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so called to distinguish it from the coarse lump palm…sugar or molasses of native manufacture； and the biscuit is considered a sort of European sago…cake； which the inhabitants of those remote regions are obliged to use in the absence of the genuine article。 My pursuit； were of course utterly beyond their comprehension。 They continually asked me what white people did with the birds and insects I tools so much care to preserve。 If I only kept what was beautiful； they might perhaps comprehend it； but to see ants and files and small ugly insects put away so carefully was a great puzzle to them； and they were convinced that there must be some medical or magical use for them which I kept a profound secret。 These people were in fact as completely unacquainted with civilized life as the Indians of the Rocky Mountains； or the savages of Central Africa… …yet a steamship； that highest triumph of human ingenuity； with its little floating epitome of European civilization； touches monthly at Cajeli； twenty miles off； while at Amboyna； only sixty miles distant； a European population and government have been established for more than three hundred years。
Having seen a good many of the natives of Bouru from different villages； and from distant parts of the island； I feel convinced that they consist of two distinct races now partially amalgamated。 The larger portion are Malays of the Celebes type； often exactly similar to the Tomóre people of East Celebes； whom I found settled in Batchian； while others altogether resemble the Alfuros of Ceram。
The influx of two races can easily be accounted for。 The Sula Islands； which are closely connected with East Celebes； approach to within forty miles of the north coast of Bouru； while the island of Manipa offers an easy point of departure for the people of Ceram。 I was confirmed in this view by finding that the languages of Bouru possessed distinct resemblances to that of Sula； as well as to those of Ceram。
Soon after we had arrived at Waypoti； Ali had seen a beautiful little bird of the genus Pitta； which I was very anxious to obtain； as in almost every island the species are different； and none were yet known from Bourn。 He and my other hunter continued to see it two or three times a week； and to hear its peculiar note much oftener； but could never get a specimen； owing to its always frequenting the most dense thorny thickets； where only hasty glimpses of it could be obtained； and at so short a distance that it would be difficult to avoid blowing the bird to pieces。 Ali was very much annoyed that he could not get a specimen of this bird； in going after which he had already severely； wounded his feet with thorns； and when we had only two days more to stay； he went of his own accord one evening to sleep at a little but in the forest some miles off； in order to have a last try for it at daybreak； when many birds come out to feed； and are very intent on their morning meal。 The next evening he brought me home two specimens； one with the head blown completely off； and otherwise too much injured to preserve； the other in very good order； and which I at once saw to be a new species； very like the Pitta celebensis； but ornamented with a square patch of bright red on the nape of the neck。
The next day after securing this prize we returned to Cajeli； and packing up my collections left Bouru by the steamer。 During our two days' stay at Ternate； I took on board what baggage I had left there； and bade adieu to all my friends。 We then crossed over to Menado； on our way to Macassar and Java； and I finally quitted the Moluccas； among whose luxuriant and beautiful islands I had wandered for more than three years。
My collections in Bouru； though not extensive； were of considerable interest； for out of sixty…six species of birds which I collected there； no less than seventeen were new； or had not been previously found in any island of the Moluccas。 Among these were two kingfishers； Tanysiptera acis and Ceyx Cajeli； a beautiful sunbird； Nectarines proserpina； a handsome little black and white flycatcher； Monarcha loricata； whose swelling throat was beautifully scaled with metallic blue； and several of less interest。 I also obtained a skull of the babirusa； one specimen of which was killed by native hunters during my residence at Cajeli。
CHAPTER XXVII。
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE MOLUCCAS。
THE Moluccas consist of three large islands； Gilolo； Ceram； and Bouru； the two former being each about two hundred miles long； and a great number of smaller isles and islets； the most important of which are Batchian； Morty； Obi； Ke； Timor…Laut； and Amboyna； and among the smaller ones； Ternate； Tidore； Kaióa； and Banda。 They occupy a space of ten degrees of latitude by eight of longitude； and they are connected by groups of small islets to New Guinea on the east； the Philippines on the north； Celebes on the west； and Timor on the south。 It will be as well to bear in mind these main features of extent and geographical position； while we survey their animal productions and discuss their relations to the countries which surround them on every side in almost equal proximity。
We will first consider the Mammalia or warm…blooded quadrupeds； which present us with some singular anomalies。 The land mammals are exceedingly few in number； only ten being yet known from the entire group。 The bats or aerial mammals； on the other hand； are numerousnot less than twenty…five species being already known。 But even this exceeding poverty of terrestrial mammals does not at all represent the real poverty of the Moluccas in this class of animals； for； as we shall soon see； there is good reason to believe that several of the species have been introduced by man； either purposely or by accident。
The only quadrumanous animal in the group is the curious baboon… monkey； Cynopithecus nigrescens； already described as being one of the characteristic animals of Celebes。 This is found only in the island of Batchian； and it seems so much out of place there as it is difficult to imagine how it could have reached the island by any natural means of dispersal； and yet not have passed by the same means over the narrow strait to Gilolothat it seems more likely to have originated from some individuals which had escaped from confinement； these and similar animals being often kept as pets by the Malays； and carried about in their praus。
Of all the carnivorous animals of the Archipelago the only one found in the Moluccas is the Viverra tangalunga； which inhabits both Batchian and Bouru； and probably come of the other islands。 I am inclined to think that this also may have been introduced accidentally； for it is often made captive by the Malays； who procure civet from it； and it is an animal very restless and untameable； and therefore likely to escape。 This view is rendered still more probable by what Antonio de Morga tells us was the custom in the Philippines in 1602。 He says that 〃the natives of Mindanao carry about civet…cats in cages； and sell them in the islands； and they take the civet from them； and let them go again。〃 The same species is common in the Philippines and in all the large islands of the Indo…Malay region。
The only Moluccan ruminant is a deer； which was once supposed to be a distinct species； but is now generally considered to be a slight variety of the Rusa hippelaphus of Java。 Deer are often tamed and petted； and their flesh is so much esteemed by all Malays； that it is very natural they should endeavour to introduce them into the remote islands in which they settled； and whose luxuriant forests seem so well adapted for their subsistence。
The strange babirusa of Celebes is also found in Bouru； but in no other Moluccan island； and it is somewhat difficult to imagine how it got there。 It is true that there is some approximation between the birds of the Sula Islands （where the babirusa is also found） and those of Bouru； which seems to indicate that these islands have recently been closer together； or that some intervening land has disappeared。 At this time the babirusa may have entered Bouru； since it probably swims as well as its allies the pigs。 These are spread all over the Archipelago； even to several of the smaller islands； and