At noon I returned on board, accompanied by five vessels, containing a number of my native friends, whom I entertained on board at dinner, after which they returned home with many expressions of thanks for the kind proofs of remembrance on the part of the Government. On the 21st I presented the Orang Kaya of Wadia with an act of appointment, after which I arranged the affair of piracy, of which I have previously made mention. During our stay among the islands, the weather had been continually calm and rainy. I was disappointed in my expectations of receiving important information, concerning the coasts of New Guinea. When the people heard that I intended to go there, they expressed much satisfaction, hoping that they would be benefitted by the results of the expedition. The Ceramese I met with here, who had lately left the coast of New Guinea, informed me that the Papuas to the northward of the Arru Islands had assured them, that _Orang Pati_, or white people, dwelt further to the south-eastward of them.[44] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 43: Morinda citrifolia. Lin.--_Translator._] [Footnote 44: It is possible that our colony of New South Wales was here alluded to. The natives of the islands in Torres Straits, from their frequent intercourse with ships from Sydney, must be well aware of the existence of the colony, and might have communicated it to the Papuas of the south part of New Guinea, with whom they maintain a constant intercourse.--_Translator._] CHAPTER XIX. NEW GUINEA. Voyage towards the St. Bartholomeus River.--Encounter a Multitude of Whales.--Discover a Sand-bank.--Nautical Remarks.--Difficulty in approaching the Land.--Sharks.--Crocodiles.--Discover a River.--The Author ascends it.--Remarkable Behaviour of the Natives.--Their Wild State.--Unable to land.--Arrival at an uninhabited Bay on the Island of Lakahia.--Visit from some of the Chiefs. Having filled up our water-casks, and put the rigging in order, we left our anchorage off Wadia on the morning of the 22nd of April, and continued our voyage towards New Guinea. Owing to calms we were unable to advance far during the day, but we afterwards were favoured by a steady breeze, which soon carried us out of view of the Arru Islands. Bartholomeus River, (on the south coast of New Guinea), being the point to be first visited, we shaped our course for the south-west extreme of that great island. The winds and weather we experienced during the passage, were very unsteady, the former being generally from the northern quarter. As soon as we passed the Arru Islands, the pilots stated to me that they were unacquainted with the navigation beyond, and were even afraid to proceed any farther. The traders from Ceram, and the islands to the westward, do not penetrate beyond the Arrus.