ance for a short time, during
which the brutes had landed and killed the two men. We returned very
sad to the boat. As for Horner, it was a long time before he could get
over the horror he felt for his neglect of duty. Several canoes filled
with natives came into the harbour from Gillolo, bringing potatoes and
other vegetables. One of them brought a number of clam-shells of
various sizes. One which we hoisted on board weighed four
hundred-weight, and we afterwards saw on shore one which must have
weighed a quarter of a ton. The natives use them as tubs; I saw a woman
bathing a child in one. The meat of the creature when fried is very
palatable. I also obtained some beautiful specimens of coral, which I
wanted to carry home to Mary and my Shetland relations. I bought also
two gallons of nutmegs for an old file, and a large number of shells for
some old clothes. The harbour swarmed with sharks, which prevented us
from bathing. We here cut some splendid spars for the use of the ship.
I may mention that the inner harbour, from its perfect security, has
obtained the name of "Abraham's Bosom." Were it not for the sharks and
crocodiles the place would be perfect.

All the crew having recovered from scurvy, and the ship being refitted,
we once more put to sea. The weather was delightful, and we sailed on
over the calm ocean with a light breeze.

We had to keep a constant look-out for rocks and reefs.

I can assert, though it is often denied, that when passing under the lee
of the Spice Islands, the scent which came off from the shore was
perfectly delicious. Whether this arises from the flowers of the cloves
and nutmegs, or from the nature of the soil, I cannot determine.

Though we generally had a light breeze, we were sometimes completely
becalmed, on which occasions, when near shore, we ran the risk of being
driven on the rocks by the currents, and more than once we had all the
boats towing ahead to keep her off them till the breeze should spring
up. We continued our course, passing to the eastward of Ceram and
Banda, and steering for Timor, to the north-west of Australia. We had
other dangers besides calms and currents. We had just left the Serwatty
Islands astern when the wind dropped, and we lay becalmed.

Though there was little chance of catching whales, we always kept a
look-out for them from the masthead, as we could stow one or two more
away. We were most of us on deck whistling for a breeze, wh