hull, still increasing and growing towards the surface. To put a climax to our annoyance, a message come down from Gaya, to inform us that, the river had commenced the most rapid period of its fall.

At length the bower anchor was laid out, and the hemp cable hove taut; but great was our mortification on finding the anchor gradually yield to our efforts, and come home. This aggravated the work enormously, as we had all the extra labour of heaving so cumbrous a plough on board through the sand. On this day a strong northerly breeze was blowing, which materially assisted the river's fall.

Having succeeded with much labour in dragging our anchor to the bows, we determined again to alter the direction of the cables, right astern. Several large trees were now selected, and the cables firmly attached to them. A powerful purchase was now applied to the cable, composed of a hawser rove through both cat blocks; a luff tackle was attached to the hawser, and its falls brought to the windlass. Even with this powerful purchase, we only succeeded in drawing the vessel five feet astern, in as many hours. This plan was given over as useless towards night.

In the evening, whilst the men were reposing, we discovered that several small water snakes were twisting and twining about the blades of the lee paddle-wheel. These reptiles, the native pilots declare, were extremely poisonous. All bathing was therefore stopped, although, up to this period, it had been commonly practised, and found a great relief after the heat of the day.

During the night, the impetuous current, as it rushed along the keel and bottom, hollowed out the sandy foundation on which they were resting. When a certain portion had thus been abstracted, the poor Alecto would suddenly slip down the excavation thus formed, and grind her bottom, and jerk her keel, shooting thrills of annoyance through our hearts, at the poor ship's agony; these unpleasant throes continuing for a few minutes, until the vessel had worked a bed for herself; all was then quiet, until the current had again washed away the foundation.

Every time this happened, she forged broadside on, several feet, bodily down stream; and, as the water shallowed every yard, it became necessary to get her afloat, or remain eight hundred miles from the sea, passively occupied in the novel duty (to an English man-of-war) of forming an island! The river fell, during the night, four inches.

On Tusday, April 20th, all hands felt our critical position, and the greatest exertion was made to lay out, up stream, both bower anchors with chains, instead of hemp, as heretofore. The labour was excessive,

as not only where these anchors to be laid out in the teeth of a current like a mill-dam, but our clumsy Correntino boat had to be warped up stream with this immense weight. At 11h. P.M., after thirteen hours harrassing work, our scanty crew succeeded in getting all the geer in position; all hands completely done up.

The next morning, about two hours before daylight, both chains were hove taut, with the most powerful purchases we could produce. Several of the officers, anxious to try the depth of the water, were for

ward on the port bow. To the inexpressible surprise of all, the lead appeared to float!" Why, what on earth can this mean?" was the general exclamation. "Send a man down; let's know the worst at once."

A man was instantly slung, and lowered down; suddenly the rope slacked he was standing on firm ground-the bank had grown up to the surface! This was a dreadful damper to all our spirits. All hands were now evidently under the influence of deep anxiety for the events of the forthcoming daylight. At length the day broke with its accustomed beauty, in a dead calm. The attention of the officers was suddenly roused by a quarter-master saying, "Why, Sir, that 'ere sandbank is not half so big this morning as it was yesterday; that dead tree was twenty feet from the water. It is now close."

We were now assured that our former good luck was invincible. The river was rapidly rising, without any apparent cause!

"Hurrah! for the Grimy Nigger!" and, amidst loud cheers, the chain cables were hove as taut as harp strings. This sudden rise was as extraordinary as unexpected, and still continued much faster than it had fallen.

At noon the sand-bank was completely covered, the river had risen ten inches! Just as the hands were turned up after dinner, a light air sprung up from W.S. W.; her head lying due W. The head-yards were immediately braced sharp up, on starboard tack, and all sail made. At 3 o'clock the breeze had freshened considerably, and came on in heavy squalls. This was a very powerful assistance to the crew, who, with might and main, were increasing the tremendous strain on the cables, in hopes of moving her bow up the stream.

At length, in a heavy squall, her bow moved slightly up; this movement, slight as it was, caused greatly increased energy amongst the crew. The very elements were in our favour; the breeze, as if sympathising with our loud cheers, appeared to concentrate all its strength in one good hearty puff. This combination of the wind, with the strength of our crew, was too powerful even for the mighty current. Six links of the chain unwillingly struggled into the hawse-holes. The victory was gained. The current overcome. To use a nautical phrase, "she had watered her hole." The current was now a forced auxiliary to our success, and rushed up with great violence under the forefoot, rising in a mound, two feet high on the opposite side. In an hour's time the Alecto was warped into deep water.

As soon as the ship's hull was removed, and the water had a clear run at the bank, it boiled up like a race, rising with great violence above the level of the surrounding water. Two hours after our extrication, I proceeded, by sounding, to examine the depth of water. To my great surprise, the bank was entirely swept away; leaving the muddy stream eleven feet deep!

So much for the formation of banks and islands in the Parana. Immediately the Alecto was liberated, the wind died away and the river fell! Can any one assert that all these extraordinary coincidences were mere chance?

DESCRIPTION OF Karang BollONG, JAVA, AND of the Birds' NESTS ROCKS THERE. *

THE district of Korang Bollong is situated in the residency of Bagelen, division Ambal, on the southerly sea coast between the rivers Chinchinggolong and Djetis, both of which have their embouchure in the sea.

The first is crossed at the post named Sowook, and this is often attended with danger; because, when the sea is rough, it runs in a bay in the river, which capsizes small boats, (getek), and occasions the loss of life from time to time. Having crossed we arrive at the foot of the hill Bollong, and from this we are carried further in chairs. On the top of this hill, which is about 250 to 300 feet above the level of the sea, we have a most beautiful view over the south promontories, the ocean, and to the west over a fortification. Descending thence we come to the village of Karang Bollong where the residence of the overseer is situated.

The house is built of stone, and covered with allang-allang. It has a verandah in front and behind, and is provided with six rooms, besides a stone godown covered with tiles to keep the birds' nests, and having convenient out offices of bambus. From the front verandah we have a view of the south promontory, Karang, called Kilda, on the east mount Klotto, on the north the mountain Pangerangan, and on the west the mountain Koboronbo. On the summit of the mountain Kalibelet lies in the form of a triangle the fortification named Karang Bollong, which is furnished with two 6-pounders, and has a garrison of one serjeant, five Europeans and thirty native soldiers.

Before the house of the overseer on a knoll there is a bamboo cupola, from which we have a view to the east, through a cleft, of the ocean; while the view to the westward embraces the village of Karang Bollong.

At Djeldrie situated in the vicinity of Karang Bollong there are ponds into which the flow of the sea brings fishes. These fish ponds, however, are dependent on the more or less favorable state of the weather, because it has happened that the fish have escaped from the overflow of the water. Once or twice in the year the fish are sold to the population of the district of Karang Bollong, and from the proceeds the sluices of masonry and cleansing of the ponds are provided for. The surplus is divided between the people of the villages of Sowook and Djeladrie who keep the watch.

Generally speaking the place may be considered healthful. The thermometer (Fahrenheit) is found, as a mean, in the morning at six o'clock from 70° to 74°, at noon from 82° to 85°, and in the evening at six o'clock from 77° to 79°.

The population of the district Karang Bollong consists of one thousand able-bodied men, who are free from all state-service and contributions, excepting the maintenance of the roads. They find their livelihood by

* Translated from the "Tijdschrift voor Neerlands Indie."

gathering birds' nests, in the cultivation of sawa and tagal* fields and in fishing. The women on their part keep themselves busy in weaving cloths, which are everywhere in good demand, and are sought, as I have heard, in the capitals of the residencies Surakarta and Djokjokarta.

It is generally known that Karang Bollong furnishes annually an important produce of birds' nests; but it is less known in what manner the collection is made, and with how much danger to life it is attended. For this reason I have deemed it not inappropriate to give a description of it here as exact as possible, commencing from the time when the collection begins.

The gathering of the birds' nests takes place three times a year under the name of Uduan ketongo, tellor and kapal. The first begins in the end of April, the second in the middle of August, and the third in December. The yearly produce is commonly between fifty and sixty piculs.

When the time for the gathering approaches the heads come together with the persons they employ, before the residence of the overseer, who then, in the presence of the Wedons, Mantre, and the writer, fixes the amount destined for the procuring of buffaloes, he-goats, rattans, bambus, and torches, as well as the distribution of opium, incense, and atal.

After all this has been done, a servant is sent to the Goa Nogosarie, accompanied by the head men of this cliff. The Goa Nogosarie is the most accessible, provided the sea is not too rough. Six nests are then ordinarily collected to be. compared with the sample of the previous year, and to judge if the collection can take place or not.

If the head men consider that the nests are fit to be collected, the people then send for the Wayang and Toppeng, and the overseer makes further regulations with the head men of the cliff for what is necessary for offerings and feasts.

According to old custom, a Thursday is always chosen to make a beginning with the preparation of what is needed for the feast, so that on this day the people occupy themselves with cleaning the Bollong, the cliff which is situated at the mouth of the river Tjinting Guling.

The next morning (Friday) the Buffaloes are killed. Two hours afterwards they take some pieces of flesh, tongue, entrails, &c., from the slaughtered animals, and place them on small bowls, woven of bumbus, called Sadjen. They are then offered to Bollong Watu Tumpang, and near the watch-houses of the cliffs at Dabar, Gedee, Wale, and Nogosarie; while at the cliff of Medjienkick, a he-goat is offered with incense. This festival must, by old custom, always take place on a Friday, which by the natives is called Ngaderan. In the afternoon of the same day, a Wayang is performed in the Bollong, generally a piece of seven acts: while the necessary flowers, fruits, ointments, siri, pinang, &c., and what is further required for the offerings are prepared by the Tuken kembang. All the materials are placed on the before mentioned bambu bowls, and in the evening at half-past five o'clock, are brought by a servant into the Bollong near the Seroot tree. The origin of this tree is

Tagal, dry rice, cultivation equivalent to the Malay úmah.

ascribed to a Javanese named Kiai who is buried there, and above whose grave the tree has risen; and now the superstition of the natives declares that the tree has sprung from the naval of the dead. They likewise make offering on the burial place, at the waringin-tree, and in the room, the pantry, kitchen, and other places in the dwelling of the overseer.

After the wayang-players have returned from the Bollong, the bed placed near the entrance of the godown, known under the general apellation of devil's-bed, or bed of Nyai Ratu Kidul (which has existed from time immemorial) is put in order by the Tukang Gedong, and ornamented with some silk and other cloths. Nobody but this woman is allowed to do this. Every Thursday during the time of the collection this bed is cleaned, and offerings are made to it.

After everything has been made ready, the small lamps are lighted, and the small bambu bowls with flowers fruit, &c., are placed with particular marks of honor by the Tukang Gedong before the bed, on a small couch made for the purpose. At the same time she says, in high Javanese, as if addresssng some distinguished person "By order of Mijnheer, (meaning the overseer,) I here bring wherewithal for you alone to eat.' After this speech the Tukang Gedong herself answers Yes, mother Tukang Gedong, say to father Mijnheer, (the officer,) that I return my thanks for the food which he has sent me."

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After this ceremony is finished, the Tukang Gedong remains sitting on the bed, and further asks Nyai Ratu Kidul (who is supposed to be present in the bed,) "if it be agreeable to her that the birds' nests should be collected, and if it shall take place without mischance," which request is ordinarily answered with "yes" (ingie). During this time the wayang is kept up till the next morning.

The following morning (Saturday) the heads of the cliffs, Dahar and Gedie, go with the persons whom they have employed, to their goas, with the ladders which have been prepared some days before, and accompanied by the Gedeks and Sentonos for each cliff, in order to make further preparations for a commencement; while during all the day the toppeng play is maintained.

The cliffs Walo and Nogosarie are visited eight days later, and Medjienkick two days after that. I have enquired what could be the reason for visiting these cliffs latest, but no explanation could be given to me. In the evening, the toppeng-play being finished, the so-called Karang Bollong, wherever a feast begins, on which occasion the gamilang and two or three dancing girls turn their heads towards the birds' nest warehouse, in honor of Nyai Ratu Kidul, and it is a general custom in the district of Karang Bollong wherever a feast is given, to dedicate the first seven songs to the honor of Nyai Ratu Kidul. So soon as the wedons,

mantre, writer, the head of the cliffs with their people, and some heads of the dessas, are met, they sit down on a mat in a circle to dine. The writer places himself at the head of this table and proposes different toasts to the success of the approaching collection. After the guests have satisfied themselves, opium is offered to every person present. The company enjoy themselves, some with dancing to the music of the