collecting and curing the Chinese dainty, " bêche-de-mer" (Holothuria), this
creature being discovered there in profusion. No natives were seen for
the first two days, and drying sheds were erected on the beach.
Suddenly, however, a body of natives appeared on the scene, and
attacked the party in the open. The Solorese jumped into the sea, and
swam off to the ship, leaving the white men and the dingy on the shore.
As the spears were flying thickly, and sticking quivering in the sides
of the dingy, the white men were forced to fire for their own
protection. The natives soon made off, fortunately without loss of
life on either side. Twice again that week attacks were made, and then
to avoid bloodshed, the ship left. The remains of a Malay prau were
seen here, the crew having been probably murdered by the natives.
The
pearling vessel proceeding eastwards, prospecting all the unsurveyed
coast up to Port Darwin, but found nothing until that port was reached.
On the first day at Port Darwin, "shell" was struck close to the town,
to the great excitement of all the inhabitants, the good news being
telegraphed all over Australia. As soon as shell began to get scarce in
the shallow water, Mr. Chippindall decided to prospect outside ; but
the easterly monsoon setting in, he stretched across to the Aru Islands,
