[Illustration: _THE_ ARAFŪRA SEA, _by_ George Windsor Earl. _London. J. Madden. 1839._] VOYAGES OF THE DUTCH BRIG OF WAR DOURGA, THROUGH THE SOUTHERN AND LITTLE-KNOWN PARTS OF THE MOLUCCAN ARCHIPELAGO, AND ALONG THE PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN SOUTHERN COAST OF NEW GUINEA, PERFORMED DURING THE YEARS 1825 & 1826. BY D.H. KOLFF, Jun. LUITENANT TER ZEE, 1^e KLASSE, EN RIDDER VAN DE MILITAIRE WILLEMS ORDE. TRANSLATED FROM THE DUTCH By GEORGE WINDSOR EARL, AUTHOR OF THE "EASTERN SEAS." LONDON: JAMES MADDEN & CO., LEADENHALL STREET, LATE PARBURY & Co. 1840. LONDON: EDWARD BREWSTER, PRINTER, HAND COURT, DOWGATE. AUTHOR'S PREFACE. A plain preface will be best adapted for a simple narrative of events that occurred and observations made during Voyages through important countries, with a portion of which we were previously unacquainted, while the remainder have been but rarely visited. I was repeatedly requested by relatives and friends, both in India and in the Mother Country, to communicate these to the Public, as being information that would be deemed useful and important, not only by Government and Naval officers, but by every inquiring Netherlander. This encouragement induced me, who, being a seaman, cannot aspire to literary renown, to employ my leisure hours in compiling the following unadorned narrative of my voyages through the Southern parts of the Archipelago of the Moluccas, and along the South-west coast of New Guinea. If the hopes I have cherished as to the importance of the information here given be not without ground, I trust that I shall not demand in vain the indulgence of my honoured Readers, which I am sure will be readily granted when it is taken into consideration, that the continued fatigues I endured, not only while engaged in performing the voyages here described, but also while employed in the expedition against Celebes in 1824, have undermined and broken my constitution. The confidence with which the Government honoured me by entrusting to me the execution of these voyages of examination, was certainly a spur which incited me to overcome all difficulties, and to make myself as useful as possible to my country. With the assistance of my officers and of intelligent natives, I was fortunately enabled to collect accurate details concerning numerous islands and coasts, which I subsequently laid down in a chart, and forwarded it to the Government, a correct copy of which, on a smaller scale, I offer to my reader, as an illustration to the narrative. If I have succeeded in effecting the object for which this volume is offered to the Public, I shall consider the time and trouble bestowed upon its compilation as being richly rewarded. D.H. KOLFF, Jun. November, 1838. TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.