“We were received on the beach by about 20 or 30 of the natives, who immediately supplied each of us with a cocoa nut. We then succeeded in making them understand that we wanted water, upon which they made signs for us to accompany them towards the interior of the island:—we did so; but after walking above a mile, they conducted us into a thick jungle, and as their number was quickly increasing, I judged it imprudent to proceed further, and returned to the beach, where I was alarmed to find the natives had assembled to the number of 150 or upwards, armed with spears, eight or ten feet long. One of them, an old man, of venerable appearance, and who seemed to be their Chief, approached, and threw his spear at my feet, expressive, as I understood it, that we should part with our clubs in like manner. Perceiving at this time a crowd of women to have got hold of the sternfast of the cutter, and endeavouring to haul her on shore, from the grapnell with which we had come to, we hastily endeavoured to gain the boat; the natives followed us closely, some of them pointed their spears at us, as we retreated to the boat, and some were thrown, though happily without effect; and to us they appeared to be very inexpert in the management of their weapons. On my getting into the water, three or four of the natives followed me, threatening to throw their spears, and when I was in reach of the boat, one of them made a thrust, which was prevented taking effect by the interference of Mr. Robson, who warded off the weapon. When we had got into the boat, and were putting off, they threw at least 200 spears, none of which took effect, excepting one, which gave a severe wound to my cook, entering immediately above the jaw, and passing through the mouth. “Having thus escaped from this perilous adventure, we pursued our course, and got as far as Dampier’s Straits, as favourably as our situation could well admit. Being now within reach of land, the Lascars became impatient to be put on shore. It was in vain that I endeavoured to persuade them to persevere; they would not listen to argument, and expressed their wish, rather to meet with immediate death on shore, than to be starved to death in the boats. Yielding to their opportunity, I at length determined to land them on the N.W. extremity of the island of Ceram, from whence they might travel to Amboyna in two or three days. On the 9th of June, being off that part of the island, Mr. Robson volunteered to land a part of the people in the cutter, to return to the long-boat, and the cutter to be then given to such farther part of the crew as chose to join the party first landed. Mr. Robson accordingly went on shore with the cutter; but to my great mortification, after waiting two days, there was no appearance of his return or the cutter.