The light of the full moon enabled us to continue rowing throughout the night, but the shallowness of the water prevented our reaching Maktia Point, and forced us to remain at Wau Island until the tide should rise. So heavy a dew fell during the night, that we were all wet through before morning. This had a very injurious effect on the health of my fellow-voyagers; M. Dielwaart and myself being afflicted with dreadful pains in the stomach, while many of the seamen were attacked with the same disease, or with agues. The Orang Kaya had spent the night upon one of the other islands, and joined us in the morning, when we proceeded as fast as the wind would permit towards Maktia, as we already began to feel the want of water. I had now hopes of having an interview with the inhabitants of Timor-Laut, and of being of some service to them. When seen from a distance, the ten or twelve houses which form the village present a pretty appearance. The mud bank, which fronts the shore, is dry at low water to the distance of a mile to seaward, but the state of the tide permitted us to advance within musket range of the beach, where the boats grounded; and as no harm could ensue, they were permitted to lie in the mud. The Orang Kaya sent one of his men on shore, who would not enter the village, but called to the inhabitants from a distance. The village appeared to be abandoned, for we saw no one but two unarmed men who were leaving it. Although neither the Orang Kaya nor myself suspected the inhabitants of any bad intentions, I judged it advisable for us to be on our guard. I therefore, in the first place, sent a detachment of armed seamen, accompanied by the people of the Orang Kaya, into the forest beside the village, to search for water, but they returned without having found any. As the Orang Kaya assured me that water would be found within the village, I sent the men in, and they succeeded in obtaining two bamboos full. They saw no one in the village, and in accordance with my orders did not enter any of the houses, but returned straight to the beach, and kindled a fire to cook some rice and other provisions. I, also, went on shore to obtain an interview with the natives if possible, but not meeting with any one, I caused a small flag and a piece of cloth to be brought from the boat and hung up to one of the trees. At this moment two unarmed men made their appearance at a distance, and I had scarcely returned to the beach for the purpose of entering the boat, when several arrows were shot from the thicket, one of which struck J. Moll, one of the seamen who were collecting wood. He immediately threw away his arms, and called out for assistance, on which he was carried into the boat, while two of his comrades ran into the thicket to search for the offender, but without meeting with success.