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

XXV.] CERAM, CORAM, AND THE MATABELLO ISLANDS. 275Teluti there were plenty of Alfuros, and that I could get abundanceof lories and other birds. The Rajah declared that blackand yellow lories and black cockatoos were found tliere ; but Iam inclined to think he knew very well he was telling me lies,and that it was only a scheme to satisfy me with his plan oftaking me to that village, instead of a day's journey further on,as I desired. Here, as at most of the villages, I was asked forspirits, the people being mere nominal Mahometans, wlio confinetheir religion almost entirely to a disgust at pork, and a fewotherforbidden articles of food. Tlie next morning, after muchtrouble, we got our cargoes loaded, and had a delightful rowacross the deep bay of Teluti, with a view of the grand centralmountain-range of Ceram. Our four boats were rowed by sixtymen, witli flags flying and tom-toms beating, as well as very^^gorous shouting and singing to keep up their spirits. The seawas smooth, the morning bright, and the whole scene very exhilarating.On landing, the Orang-kaya and several of thechief men, in gorgeous silk jackets, were waiting to receive us,and conducted me to a house prepared for my reception, whereI determined to stay a few days, and see if the country I'oundproduced aiiything new.My tir.st inquiries were about the lories, but I could get verylittle satisfactory information. Tlie only kinds known were thering-necked lory and the common red and green lorikeet, bothcommon at Amboyna. Black lories and cockatoos were quiteunknown. The Alfuros resided in the mountains five or sixdays' journey away, and there were only one or two li%'e birdsto be found in the village, and these were worthless. My hunterscould get nothing but a few common birds ; and notwitlistandingfine mountains, luxuriant forests, and a locality a hundred mileseastward, I could find no new insects, and extremely few evenof the common species of Amboyna and West Ceram. It wasevidently no use stopping at such a place, and I was determinedto move on as soon as possible.The \dllage of Teluti is populous, but straggling and verydirty. Sago trees here co^er the mountain side, instead ofgrowing as usual in low swamps ; but a closer examinationshows that they grow in swampy patches, which have formed'among the loose rocks that cover the ground, and which arekept constantly full of moisture by the rains, and by theabundance of rills which trickle down among them. This sagoforms almost the whole subsistence of the inhabitants, whoappear to cultivate nothing but a few small patches vl maizeand sweet potatoes. Hence, as before explained, the scarcity ofinsects. The Orang-kaya has fine clothes, handsome lamps, andother expensive European goods, yet lives every day on sago andfish as miserably as the rest.After three days in this barren place I left on the morning ofMarch 6th, in two boats of the same size as those which hadbrought me to Teluti. With some diificulty I had obtainedT 2