Sometimes We
Approached The Point A Little, And Our Hopes Revived; Then The
Wind Fell, And We Drifted Slowly Away.
Night found us in nearly
the same position as we had occupied in the morning, so we hung
down our anchor with about fifteen fathoms of cable to prevent
drifting.
On the morning of the 7th we were however, a good way
up the coast, and we now thought our only chance would be to got
close in-shore, where there might be a return current, and we
could then row. The prau was heavy, and my men very poor
creatures for work, so that it took us six hours to get to the
edge of the reef that fringed the shore; and as the wind might at
any moment blow on to it, our situation was a very dangerous one.
Luckily, a short distance off there was a sandy bay, where a
small stream stopped the growth of the coral; and by evening we
reached this and anchored for the night. Here we found some
Galela men shooting deer and pigs; but they could not or would
not speak Malay, and we could get little information from them.
We found out that along shore the current changed with the tide,
while about a mile out it was always one way, and against us; and
this gave us some hopes of getting back to the point, from which
we were now distant twenty miles. Next morning we found that the
Galela men had left before daylight, having perhaps some vague
fear of our intentions, anal very likely taking me for a pirate.
During the morning a boat passed, and the people informed us
that, at a short distance further towards the point, there was a
much better harbour, where there were plenty of Galela men, from
whom we, might probably get some assistance.
At three in the afternoon, when the current turned, we started;
but having a head-wind, made slow progress. At dusk we reached
the entrance of the harbour, but an eddy and a gust of wind
carried us away and out to sea. After sunset there was a land
breeze, and we sailed a little to the south-east. It then became
calm, and eve hung down our anchor forty fathoms, to endeavour to
counteract the current; but it was of little avail, and in the
morning we found ourselves a good way from shore, and just
opposite our anchorage of the day before, which we again reached
by hard rowing. I gave the men this day to rest and sleep; and
the next day (Oct. 10th) we again started at two in the morning
with a land breeze. After I had set them to their oars, and given
instructions to keep close in-shore, and on no account to get out
to sea, I went below, being rather unwell. At daybreak I found,
to my great astonishment, that we were again far off-shore, and
was told that the wind had gradually turned more ahead, and had
carried us out - none of them having the sense to take down the
sail and row in-shore, or to call me.
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