238
VOYAGE IN SEARCH
[1792.
CHAP. VIII.
Stay at Amboyna—A Cabin-Boy belonging to the Recherche, is accidentally drowned—Visit to the Governor—Different Excursions into the Interior of the Island—One of the Naturalists falls dangerously ill—Description of his Disorder—Agreeable Liquor furnished by the Sago Palm—Sugar extracted from it—Uses of the different Parts of that valuable Tree—Means by which the Flying Dragon sustains itself in the Air—Explanation of Maté, which preserves the Crops from being plundered—A Dutch Sailor flees into the Woods for fear of being sent to Batavia—Dextrous Manner of catching the Cancer Carcinus—Cabins of the Natives of Amboyna—Their Cloathing, &c.—Their Method of procuring Fire; and of Fishing in the Night—Culture of Nutmegs and Cloves—A long Bamboo cut so as, with a brisk Gale, to emit a very agreeable Sound—Fisheries of the Inhabitants—A Sago-Work—Extraction of its fæculæ—Diseases common at Amboyna—Various Reflections on the Island and its Inhabitants.
At half an hour past three o'clock we saluted the place with nine guns, and the same number was immediately returned.
The
