To prevent the expedition from being entirely useless, I proposed to my interpreter, De Haan, a man who had been in the habit of trading with these people, and was much respected by them, that he, with the chief interpreter and the Orang Kaya, should proceed to Serra, and acquaint the chiefs of the intention I had had to visit them. I much regretted that this wearisome journey had proved so fruitless, and only found consolation in the hope that I should have inspired the chiefs of Serra with a just idea of the interest our Government took in their affairs, especially as Serra was one of the chief trading places, and most populous island in these parts. Our goods were, therefore, removed from the prahu, and the envoys stepped into her, taking with them a little arrack and other articles, in order, if possible, to induce the chiefs to visit us at Vordate. I was now forced to give up the hope of being able to free the two English youths, who were in captivity among the natives of Timor-Laut. We rowed and sailed throughout the night, with the view of reaching Laboba as speedily as possible, to obtain a supply of fresh water. The wounded man grew worse, his pains being increased by continually lying in a crooked position, from the small size of the boat, and not having had his wounds properly dressed. At noon, on the 23rd, we landed in a bay on the east side of this island, having tasted no water since the previous evening, while for forty-eight hours previously no provisions had been dressed, our sustenance during that period having consisted of biscuit and sago bread. The stream of water, which descended from the hill, was weak and troubled; but was, nevertheless, very acceptable to us. The wounded man, who was wearied out with heat and thirst, was taken on shore and laid under the shade of a tree, fresh bandages being applied to his wounds. The fatigues we had undergone caused us to sleep soundly under the trees, in spite of the furious bites of a number of red ants. Several of the men cooked and ate some beans they had found on the island, but soon had cause to repent their temerity, as five of them were carried into the boats afflicted with violent pains in the intestines, from which they were relieved by strong vomiting. These beans, which much resembled our _spersie_ beans, were of a yellow colour, and covered with blue spots. Towards evening we left the island, and ran close along the coast of Timor-Laut, passing continually over banks and reefs, a fresh southerly breeze pushing us rapidly along. An hour after midnight the unfortunate seaman died, and on the following morning, when we reached the brig, tired and hungry, his body was committed to the deep with the usual ceremony of a naval funeral.