omised to bring some other supplies off in the
morning.

DEPARTURE FROM OLILIET.

At sunset the natives all went quietly away, and we returned on board,
passing on our way some small rocky islands which appeared to be used as
burial places, and emitted an intolerable stench; the bodies were placed
in rude wooden boxes, open at the top and quite exposed to the air, from
one small rock not large enough to hold a body, there was a long bamboo
erected, from which a human hand, blackened by exposure to the sun, was
suspended.

On the 22nd, soon after daylight, the natives came off, bringing with
them Indian corn and coconuts, in such quantities that they sold the
latter for a couple of pins each. They also brought yams, bananas, fowls,
chilies, etc. but they did not seem inclined to part with them for
anything we could offer, except gunpowder, which I would not allow to be
given as barter.

At nine, finding we could get no more information from them, we weighed;
the natives all left us very quietly as soon as the capstan was manned,
and by signs appeared to wish us to revisit them. During the whole time
they were on board, they behaved perfectly well, and did not make any
attempt at stealing, though they must have seen many things most valuable
to them, which they might easily have taken.

From what we saw of Oliliet, it does not appear to be a place from which
any quantity of sea stock can be procured, for although they had plenty
of pigs and fowls in the village, they did not seem at all inclined to
part with them. Water may be procured on the beach, but a merchant vessel
should be very cautious in sending her boats for it, as the crew being
necessarily divided, would easily fall victims to any treacherous attack
on the part of the natives; and from all we subsequently learnt of them
from the traders we met at Arru, they are not always to be trusted.

After clearing the bay we stood to the northward, along the east coast of
Timor Laut, which is formed by a range of hills wooded to the very
summit, and indented by deep bays which would afford anchorage during the
North-West monsoon, were it not for a coral reef that appears to extend
along the coast, at a distance of two to three miles from the shore.
During the day we passed six villages, all built like Oliliet on cliffs
overhanging the sea, and protected on the land side by dense jungle,
through which it would be difficult to penetrate.

ARRU ISLANDS.

At sunset