in their best array, we were surrounded, while the host and his family tendered us tea and sweatmeats. All the other apartments were closed, and we were not requested to visit them, the wives of the Raja being probably within them. The brother of the Orang Kaya of Ghissa and another native, offered to accompany me as interpreters, whose services I accepted, advancing a portion of the salary that had been fixed on, to provide for the maintenance of their families during their absence. We left our anchorage on the 13th. When getting under weigh we found that the stream-anchor had hooked a coral reef, and we had much difficulty in weighing it. The water was so extremely clear, that we could plainly perceive the fish darting over the sandy patches at the bottom, although the depth was from ten to fifteen fathoms. Our course lay to the east-south-east, and we pursued our voyage with an unsteady westerly wind, which soon carried us into the vicinity of the Goram Islands. These islands, which are three in number, and are separated from the Ceram-Laut group by a narrow channel, are distinguished among the natives by the names of Goram, Manovolko, and Salawatta or Salavako. The first possesses the greatest population, and the most extensive commerce. The villages are mostly erected on the sea-coast, on spots near which the coral reefs afford good shelter for their vessels. The inhabitants, who accord with the Ceramese in manners and customs, are well acquainted with the neighbouring coasts, and willingly go on board foreign trading vessels as pilots. The people of the different villages often make war upon each other, and their differences are rarely settled without the interposition of our Government. Many of their vessels are sent to Banda, Bali and Sumbawa, as well as to the coast of New Guinea, with the natives of which they have constant communication. The trade with the islands to the eastward of Ceram is indispensable to our settlement of Banda, as it is entirely supplied with sago, oil, cocoa-nuts, stock, wood, _attap_, _siri_, and other necessaries by them. When we can succeed in preventing the direct importation to the islands, of calicoes and other articles from Singapore, Malacca, and even from Manilla and Bengal, the prosperity of Amboyna and Banda would be greatly increased by the exclusive trade they would enjoy, particularly if a Dutch ship of war were occasionally to show herself among the group. At present, however, our settlements participate in the trade to a much smaller extent than foreigners.