The banks and islands to the westward of Timor-Laut are annually visited by Ceramese jonkos, for the purpose of fishing for trepang and tortoise-shell, or picking up any booty that may fall in their way. Several years previously some of these had been bold enough to approach the coast of Vordate during the night, and capture a small fishing prahu with two men, inhabitants of Sebeano. The pirates, who were subjects of the Raja, carried off the men to sell as slaves, but they were fortunate enough to make their escape and return home. They personally related to me this occurrence, and informed me of many other misdeeds on the part of the Ceramese, an account of which I subsequently gave to the Government. Some time after my return to Amboyna, the Raja of Kilwari was summoned there, and did not deny that his subjects had committed this, and other deeds of the same description, on which he was obliged to pay a fine of, I believe, three hundred guilders (£25) to the Tenimber Islanders. The Raja of Kinaos was also amerced for the same transaction. As one of the chief objects of our voyage was to visit the Island of Serra, we made preparations, soon after our arrival at Vordate, for our expedition thither. It appeared to me to be impossible for the people of Vordate to perform the promise they had made me, of redeeming the two English youths who were held in captivity by the inhabitants of Luora, on the east coast of Timor-Laut, since they were not in the habit of holding communication with them. They assured me, however, that they had been to Luora, and had found that the inhabitants would not give up their captives unless an extravagant ransom were paid for them, as they wished to marry them to their daughters, that their descendants might boast of having European blood in their veins as well as the people of Vordate, Larrat and Serra, these holding themselves as being in some manner connected with Europeans, from their forefathers having been distinguished as "_Anak Compania_," or Children of the Company. The Orang Kaya, who was the only chief that visited Timor-Laut during this year, informed me that he had seen the youths, and had offered a considerable ransom for them without success. During the westerly monsoon, or the period of the changes, Luora may be visited with facility; but at the present time, when the sea breaks against the shore in a terrible manner, such an expedition was not to be thought of for a moment. The natives themselves appeared anxious that the Government would send some one thither.