Voyages of the Dutch brig of war Dourga

by D. H. Kolff

Arrival at the Island Wadia.—Particulars concerning the Island and its Inhabitants.—Dispute between them and the Orang Tua of Fannabel.—Sad Result of their Contentions.—Departure from the Arru Islands.—Arrival at the Tenimber Group.—Vordate.—Ignorance and Perplexity of the Pilot.—Singular Customs.—Violent Conduct of the People of Timor-Laut.—The Inhabitants of Watidal and their Chiefs.

We soon entered the narrow strait which separates the islands of Wassia and Wadia, the last of which was the object of our visit. The people of Wakan, Samau, and the other villages on the sea shore saluting us with shots from their lelahs, which were answered by the brig with several guns. Wassia, the north-westernmost of the Arrus, is overgrown with underwood, and the coral reefs extend some distance from it on all sides, preventing vessels from approaching the shore. The village of Wadia is situated on the west side of the island of that name, on the banks of a salt-water creek, several other villages being scattered over the island.

As soon as we had anchored in the strait, in ten fathoms sand, about four miles from the village of Wadia, the Orang Tuas of the island came on board in two prahus, to bid us welcome. My interpreter accompanied them on shore, to inform the chiefs that I should land the following day to transact the business which had brought me here. With a view to add as much solemnity as possible to my visit, I sent twenty-six armed men on shore early in the morning, and soon after followed them with the gentlemen attached to the expedition. After entering the creek we passed a temple and a number of tombs, and soon arrived at the village, which lies about a cable's length and a half from the mouth. The houses, which stand separated from each other, are erected on both sides of the river, but by far the greater number are to be found on the right-hand side, the dwelling of the Orang Kaya forming a conspicuous object among them.

On our approach to the river we were saluted with seven shots from a one-pounder gun, which had been taken on shore from the brig, while our men were drawn up on the beach to receive us with military honours, the natives themselves saluting us with numerous shots from their lelahs, and displaying several Dutch flags, which appeared to be of their own manufacture. The Orang Kaya welcomed us to his house with many expressions of friendship, when we found that one-half of his dwelling, (a new and rather large building, similar to that of the Orang Kaya of Duryella), had been arranged for our reception, another house having been appropriated for the accommodation of our men. As the house of the Orang Kaya is usually the place where the chiefs assemble, we thought it most advisable to take up our quarters in a small building which had been occupied by the foreign traders, but was now empty.

The population of Wadia is composed of Mohammedans, so that I did not perceive among the chiefs the same affection towards the Netherland's Government which those of the Christian islands displayed. On conversing with them concerning the non-fulfillment of the promise they made to M. Bik in 1824, to resort to Banda, I clearly discovered that the Macassar traders had done all in their power to make them fearful of us. These had made them believe that the sole object of our Government consisted in increasing their revenue from imposts, and many similar absurdities, which it cost me considerable difficulty to drive from their minds. They also asserted, that owing to the small amount of the population they dared not leave their villages for a lengthened period, unless the Netherlands' Government should have a post upon the Arru Islands.

This request for a Dutch Resident or Postholder, with a small garrison, was made to me on all the islands, and the people appeared to be well aware that it would contribute greatly to maintaining order among them, and increasing their prosperity. Christians, Mahommedans and Arafuras, all perfectly agreed in this particular.

The creek on which this village is situated, runs right through the island. Both banks are low and marshy, and the depth of water in it is very small; indeed, many parts are quite dry at low water. It is abundantly stocked with fish, which, in fact, is the case everywhere among the group. Live stock, on the other hand, is very scarce: pigs are only kept by the Arafuras, the Mohammedans contenting themselves with goats and fowls, which last are to be purchased at the rate of a rupee each. With the exception of these there are no tame stock on the islands. Wild hogs are abundant, but they are rarely hunted by the natives.

The pilandok is also to be met with, together with birds-of-paradise, and immense numbers of cockatoos, red, green and black loories, and other sorts of handsomely-plumaged birds. The Arafuras shoot the birds-of-paradise with arrows, when they are opened, and deprived of their entrails, and then wrapped in a thin leaf and hung to dry in the smoke of their fires; this being the only preparation they require to render them ready for exportation.

Sago and yams form the only vegetable productions which the island affords. Rice is imported by the Macassars, and by the people of the Ki and Goram Islands, who, on their part, obtain them from Banda. The people have but few wants. Their dwellings are mean, and their sole property consists in slaves, muskets, lelahs, gongs and elephants' tusks. The first are obtained chiefly from New Guinea, and from the back parts of the group.

The people of Wadia, and of the western islands of the Arru group in general, are very desirous of obtaining the imitation blue, red and black calicoes,[34] especially the last sort manufactured in the Netherlands. Square checked, or closely flowered chintzes, are also much in demand. These goods, however, would be too fine for the Arafuras of the back of the group, who only care for those of coarser materials, such as coarse chintzes, blue and white salempoors, red coast-calicoes, red baftas, Samanap sarongs, axes, parangs, chopping knives, brass wire, coarse Chinese porcelain, arrack, aniseed, gongs, elephants' tusks, small red beads and other trifles of a similar description.