The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online
The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online
250 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chai-.rubbing has cut in the bamboo. This is clone with great quicknessand certainty. The Ternate people use bamboo in anotherway. They strike its ilinty surface with a bit of broken china,and pi'oduce a spark, which they catch in some kind of tinder.On the evening of October 21st we reached our destination,having been twelve days on the voyage. It had been fineweather all the time, and, although very hot, I had enjoyedmyself exceedinglj^, and had besides obtained some experiencein boat work among islands and coral reefs, which enabled meafterwards to undertake much longer voyages of the same kind.The village or town of Batchian is situated at the head of a wideand deep bay, where a low isthmus connects the northern andsouthern mountainous parts of the island. To the south is afine range of mountains, and I had noticed at several of ourlanding-places that the geological formation of the island wasvery ditFerent from those around it. Whenever rock was visibleit was either sandstone in thin layers, dipping south, or apebbly conglomerate. Sometimes there was a little corallinelimestone, but no Aolcanic rocks. The forest had a denseluxuriance and loftiness seldom found on the dry and porouslavas and raised coral reefs of Ternate and Gilolo ; and hopingfor a corresponding richness in the birds and insects, it waswitli much satisfaction and with considerable expectation thatI began my explorations in the hitherto unknown island ofBatchian.CHAPTER XXIV.BATCHIAN.(OCTOBER 1858 TO APEIL 1859.)I LANDED opposite the house kept for the use of the Residentof Ternate, and was met by a respectable middle-aged Malay,who told me lie was Secretary to the Sultan, and would receivethe official letter with which I had been provided. On givingit him, he at once informed me I might have the use of theofiicial residence wliich was empty. I soon got my things onshore, but on looking about me found that the house wouldnever do to stay long in. There was no water except at aconsiderable distance, and one of my men would be almostentirely occupied getting water and firewood, and I sliouldmyself have to walk all through the village every day to theforest, and live almost in public, a thing I much dislike. Therooms were all boarded, and had ceilings, which are a greatnuisance, as there are no means of Jianging anything up exceptby driving nails, and not half the conveniences of a nativebamboo and tliatch cottage. I accordingly inquired for a house
;xxtv.] BATCHIAX. 251outside of the village on the road to the coal mines, and wasinformed by the Secretary that there was a small one belongingto the Sultan, and that he would go with me early next morningto see it."We had to pass one large river, by a rude but substantialbridge, and to wade through another fine pebbly stream of clearwater, just beyond which tlie little hut was situated. It wasvery small, not raised on posts, but with the earth for a floor,and was built almost entirely of the leaf-stems of the sago- palm,called here '' gaba-gaba." Across the river behind rose a forestcladbank, and a good road close in front of the house ledthrough cultivated grounds to the forest about half a mile on,and thence to the coal mines four miles further. These advantagesat once decided me, and I told the Secretary I wouldbe very glad to occupy the house. I therefore sent my twomen immediately to buy "ataps" (]Dalm-leaf thatch) to repairthe roof, and the next daj', witli the assistance of eight of theSultan's men, got all my stores and furniture carried up andpretty comfortably arranged. A rough bamboo bedstead wassoon constructed, and a table made of boards which I hadbrought with me, fixed under the window. Two bamboo chairs,an easy cane chair, and hanging shelves suspended with insulatingoil cups, so as to be safe from ants, completed myfurnishing arrangements.In the aftex'noon succeeding my arrival, the Secretary accompaniedme to visit the Sultan. We were kept waiting a fewminutes in an outer gate-house, and then ushered to the door ofa rude, half-fortified, whitewashed house. A small table andthree chairs were placed in a large outer corridor, and an olddirty-faced man with grey hair and a grimy beard, dressed in aspeckled blue cotton jacket and loose red trousers, came forward,shook hands, and asked me to be seated. After a quarter of anhour's conversation on my pursuits, in which his Majestyseemed to take great interest, tea and cakes—of rather betterquality than usual on such occasions—were brought in. Ithanked him for the house, and offered to show him my collections,which he promised to come and look at. He thenasked me to teach him to take views—to make maps—to gethim a small gun from England, and a milch-goat from Bengalall of which requests I evaded as skilfully as I was able, and weparted very good friends. He seemed a sensible old man, andlamented the small population of the island, which he assuredme was rich in many valuable minerals, including gold ; butthere were not people enougli to look after them and workthem. I described to him tlie great rush of population on thediscovery of tlie Australian gold mines, and the huge nuggetsfound there, with which he was much interested, and exclaimed," Oh ! if we had but people like that, my country would be"quite as rich !The morning after T had got into my new house, I sent my
- Page 232 and 233: 202 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.re
- Page 234 and 235: 204 THE JIALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.I
- Page 236 and 237: 206 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.se
- Page 238 and 239: 208 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chai'.c
- Page 240 and 241: 210 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.Th
- Page 242 and 243: 212 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.si
- Page 244 and 245: —214 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap
- Page 246 and 247: 216 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.pu
- Page 248 and 249: 218 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.th
- Page 250 and 251: 220 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.th
- Page 252 and 253: ;222 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.t
- Page 254 and 255: 224 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.is
- Page 256 and 257: 226 THE JtlALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.
- Page 258: II228 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.
- Page 262 and 263: 230 THE ilALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chai-.
- Page 264 and 265: 232 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.ye
- Page 266 and 267: 234 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.ch
- Page 268 and 269: 236 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.ab
- Page 270 and 271: 238 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.Ba
- Page 272 and 273: 240 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.we
- Page 274 and 275: 242 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [(^hap.n
- Page 276 and 277: 244 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [cHAr.ha
- Page 278 and 279: 246 THE ]\IALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.
- Page 280 and 281: 248 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [cHAr.re
- Page 284: 252 THE ilALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [cnAr,b
- Page 287 and 288: XXIV.] BATCHIAN. 253known bird. The
- Page 289 and 290: —XXIV.] BATCHIAK 255a written ord
- Page 291 and 292: XXIV.] BATCHIAN. 257having a much g
- Page 293 and 294: XXIV.] BATCHIAX. 259Butterflies wer
- Page 295 and 296: XXIV.] BATCHIAN. 261individuals. Wh
- Page 297 and 298: XXIV.] BATCHIAK 263in the Moluccas.
- Page 299 and 300: XXIV.] BATCHIAK 265usual and except
- Page 301: XXV.] CERAM, GORAM, AND THE MATABEL
- Page 304 and 305: 270 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.ve
- Page 306 and 307: 272 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.in
- Page 308 and 309: —;I274 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [ch
- Page 310 and 311: ;276 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.p
- Page 312 and 313: 278 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap. x
- Page 314 and 315: 280 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap,Ce
- Page 316 and 317: ;282 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.i
- Page 318 and 319: 284 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.th
- Page 320 and 321: 286 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.of
- Page 322 and 323: ;288 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.i
- Page 324 and 325: 290 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.or
- Page 326 and 327: 292 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.tr
- Page 328 and 329: 294 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.we
- Page 330 and 331: 296 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.co
250 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chai-.rubbing has cut in <strong>the</strong> bamboo. This is clone with great quicknessand certainty. <strong>The</strong> Ternate people use bamboo in ano<strong>the</strong>rway. <strong>The</strong>y strike its ilinty surface with a bit <strong>of</strong> broken china,and pi'oduce a spark, which <strong>the</strong>y catch in some kind <strong>of</strong> tinder.On <strong>the</strong> evening <strong>of</strong> October 21st we reached our destination,having been twelve days on <strong>the</strong> voyage. It had been finewea<strong>the</strong>r all <strong>the</strong> time, and, although very hot, I had enjoyedmyself exceedinglj^, and had besides obtained some experiencein boat work among is<strong>land</strong>s and coral reefs, which enabled meafterwards to undertake much longer voyages <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same kind.<strong>The</strong> village or town <strong>of</strong> Batchian is situated at <strong>the</strong> head <strong>of</strong> a wideand deep bay, where a low isthmus connects <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn andsou<strong>the</strong>rn mountainous parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> is<strong>land</strong>. To <strong>the</strong> south is afine range <strong>of</strong> mountains, and I had noticed at several <strong>of</strong> our<strong>land</strong>ing-places that <strong>the</strong> geological formation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> is<strong>land</strong> wasvery ditFerent from those around it. Whenever rock was visibleit was ei<strong>the</strong>r sandstone in thin layers, dipping south, or apebbly conglomerate. Sometimes <strong>the</strong>re was a little corallinelimestone, but no Aolcanic rocks. <strong>The</strong> forest had a denseluxuriance and l<strong>of</strong>tiness seldom found on <strong>the</strong> dry and porouslavas and raised coral reefs <strong>of</strong> Ternate and Gilolo ; and hopingfor a corresponding richness in <strong>the</strong> birds and insects, it waswitli much satisfaction and with considerable expectation thatI began my explorations in <strong>the</strong> hi<strong>the</strong>rto unknown is<strong>land</strong> <strong>of</strong>Batchian.CHAPTER XXIV.BATCHIAN.(OCTOBER 1858 TO APEIL 1859.)I LANDED opposite <strong>the</strong> house kept for <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Resident<strong>of</strong> Ternate, and was met by a respectable middle-aged <strong>Malay</strong>,who told me lie was Secretary to <strong>the</strong> Sultan, and would receive<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial letter with which I had been provided. On givingit him, he at once informed me I might have <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>of</strong>iicial residence wliich was empty. I soon got my things onshore, but on looking about me found that <strong>the</strong> house wouldnever do to stay long in. <strong>The</strong>re was no water except at aconsiderable distance, and one <strong>of</strong> my men would be almostentirely occupied getting water and firewood, and I sliouldmyself have to walk all through <strong>the</strong> village every day to <strong>the</strong>forest, and live almost in public, a thing I much dislike. <strong>The</strong>rooms were all boarded, and had ceilings, which are a greatnuisance, as <strong>the</strong>re are no means <strong>of</strong> Jianging anything up exceptby driving nails, and not half <strong>the</strong> conveniences <strong>of</strong> a nativebamboo and tliatch cottage. I accordingly inquired for a house
Change language