Our boats were in requisition, and as they passed under the stern of the frigate at eight o’clock, we took advantage of the opportunity to return the compliment by saluting the Netherlands flag, which we hoisted at the yard-arms, giving His Excellency and family three British cheers. A fine bull, named “John,” from Port Essington was much admired. I presented him to His Excellency, and hope he has not taken possession of the island. Leaving Banda, _en route_ to Pitt’s Straits, we touched at the Ceram Islands, and under the pilotage of Mr. James M‘Arthur came to, in certainly not the most secure-looking anchorage. [Sidenote: Ceram, Dec. 17.] The island of Ceram is the second in size of the Moluccas, having an estimated area of about 10,000 square miles, but owing to the jealousy of my friends, the Dutch, it is but imperfectly known. Their object, until of late years, has been the extirpation of the clove and nutmeg trees, so as to confine the monopoly to the islands on which they have established governments. The mountains are from six to eight thousand feet in height, sending down innumerable streams to the sea. The vegetation is luxuriant; the trees gigantic. I have now in my possession a circular slab of wood from the island, three and a half inches thick, eight and a half feet in diameter. The sago palm in particular is more abundant and productive than on any of the adjoining islands. Cloves and nutmegs grow wild. The Malays are cunning and enterprising traffickers, and carry on a great trade with the Chinese in Bêche-de-Mer. They hoist the Dutch flag, and while one end of the island claims the protection of Banda, the other has that of Amboyna. Our conchologists added considerably to their collection here. We did not remain long at Ceram, and sailed December 18. [Sidenote: Dec. 18.] There is always more excitement in navigating imperfectly-known seas than in passing over the more frequented tracks; and on the present occasion our charts were of little use. By anchoring in the evenings, and by keeping a good look-out from aloft, and leads constantly over the side, we were enabled to thread our way through strange places. Occasionally canoes came off, as the tide swept us along. The jungle was too dense for us to make out habitations, but their locality was indicated by the appearance of the cocoanut. I obtained two fine specimens of the black Bird of Paradise in exchange for an old musket. The rest of their cargoes were composed of fruits, bows and arrows, parrots, shells, spears and tortoise-shell. The natives are well-proportioned, but ugly-looking savages, with a profusion of hair, frizzed out in an extraordinary manner, which I have no doubt they thought handsome, but which impressed us with the idea of a harbour for filth and vermin. As there is no anchorage, it is desirable that a ship should get through Pitt’s Straits in one tide, which feat we just succeeded in accomplishing by sunset.