Each village usually possesses two or three of these vessels, the property of the entire community; but they have also numerous canoes with outriggers, some of which are large enough to contain a thatched habitation. These craft are employed in fishing, or in the transport of goods from island to island. On making enquiries concerning the trading vessels which came here, I learned, among other things, that during the previous year a vessel under the English flag had arrived at the east extremity of Timor-laut, the master of which sent his boat on shore to purchase provisions, giving out that he had been necessitated to visit the place from a great mortality and sickness having occurred among his crew. In how far this was the case, I will leave to the judgment of those who are aware of the artifices of the English, in order to carry on a smuggling trade in these parts,[35] and, above all, to import prohibited goods, such as gunpowder and ammunition. Thus was the brig, in name (_dakleijen_), loaded only with roofing slates and iron, but, in fact, she had a large number of muskets, swords and other weapons on board. The captain agreed with the natives to give weapons in exchange for stock, and went on shore with half his crew, which consisted of ten Europeans. In the mean time the natives considered this to be a fine opportunity to overpower those who remained on board, and gain possession of the vessel. They, therefore, boarded her unexpectedly in great numbers, and murdered the people in her, while at the same time those on shore were made away with, with the exception of two boys, who owed their preservation to the interposition of the women. After this crime had been committed, they hauled the brig on shore, stripped her of all they could carry away, and burned her. The plundered goods were shared out among the inhabitants, and part of them sold to the traders who visited them, the remainder being kept, and now, perhaps, serving as finery for the inhabitants of the east coast of Timor-laut. One of the village chiefs stated to me on this occasion, that he had himself seen the chain cable of the brig hanging around the village, and that two iron carronades which had belonged to her lay there upon the ground, the natives not having, yet mustered sufficient courage to fire them off. I fixed the day subsequent to our arrival for a general meeting of the people, at which I might make known the benevolent intentions of the Government, and the object of my visit. One of the Orang Kayas of Serra was accidentally here, making preparations for his return home, so that I had a good opportunity of sending an invitation to all the chiefs of that island to come and see me, as I could not promise with confidence to visit them in their own villages.