I had a Ke workman to put in new ribs, for which I bought nails of a Bugis trader, at 8d.

a pound.

My gimlets were, however, too small; and having no augers we were obliged to bore all the holes with hot irons, a most tedious and unsatisfactory operation.
Five men had engaged to work at the prau till finished, and then go with me to Mysol, Waigiou, and Ternate.

Their ideas of work were, however, very different from mine, and I had immense difficulty with them; seldom more than two or three coming together, and a hundred excuses being given for working only half a day when they did come.

Yet they were constantly begging advances of money, saying they had nothing to eat.
When I gave it them they were sure to stay away the next day, and when I refused any further advances some of them declined working any more.