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TERNATE TO THE KAIOA ISLANDS AND BATCHIAN.
(OCTOBER 1858.) ON returning to Ternate from Sahoe, I at once began making preparations for a journey to Batchian, an island which I had been constantly recommended to visit since I had arrived in this part of the Moluccas.
After all was ready I found that I should have to hire a boat, as no opportunity of obtaining a passage presented itself.

I accordingly went into the native town, and could only find two boats for hire, one much larger than I required, and the other far smaller than I wished.

I chose the smaller one, chiefly because it would not cost me one-third as much as the larger one, and also because in a coasting voyage a small vessel can be more easily managed, and more readily got into a place of safety during violent gales, than a large one.

I took with me my Bornean lad Ali, who was now very useful to me; Lahagi, a native of Ternate, a very good steady man, and a fair shooter, who had been with me to New Guinea; Lahi, a native of Gilolo, who could speak Malay, as woodcutter and general assistant; and Garo, a boy who was to act as cook.