Even by the Macassar people themselves, the voyage to the Aru Islands is looked upon as a rather wild and romantic expedition, fall of novel sights and strange adventures.

He who has made it is looked up to as an authority, and it remains with many the unachieved ambition of their lives.

I myself had hoped rather than expected ever to reach this "Ultima Thule" of the East: and when I found that I really could do so now, had I but courage to trust myself for a thousand miles' voyage in a Bugis prau, and for six or seven months among lawless traders and ferocious savages, I felt somewhat as I did when, a schoolboy, I was for the first time allowed to travel outside the stage-coach, to visit that scene of all that is strange and new and wonderful to young imaginations-London! By the help of some kind friends I was introduced to the owner of one of the large praus which was to sail in a few days.

He was a Javanese half-caste, intelligent, mild, and gentlemanly in his manners, and had a young and pretty Dutch wife, whom he was going to leave behind during his absence.

When we talked about passage money he would fix no sum, but insisted on leaving it entirely to me to pay on my return exactly what I liked.