The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online

226 THE JtlALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.men, and both enthusiastic entomologists, though obliged toincrease their collections almost entirely by means of native collectors.Dr. Doleschall studied chiefly the flies and si^iders, butalso collected butterfies and moths, and in his boxes I saw grandspecimens of the emerald Ornithoptera priamus and the azurePapilio ulysses, with many more of the superb butterflies of tliisrich island. Dr. Mohnike confined himself chiefly to the beetles,and had formed a magnificent collection during many years'residence in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Japan, and Amboyua. TheJapanese collection was especially interesting, containing boththe fine Carabi of northern countries and the gorgeous Buprestidseand Longicorns of the tropics. The doctor made the voyageto Jeddo by land from Nagasaki, and is well acquainted with thecharacter, manners, and customs of the people of Japan, andwith the geology, physical features, and natural historj^ of thecountry. He showed me collections of clieap woodcuts printedin colours, which are sold at less than a farthing each, and comprisean endless variety of sketches of Japanese scenery andmanners. Though rude, they are very characteristic, and oftenexhibit touches of great humour. He also possesses a largecollection of coloured sketches of tlie plants of Japan, made bya Japanese lady, which are the most masterly things I have everseen. Every stem, twig, and leaf is produced by single touchesof the brush, the character and perspective of very complicatedplants being admirably given, and the articulations of stem andleaves shown in a most scientific manner.Having made arrangements to stay for three weeks at a smallhut, on a newly cleai'ed plantation in the interior of the northernlialf of the island, I with some difficulty obtained a boat and mento take me across the water, for the Amboynese are dreadfullylazy. Passing up the harbour, in appearance like a fine river,the cleai'ness of the water afforded me one of the most astonishingand beautiful sights I have ever beheld. The bottom wasabsolutely hidden by a continuous series of corals, sponges,actini?e, and other marine productions, of magnificent dimensions,varied forms, and brilliant colours. The dej^th variedfrom about twenty to fifty feet, and the bottom was very uneven,rocks and chasms, and little hills and valleys, offering avariety of stations for the growtli of these animal forests. Inand out among them moved numbers of blue and red and yellowfishes, spotted and banded and striped in the most strikingmanner, while great orange or rosy transparent medusfe floatedalong near the surface. It was a sight to gaze at for hours, andno description can do justice to its surpassing beauty and interest.For once, the reality exceeded the most glowing accountsI had ever read of the wonders of a coral sea. There is perhapsno spot in the world richer in marine productions, corals, shellsand fishes, than the liarbour of Amboyna.From the north side of the harbour, a good broad path passesthrough swamp, clearing and forest, over liill and valley, to the