musket imported. Arms and gunpowder are no longer considered contraband. The inhabitants of Rottee were described as NEW ISLAND DISCOVERED. 119 being so indolent, that it was almost impossible to induce them to do anything: although every means were used to tempt them to cut a sufficient quantity of fodder for the ponies on their passage, they constantly delayed doing so, and Mr. Lushington's patience being at last worn out, the vessel put to sea on the 12th of January, 1838. On the 13th they sighted the Hibernian shoal which they made in 11° 57′ s. lat. and 123° 22′ 30′′ E. longitude. On Monday, 15th of January, at 10 P.M. they discovered an island, thus described in the log of the Lynher: "At 10 h. 30 min. P.M. saw land about a quarter of a mile a-head; hauled our wind to w. by s.; sounded in 12 fathoms water, rocky bottom; it appeared to be about one mile in extent, and about twenty feet above the water. After running w. by s. one mile, got no bottom with 40 fathoms of line. Kept our course s. by E.: it (the island) appeared to be quite level with rocks extending to N.w., with heavy breakers. Made it by observation, s. lat. 14° 4′; E. long. 123° 31', by good chronometer rated at Rottee." At 6 A.m. on the morning of the 16th, they experienced heavy squalls of wind off Red Island, and this prevented them from getting into Hanover Bay on that day; but on the morning of the 17th they anchored safely, without having lost a single pony, or without having experienced any serious misfortune, having made the passage from Rottee in five days. Some short time was occupied in narrating the |
