Having anchored off a low point of marshy land in the northern part of the bay, where the natives seemed to be more accustomed to intercourse with strangers, the party landed in hopes of finding a path to some houses about two miles inland.  Upon observing signs made to them by some people on the coral reef Mr. Miller and Mr. Whalfeldt went towards them in the sampan, when some among them took an opportunity of stealing the latter’s hanger and running away with it; upon which they were immediately fired at by some of the party, and notwithstanding Mr. Miller’s endeavours to prevent them both the officer and men continued to fire upon and pursue the natives through the morass, but without being able to overtake them.  Meeting however with some houses they set fire to them, and brought off two women and a boy whom the caffrees had seized.  The officers on board the vessel, alarmed at the firing and seeing Mr. Miller alone in the sampan, whilst several canoes full of people were rowing towards him, sent the pinnace with some sepoys to his assistance.  During the night conch-shells were heard to sound almost all over the bay, and in the morning several large parties were observed on different parts of the beach.  All further communication with the inhabitants being interrupted by this imprudent quarrel, and the purposes of the expedition thereby frustrated, it was not thought advisable to remain any longer at Engano, and Mr. Miller, after visiting some parts of the southern coast of Sumatra, returned to Fort Marlborough.

PULO MEGA.

The next island to the north-west of Engano, but at a considerable distance, is called by the Malays Pulo Mega (cloud-island), and by Europeans Triste, or isle de Recif.  It is small and uninhabited, and like many others in these seas is nearly surrounded by a coral reef with a lagoon in the centre.  Coconut-trees grow in vast numbers in the sand near the sea-shore, whose fruit serves for food to rats and squirrels, the only quadrupeds found there.  On the borders of the lagoon is a little vegetable mould, just above the level of high water, where grow some species of timber-trees.

PULO SANDING.

The name of Pulo Sanding or Sandiang belongs to two small islands situated near the south-eastern extremity of the Nassau or Pagi islands, in which group they are sometimes included.  Of these the southernmost is distinguished in the Dutch charts by the term of Laag or low, and the other by that of Bergen or hilly.  They are both uninhabited, and the only productions worth notice is the long nutmeg, which grows wild on them, and some good timber, particularly of the kind known by the name of marbau (Metrosideros amboinensis).  An idea was entertained of making a settlement on one of them, and in 1769 an officer with a few men were stationed there for some months, during which period the rains were incessant.  The scheme was afterwards abandoned as unlikely to answer any useful purpose.