I also bought two tower muskets to satisfy my crew, who insisted on the necessity of being armed against attacks of pirates; and with spices and a few articles of food for the voyage nearly my last doit was expended.
The little island of Kilwaru is a mere sandbank, just large enough to contain a small village, and situated between the islands of Ceram-laut, and Kissa--straits about a third of a mile wide separating it from each of them.

It is surrounded by coral reefs, and offers good anchorage in both monsoons.

Though not more than fifty yards across, and not elevated more than three or four feet above the highest tides, it has wells of excellent drinking water--a singular phenomenon, which would seem to imply deep-seated subterranean channels connecting it with other islands.

These advantages, with its situation in the centre of the Papuan trading district, lead to its being so much frequented by the Bugis traders.

Here the Goram men bring the produce of their little voyages, which they exchange for cloth, sago cakes, and opium; and the inhabitants of all the surrounding islands visit it with the game object.