e was a high rock near, running out into the
sea. We made our way to it; and one of our people tearing off his
shirt, we made it fast to it, to serve as a signal. You may be sure we
gave a shout of joy when up went a flag in return, and the brig stood
towards the island. She was no other than this little _Dugong_, as they
call her, and Mr Thudicumb, and your friend Mr Hooker, come to look
for us. We were all very glad to see each other; but we felt very sorry
when we thought that you and Oliver had been lost. And now, I'll tell
you, Master Walter, it was about the happiest moment in my life when I
got hold of you, and helped you into the boat safe from those savages."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

THE ARU ISLANDS VISITED.

Leaving the coast of New Guinea, the _Dugong_ stood across to the Aru
Islands, which Mr Hooker was anxious to visit. I may as well say that
the dugong is a large fish found in these waters, from ten to twelve
feet in length, of the whale species. They swim in flocks, often coming
into shallow water.

The natives prize them for food. We speared one, and got it on board;
and we all agreed, when the fish was cooked, that we had seldom tasted a
more delicate dish. However, the look of the dugong is not attractive.
Mr Hooker told me that the female dugong is remarkable for the
affection which she has for her young, of which she produces only one at
a time. If the young dugong is speared, she will never leave it, but is
sure to be taken also.

We approached the Aru Islands from the southward. The sea between them
and New Guinea is very shallow, considerably under fifty fathoms in many
places. There are about eighty of them, mostly very low, and forming a
chain about a hundred miles in length, and half that distance in width.
They belong to the Dutch. The inhabitants are very mixed. There is a
larger number of Papuans than any other race among the population. Two
or three native Christian schoolmasters have been sent over from Amboyna
to teach the inhabitants. We could just see these islands in the far
distance, when we found ourselves approaching a fleet of large native
boats at anchor. Two or three vessels were also at anchor near them.
With our glasses we could see a number of figures standing up in the
boats, and then suddenly disappearing overboard. Others were seen
climbing up over the sides. What they could be about I could not at
first guess. On pointing them out to Mr Hooker, how