I was
also much pleased to obtain a fine series of a large fruit-pigeon
with a protuberance on
The bill (Carpophaga tumida), and to
ascertain that this was not, as had been hitherto supposed, a
sexual character, but was found equally in male and female birds.
I collected only seventy-three species of birds in Waigiou, but
twelve of them were entirely new, and many others very rare; and
as I brought away with me twenty-four fine specimens of the
Paradisea rubra, I did not regret my visit to the island,
although it had by no means answered my expectations.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
VOYAGE FROM WAIGIOU TO TERNATE.
(SEPTEMBER 29 To NOVEMBER 5, 1860.)
I HAD left the old pilot at Waigiou to take care of my house and
to get the prau into sailing order - to caulk her bottom, and to
look after the upper works, thatch, and ringing. When I returned
I found it nearly ready, and immediately began packing up and
preparing for the voyage. Our mainsail had formed one side of our
house, but the spanker and jib had been put away in the roof, and
on opening them to see if any repairs were wanted, to our horror
we found that some rats had made them their nest, and had gnawed
through them in twenty places. We had therefore to buy matting
and make new sails, and this delayed us till the 29th of
September, when we at length left Waigiou.
It took us four days before we could get clear of the land,
having to pass along narrow straits beset with reefs and shoals,
and full of strong currents, so that an unfavourable wind stopped
us altogether. One day, when nearly clear, a contrary tide and
head wind drove us ten miles back to our anchorage of the night
before. This delay made us afraid of running short of water if we
should be becalmed at sea, and we therefore determined, if
possible, to touch at the island where our men had been lost, and
which lay directly in our proper course. The wind was, however,
as usual, contrary, being S.S.W. instead of S.S.E., as it should
have been at this time of the year, and all we could do was to
reach the island of Gagie, where we came to an anchor by
moonlight under bare volcanic hills. In the morning we tried to
enter a deep bay, at the head of which some Galela fishermen told
us there was water, but a head-wind prevented us. For the reward
of a handkerchief, however, they took us to the place in their
boat, and we filled up our jars and bamboos. We then went round
to their camping-place on the north coast of the island to try
and buy something to eat, but could only get smoked turtle meat
as black and as hard as lumps of coal. A little further on there
was a plantation belonging to Guebe people, but under the care of
a Papuan slave, and the next morning we got some plantains and a
few vegetables in exchange for a handkerchief and some knives.
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