I Now Took Advantage Of A Government Boat
Which Had Just Arrived With Rice For The Troops, And Obtained
Permission To Return In Her, And Accordingly Started On The 13th
Of April, Having Resided Only A Week Short Of Six Months On The
Island Of Batchian.
The boat was one of the kind called "Kora-
kora," quite open, very low, and about four tons burthen.
It had
outriggers of bamboo about five feet off each side, which
supported a bamboo platform extending the whole length of the
vessel. On the extreme outside of this sit the twenty rowers,
while within was a convenient passage fore and aft. The middle
portion of the boat was covered with a thatch-house, in which
baggage and passengers are stowed; the gunwale was not more than
a foot above water, and from the great top and side weight, and
general clumsiness, these boats are dangerous in heavy weather,
and are not unfrequently lost. A triangle mast and mat sail
carried us on when the wind was favourable, - which (as usual) it
never was, although, according to the monsoon, it ought to have
been. Our water, carried in bamboos, would only last two days,
and as the voyage occupied seven, we had to touch at a great many
places. The captain was not very energetic, and the men rowed as
little as they pleased, or we might have reached Ternate in three
days, having had fine weather and little wind all the way.
There were several passengers besides myself:
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