Voyages of the Dutch brig of war Dourga

by D. H. Kolff

CHAPTER XVI.

THE TENIMBER ISLANDS.

Departure for the Island Maling.—Laboba Island.—Productive Fishery.—Heavy Dew on the Island Wau.—Arrival at the Village of Maktia.—Occurrences there.—One of the Crew severely wounded.—Return towards Vordate.—Return of the Envoys to Serra.—Want of Water.—Poisonous Beans.—Death of the wounded Man.—Return to the Brig.—Arrival of the Chiefs of Serra.—Transactions at Vordate.—Departure from the Tenimber Islands.—Arrival at Amboyna.

After having passed the night on the island Teen, under the coast of Timor-Laut, we pursued our voyage early on the morning, and passed through a number of small islands, without meeting with any occurrence worthy of remark. Turtle of an enormous size often made their appearance on the surface, and trepang lay on the banks in the greatest abundance. The greater number of the islands are rocky, with trees upon them; but these had almost entirely lost their leaves, owing to great, heat and want of rain. There are numerous channels through the shoals which fill this part of the sea, but they are so small and crooked that the navigation proves very difficult. The larger vessels, which pass to and from Serra, keep to the westward of the course we pursued.

Towards noon the falling of the tide prevented us from proceeding, and we therefore landed on Maling island, a little to the eastward of Laboba, the latter island being distinguished from the others by a peaked hill, raised about seven hundred feet above the level of the sea, from the summit of which we saw the land of Timor-Laut over the tops of the numerous small islands lying to the eastward. Laboba is rocky, but covered with trees; and a stream of fresh water exists on the east side, running down from the hill. A number of islands and reefs lie to the westward of this island, shutting it in from the open sea. The vessel of the son of the Orang Kaya, which accompanied us, was unable to keep way with our boats, and did not arrive until two hours after us.

After we had landed, I permitted the crew to haul the seine, and at two draughts we obtained abundance of very delicate flavoured fish. We met with no game, however, except numbers of sea-mews, which roosted on the island at night, their days being employed in seeking sustenance over the adjacent waters.

Towards evening we again continued, having arranged that the Orang Kaya should await our arrival at the point of Maktia, a spot about twenty miles distant from Serra, that he might procure fresh water for us from the adjacent village. He expected to be there before us, as he purposed running close along the coast of the main island, which the small draft of his vessel would enable him to do, and there, during calms or contrary winds, he would find no difficulty in pushing his vessel along by means of long bamboos.

The light of the full moon enabled us to continue rowing throughout the night, but the shallowness of the water prevented our reaching Maktia Point, and forced us to remain at Wau Island until the tide should rise. So heavy a dew fell during the night, that we were all wet through before morning. This had a very injurious effect on the health of my fellow-voyagers; M. Dielwaart and myself being afflicted with dreadful pains in the stomach, while many of the seamen were attacked with the same disease, or with agues. The Orang Kaya had spent the night upon one of the other islands, and joined us in the morning, when we proceeded as fast as the wind would permit towards Maktia, as we already began to feel the want of water. I had now hopes of having an interview with the inhabitants of Timor-Laut, and of being of some service to them.

When seen from a distance, the ten or twelve houses which form the village present a pretty appearance. The mud bank, which fronts the shore, is dry at low water to the distance of a mile to seaward, but the state of the tide permitted us to advance within musket range of the beach, where the boats grounded; and as no harm could ensue, they were permitted to lie in the mud. The Orang Kaya sent one of his men on shore, who would not enter the village, but called to the inhabitants from a distance. The village appeared to be abandoned, for we saw no one but two unarmed men who were leaving it.

Although neither the Orang Kaya nor myself suspected the inhabitants of any bad intentions, I judged it advisable for us to be on our guard. I therefore, in the first place, sent a detachment of armed seamen, accompanied by the people of the Orang Kaya, into the forest beside the village, to search for water, but they returned without having found any. As the Orang Kaya assured me that water would be found within the village, I sent the men in, and they succeeded in obtaining two bamboos full. They saw no one in the village, and in accordance with my orders did not enter any of the houses, but returned straight to the beach, and kindled a fire to cook some rice and other provisions. I, also, went on shore to obtain an interview with the natives if possible, but not meeting with any one, I caused a small flag and a piece of cloth to be brought from the boat and hung up to one of the trees. At this moment two unarmed men made their appearance at a distance, and I had scarcely returned to the beach for the purpose of entering the boat, when several arrows were shot from the thicket, one of which struck J. Moll, one of the seamen who were collecting wood. He immediately threw away his arms, and called out for assistance, on which he was carried into the boat, while two of his comrades ran into the thicket to search for the offender, but without meeting with success.