They were enabled to procure at Roti the requisite number of horses by the evening of the 11th of January.  The people of this island appeared to be excessively ignorant, knew but little of the nature and value of money, and were much astonished when they were shown a watch.  Their favourite mode of disposing of their property was by barter; the articles they prized most were muskets and coarse gunpowder, but they preferred having the gunpowder in a claret bottle, as if this was considered by them to be some definite measure which bore a certain value.  They were not very particular about the quality of the muskets provided their outward form and appearance were tolerably good.  I have since ascertained that the natives of the little-frequented islands of the Archipelago invariably prefer an old musket to a new one, as they conceive a totally new one may be unsafe, from having been made merely for the purpose of sale; whilst one which has seen service has been indisputably manufactured for use.  If they entertain any doubt about the goodness of a musket they generally insist upon the seller’s firing it off.

Mode of barter at roti.

The people of Roti are not allowed to fix themselves what is to be the price of their horses; all the details of the sale are settled by an assemblage of chiefs:  their constant cry in bartering (if anything else is offered to them) is “schnapper, schnapper” (a musket, a musket).  They refused at first to take percussion guns in exchange, but when they saw Captain Browse cock one of these, pour a quantity of water over the lock, and fire it off, their astonishment knew no bounds, and they then eagerly bartered for them.  When they found that all the muskets were exhausted they were content to take money and other articles in lieu:  an old dress waistcoat of mine and a regulation breastplate procured eight small sheep; and Captain Browse got fourteen goats for a pair of old pistols.  The authorities give every encouragement to the trader; but the duties exacted are high, for at Kupang and Roti they demand six rupees duty for every horse exported, or musket imported.  Arms and gunpowder are no longer considered contraband.

The inhabitants of Roti were described as being so indolent that it was almost impossible to induce them to do anything:  although every means were used to tempt them to cut a sufficient quantity of fodder for the ponies on their passage they constantly delayed doing so and, Mr. Lushington’s patience being at last worn out, the vessel put to sea on the 12th of January 1838.

New island discovered.

On the 13th they sighted the Hibernian shoal which they made in 11 degrees 57 minutes south latitude and 123 degrees 22 minutes 30 seconds east longitude.  On Monday 15th of January at 10 P.M. they discovered an island, thus described in the log of the Lynher: