On my return on board, I judged it inadvisable to remain under the coast during the night, as we were anchored with a cable of _gumuti_, (the hairy bark of the _borassus gumutus_), which is more liable to chafe over the rocks than those of European hemp. Indeed, towards evening the cable parted, which obliged us to stand off and on during the night. Ships navigating these seas should always be provided with chain cables. While the eastern monsoon prevails, the current sets to the eastward, or to windward through these islands, from Dilli, or Timor, as far as the island of Baba. This remark will be of value to navigators, as by taking advantage of this weather current they may work to windward through these islands with facility. On the morning of the 15th I again went on shore, and, after visiting the village, penetrated farther into the interior than I had previously been. Proofs of the industry and orderly habits of the natives were encountered at every step. My attention was particularly drawn to the course of instruction adopted at the schools, where all the children, under nine or ten years of age, assembled to learn reading and writing, and the rudiments of Christianity. I observed a strong partiality for a military life among the young men, and there can be no doubt that, if well disciplined, they would prove excellent auxiliary troops for the Government. Having confirmed the appointment of several chiefs, and fulfilled my duties in every particular, I took a friendly leave of the Orang Kayas and the people, who brought on board a quantity of provisions and fruit as presents, and firing some guns as a last farewell to these good-hearted islanders, we shaped our course for the adjacent island of Lette. FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 8: These two native titles, the first of which signifies literally "rich man," and the other "old man," or "elder," are the usual designations of the chiefs among the Moluccan and the neighbouring island. When these have become Christians, they usually adopt European names, as Dirk-Cobus (Diderik-Jacobus), the chief mentioned in the text, had done.] [Footnote 9: This group is named in our charts the Serwatty Islands, probably a native corruption of the Dutch term "Zuid-wester" (south-western). As this name has long been recognized, we have continued it here to avoid confusion.--_Trans._] [Footnote 10: These insects, which abound all over India, are very mischievous, sometimes eating through and destroying a chest and its contents in a single night. To prevent this the chests are usually provided with feet, which are placed in small cups of water, the ants having great dread of this element. On the other hand, these insects do good service by destroying the carcases of dead animals, and thus preventing them from polluting the atmosphere.]