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

;288 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.islands of Ceram-laut, and Kissa—straits about a third of amile wide separating it from each of them. It is surroundedby coral reefs, and offers good anchorage in both monsoons.Though not more than fifty yards across, and not elevated morethan three or four feet above the highest tides, it has wells ofexcellent drinking water—a singular phenomenon, which wouldseem to imply deep-seated subterranean channels connecting itwith other islands. These advantages, with its situation in thecentre of the Papuan trading district, lead to its being so muchfrequented by the Bugis traders. Here the Goram men bringthe produce of their little voyages, which they exchange forcloth, sago cakes, and opium ; and the inhabitants of all thesurrounding islands visit it with the same object. It is therendezvous of the praus trading to various parts of New Guinea,which here assort and dry their cargoes, and refit for the voyagehome. Tripang and mussoi bark are the most bulky articles ofproduce bi'ought here, with wild nutmegs, tortoise-shell, pearls,and birds of paradise, in smaller quantities. The villagers ofthe mainland of Ceram bring their sago, which is thus distributedto the islaiids farther east, while rice from Bali andMacassar can also be purchased at a moderate price. The Gorammen come here for their supplies of opium, both for their ownconsumption and for barter in Mysol and Waigiou, where theyhave introduced it, and where the chiefs and wealthy men arepassionately fond of it. Schooners from Bali come to buyrapuan slaves, while the sea-wandering Bugis arrive fromdistant Singapore, in their lumbering praus, bringing thencethe produce of the Chinamen's workshops and Kling's bazaar,as well as of the looms of Lancashire and Massachusetts.One of the Bugis traders who had arrived a few days beforefrom Mysol, brought me news of my assistant, Charles Allen,with whom h*^ was well acquainted, and who, he assured me,was making large collections of Ijirds and insects, although hehad not obtained any birds of paradise, Silinta, where he wasstaying, not being a good place for them. This was on thewhole satisfactorj^, and I was anxious to reach him as soonas possible.Leaving Kilwaru early in the morning of June 1st, with astrong east wind we doubled the point of Ceram about noon,the heavy sea causing my prau to roll about a good deal, to thedamage of our crockery. As bad weather seemed coming on,we got inside the reefs and anchored opposite the village ofWarus-warus to wait for a change. The night was very squally,and though in a good harbour we rolled and jerked uneasilybut in the morning I had greater cause for uneasiness in thediscovery that our entire Goram crew had decamped, takingwith them all they possessed and a little more, and leaving uswithout any small boat in wliich to land. I immediately toldmy Amboyna men to load and fire the muskets as a signal ofdistress, which was soon answered by the village chief sending