| For | 5 | lbs. tobacco | one pig. |
| " | 20 | Steel fish-hooks | " |
| " | 5 | Strings of red corals | " |
| " | 5 | Strings of green and red glass beads | " |
| " | 5 | Packets of needles and thread | " |
| " | 10 | Ells of calico | " |
| " | 5 | Fish-hooks | ten eggs. |
| " | 5 | Fish-hooks | two hens. |
| " | 10 | Fish-hooks | 30 pieces of Taro. |
| " | 2 | Packets needles and threads | 30 pieces of Taro. |
| " | 1 | Packet old playing-cards | 4 hens. |
[201] One Chinese picul = 133 1⁄2 lbs. English, whereas one Dutch picul = 135 3⁄5 lbs. English.
[202] Called Trepang by the Malays, hái-schni by the Chinese, and Biche-de-mar by both English and French. Of this holothuria or sea-cucumber (Holothuria edulis), there are about 400 tons annually imported into China from the various islands of the Southern Ocean.
[203] During our excursion, there were taken on board the frigate, which cruised to and fro in short tacks off the island, about 200 readings of the temperature, at depths of every 50 fathoms. It was also intended to experiment as to soundings, but the state of the weather prevented this, as there were continual squalls, and the threatening state of the weather did not admit of a boat being launched. However at a distance of half a mile from the reef, no bottom was found with 200 fathoms of line.
[204] It is perhaps a duty to our gallant companions of every grade to vindicate the Expedition once more, and finally, from certain malignant calumnies which, upwards of a year after we had left Australian waters, were circulated in the columns of even respectable newspapers, accusing the crew of the Novara of having been guilty of most scandalous excesses and wanton robbery while at Sikayana. It seems however needless to insist that not the slightest pretext for such infamous aspersions was furnished by any of the party who spent these few hours in Sikayana, of which we have sketched the details in the present chapter. But the fact that they could be circulated without its being possible to contradict them on official authority points to a serious defect in our diplomatic position abroad. True, that no respectable member of the community accredited the idle mischievous report; true that the leading inhabitants, English, American, and German, strenuously combated it on every possible occasion, and in every possible manner. Yet had Austria been a recognized power, instead of a friendly guest, it needs but little acquaintance with the etiquette of public and official life to know that the calumny must have been stifled in its birth, by the prompt action of those specially appointed to protect the fair fame of their country in these distant waters. Not till her flag floats regularly to the breeze in the most distant countries, instead of being that of a casual visitor, will Austria, and through her the entire German nation, receive that respect, and occupy that position among the family of nations, to which her intelligence, her energy, and her important influence upon the progress of civilization alike entitle her.
[205] The quantity of rain that falls in these latitudes is something almost incredible. One single squall from the N.W. was accompanied by a rainfall of three inches, in the course of five hours, whereas the entire rainfall for the year in London, for instance, is only 18.07 inches.
[206] The native name is Ulatúa.
END OF VOL. II.