On the 29th, having hired the Orang Tua David to accompany us as interpreter, we embarked on board the tender and the small boats, and left the brig on our expedition to Serra. Towards evening we arrived at Larrat, where we met with a tope,[51] which had arrived from Banda during the month of April, and was about returning there with a full cargo. The crew complained of the high price of the trepang, but in every other respect were perfectly contented with the result of their commercial transactions. The disturbances which had taken place at Serra had been instrumental in decreasing the supply of trepang and tortoise-shell, as none was now brought from that island. The goods belonging to the tope lay in an open boat-house, which was daily visited by numbers of the natives, without the owner having the least fear of losing a single article, the mutual confidence with which the trade is carried on being so great, that the trader allows a native to take away what goods he pleases, merely mentioning the amount of produce that is expected in return, and although the former may have no personal knowledge of the native to whom he has delivered the goods, he never fears that the contract will not be fulfilled. The native immediately commences collecting produce, and never rests until he has made full payment. It is singular that the natives never keep a supply of trepang in hand, and only commence fishing for it when they have received payment in advance. The Orang Kaya and several of the other chiefs came to pay me a visit, and complained sadly of the conduct of the Ceramese, and of the state of affairs at Serra, which they had in vain endeavoured to reduce to order. They appeared to be much pleased at my intention to visit that island. As the Orang Tua David was not well acquainted with the navigation, I requested the chiefs to hire me a prahu, promising to make them a just remuneration for its services. The Orang Kaya Kirimassa, and six men, having prepared themselves to attend me with the prahu, I left Larrat the same night. Although the tender carried only two one-pounder guns, with ammunition and provisions, she sailed and rowed so slowly that we did not reach Warrata, a village on the north-west end of Serra, until the 1st of June. This island, with its inhabitants, bear so great a resemblance to Larrat, that it will be unnecessary to enter into a particular description of either.