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

312 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.again and again, till the amount is something serious, when liebrings them to court and has their services allotted to him forits liquidation. The debtors seem to think this no disgrace, butrather enjoy their freedom from responsibility, and the dignityof their position under a wealthy and well-known merchant.They trade a little on their own account, and both parties seemto get on very well together. The plan seems a more sensibleone than that which we adopt, of effectually jDreventing a manfrom earning anything towards paying his debts by shuttinghim up in a jail.My own servants were three in number. Ali, the Malay boywhom I had picked up in Borneo, was my head man. He hadalready been with me a year, could turn his hand to anything,and was quite attentive and trustworthy. He was a good shot,and fond of shooting, and I had taught him to skin birds verywell. The second, named Baderoon, was a Macassar lad, also apretty good boy, but a desperate gambler. Under pretence oftjuying a house for his mother, and clothes for himself, he hadreceived four months' wages about a week before we sailed, andin a day or two gambled away every dollar of it. He had comeon board with no clothes, no betel, or tobacco, or salt fish, allwhich necessary articles I was obliged to send Ali to buy forhim. These two lads were about sixteen, I should suppose ; thethird was younger, a sharp little rascal named Baso, who hadbeen with me a month or two, and had learnt to cook tolerably.He was to fulfil the important office of cook and housekeeper,for I could not get any regular servants to go to such a terriblyremote country ; one might as well ask a chef de cuisine to go toPatagonia.On the fifth day that I had spent on board (Dec. 15th) the rainceased, and final preparations were made for starting. Sailswere dried and furled, boats were constantly coming and going,and stores for the voyage, fruit, vegetables, fish, and palm-sugar,were taken on board. In the afternoon two women arrived witha large party of friends and relations, and at parting there wasa general nose-rubbing (the Malay kiss), and some tears shed.These were promising symptoms for our getting off" the nextday ; and accordingly, at thi'ee in the morning, the owner cameon board, the anchor was immediately weighed, and 1>v' four weset sail. Just as we were fairly off and clear of the otli:'r praus,the old juragan repeated some prayers, all around respondingwith " Allah il Allah," and a few strokes on a gong as an accompaniment,concluding with all wishing each other " Salaamatjalan" (a safe and hajji^y journey). We had a light breeze, acalm sea, and a fine morning, a prosperous commencement of ourvoyage of about a thousand miles to the far-famed Aru Islands.The wind continued light and variable all day, -svith a calm inthe evening before the land breeze sprang up. We wei'e tlienpassing the island of " Ttinakaki " (foot of the land), at the extremesouth of this part of Celebes. There are some dangerous