Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 2 (Stockdale).djvu/378

316 enemies. The houses are built of bamboo, and their roofs covered with palm-trees, like those of the other inhabitants of the Moluccas.

The Sultan resides in a fort built of stone. It appeared to us that this chief shews great distrust of the agents of the Dutch Company, though they are his allies; for the three Dutch soldiers, who were the only inhabitants of the Company's house, were not permitted to live in the village where he resides. They were obliged to remain in an inconvenient, isolated dwelling, more than 1000 toises distant from his residence. They were soon to leave the island, and go to Macassar; but were still detained by the apprehension of meeting with the vessels of the natives of Ceram, which had been cruising for some time in these seas.

It was already night when we returned to the shore in order to go on board. As it was then low water, we were obliged to wade in the sea up to our waists, though the greater part of us had laboured under the dysentery for several days, which was very much aggravated in consequence.

During the day the natives had brought, for the use of our vessels, rice, maize, sugar canes, pullets, eggs, ducks and goats. In exchange for these provisions they had been offered hardware commodities, but they preferred the money cur-