From this place we pursued our voyage towards the island of Damma, of which some particulars will be given in the ensuing chapter.
FOOTNOTES:
[13] Corporal Duif erected this building in the year 17..
[14] Paduakans are native vessels, having a single mast in the form of a tripod, on which is set a large oblong mat sail, similar to that used by the fishing prahus of Batavia. They are of from twenty to one hundred tons burden (ten tot fifty lasten) with great beam and high sides, but having little hold in the water. They are steered by two long rudders, which are lifted up when the vessel is at anchor or passing over shallow water.
CHAPTER VI.
DAMMA.
Arrival at the Island of Damma.—Description of the Country and Inhabitants.—Warm Springs.—Retrograde Movements of the Natives in point of Civilization.—Their Attachment to the Religion and Manners of the Dutch.—Productions of the Soil.—Dangerous Channel along the Coast.—The Columba Globicera.—Wild Nutmeg Trees.—General Meeting of the Chiefs.—Transactions of M. Kam.
During the voyage I had every reason to be satisfied with the knowledge, experience, conduct and foresight of my pilot, and therefore I entered with confidence the Bay of Kulewatte, on the east side of Damma, although I could not help immediately remarking that it must be very difficult to sail out of the Bay during the easterly monsoon. The pilot, however, confidently assured me, that we should have a steady land wind to carry us out, while there was no other anchoring place near the island; I therefore brought the brig to an anchor under the north point of a small cove lying within the great bay, the latter, which extends about four miles into the land, with high and precipitous shores, being very rocky, and in many parts unfathomable.[15]
Damma is high and hilly, and on the north-east extremity lies a volcanic peak, from the crater of which smoke issues almost without interruption. At the foot of this mountain, near the cove in which we lay, some warm sulphureous springs gushed up through holes in the rocks, the water of which was at so high a temperature, that some yams which I placed in them were cooked within a comparatively short period. Two of our ship's crew, who were so afflicted with rheumatism as to be not only unfit for duty, but in a state of great misery, were sent by our doctor to these springs every morning; and he assured me that the use of the water contributed greatly to the improvement of their health.
Upon the point of the cove in which we were anchored, we perceived the remains of a block-house and other buildings, which had been erected under the direction of the late East India Company, but of which nothing was now left but some heaps of rubbish; while the neighbouring country, once fertile and well-cultivated, presented the appearance of a neglected wilderness, traces of former industry being yet apparent among the luxuriant vegetation. To the westward of us was a stream of clear and pure water, from which we filled up our casks. On the north side of this is placed the village of Selat, once flourishing and prosperous, but now consisting of only about twenty houses. A few Christians are still to be met with among the inhabitants, but by far the greater portion are either heathens, or individuals once Christians, who have returned to their former habits.