按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ouse； and having a fancy to try what sort of eating tripang would be； I bought a couple； paying for them with such an extravagant quantity of tobacco that the seller saw I was a green customer。 He could not； however； conceal his delight； but as he smelt the fragrant weed； and exhibited the large handful to his companions； he grinned and twisted and gave silent chuckles in a most expressive pantomime。 I had often before made the same mistake in paying a Malay for some trifle。 In no case； however； was his pleasure visible on his countenancea dull and stupid hesitation only showing his surprise； which would be exhibited exactly in the same way whether he was over or under paid。 These little moral traits are of the greatest interest when taken in connexion with physical features。 They do not admit of the same ready explanation by external causes which is so frequently applied to the latter。 Writers on the races of mankind have too often to trust to the information of travellers who pass rapidly from country to country； and thus have few opportunities of becoming acquainted with peculiarities of national character； or even of ascertaining what is really the average physical conformation of the people。 Such are exceedingly apt to be deceived in places where two races have long； intermingled； by looking on intermediate forms and mixed habits as evidences of a natural transition from one race to the other； instead of an artificial mixture of two distinct peoples； and they will be the more readily led into this error if； as in the present case； writers on the subject should have been in the habit of classing these races as mere varieties of one stock； as closely related in physical conformation as from their geographical proximity one might suppose they ought to be。 So far as I have yet seen； the Malay and Papuan appear to be as widely separated as any two human races that exist； being distinguished by physical； mental； and moral characteristics； all of the most marked and striking kind。
Feb 5th。I took advantage of a very fine calm day to pay a visit to the island of Wokan； which is about a mile from us； and forms part of the 〃canna busar；〃 or mainland of Aru。 This is a large island； extending from north to south about a hundred miles； but so low in many parts as to be intersected by several creeks； which run completely through it； offering a passage for good… sized vessels。 On the west side； where we are； there are only a few outlying islands； of which ours （Wamma） is the principal； but on the east coast are a great number of islands； extending some miles beyond the mainland； and forming the 〃blakang tang；〃 or 〃back country；〃 of the traders； being the principal seat of the pearl； tripang； and tortoiseshell fisheries。 To the mainland many of the birds and animals of the country are altogether confined； the Birds of paradise； the black cockatoo； the great brush… turkey； and the cassowary； are none of them found on Wamma or any of the detached islands。 I did not； however； expect in this excursion to see any decided difference in the forest or its productions； and was therefore agreeably surprised。 The beach was overhung with the drooping branches of lame trees； loaded with Orchideae； ferns； and other epiphytal plants。 In the forest there was more variety； some parts being dry； and with trees of a lower growth； while in others there were some of the most beautiful palms I have ever seen； with a perfectly straight； smooth； slender stem； a hundred feet high； and a crown of handsome drooping leaves。 But the greatest novelty and most striking feature to my eyes were the tree…ferns； which； after seven years spent in the tropics； I now saw in perfection for the first time。 All I had hitherto met with were slender species； not more than twelve feet high； and they gave not the least idea of the supreme beauty of trees bearing their elegant heads of fronds more than thirty feet in the air； like those which were plentifully scattered about this forest。 There is nothing in tropical vegetation so perfectly beautiful。
My boys shot five sorts of birds； none of which we had obtained during a month's shooting in Wamma。 Two were very pretty flycatchers； already known from New Guinea； one of them （Monarcha chrysomela）； of brilliant black and bright orange colours； is by some authors considered to be the most beautiful of all flycatchers； the other is pure white and velvety black； with a broad fleshy ring round the eye of are azure blue colour； it is named the 〃spectacled flycatcher〃 （Monarcha telescopthalma）； and was first found in New Guinea； along with the other； by the French naturalists during the voyage of the discovery…ship Coquille。
Feb。 18th。Before leaving Macassar； I had written to the Governor of Amboyna requesting him to assist me with the native chiefs of Aru。 I now received by a vessel which had arrived from Amboyna a very polite answer informing me that orders had been sent to give me every assistance that I might require； and I was just congratulating myself on being at length able to get a boat and men to go to the mainland and explore the interior； when a sudden check carne in the form of a piratical incursion。 A small prau arrived which had been attacked by pirates and had a man wounded。 They were said to have five boats； but more were expected to be behind and the traders were all in consternation； fearing that their small vessels sent trading to the 〃blakang tana〃 would be plundered。 The Aru natives were of course dreadfully alarmed； as these marauders attack their villages； burn and murder； and carry away women and children for slaves。 Not a man will stir from his village for some time； and I must remain still a prisoner in Dobbo。 The Governor of Amboyna； out of pure kindness； has told the chiefs that they are to be responsible for my safety； so that they have au excellent excuse for refusing to stir。
Several praus went out in search of the pirates； sentinels were appointed； and watch…fires lighted on the beach to guard against the possibility of a night attack； though it was hardly thought they would be bold enough to attempt to plunder Dobbo。 The next day the praus returned； and we had positive information that these scourges of the Eastern seas were really among us。 One of Herr Warzbergen's small praus also arrived in a sad plight。 It had been attacked six days before； just as it was returning； from the 〃blakang tana。〃 The crew escaped in their small boat and hid in the jungle； while the pirates came up and plundered the vessel。 They took away everything but the cargo of mother…of… pearl shell； which was too bulky for them。 All the clothes and boxes of the men； and the sails and cordage of the prau； were cleared off。 They had four large war boats； and fired a volley of musketry as they came up； and sent off their small boats to the attack。 After they had left； our men observed from their concealment that three had stayed behind with a small boat； and being driven to desperation by the sight of the plundering； one brave fellow swam off armed only with his parang； or chopping… knife； and coming on them unawares made a desperate attack； killing one and wounding the other two； receiving himself numbers of slight wounds； and then swimming off again when almost exhausted。 Two other prams were also plundered； and the crew of one of them murdered to a man。 They are said to be Sooloo pirates； but have Bugis among them。 On their way here they have devastated one of the small islands east of Ceram。 It is now eleven years since they have visited Aru； and by thus making their attacks at long and uncertain intervals the alarm dies away； and they find a population for the most part unarmed and unsuspicious of danger。 None of the small trading vessels now carry arms； though they did so for a year or two after the last attack； which was just the time when there was the least occasion for it。 A week later one of the smaller pirate boats was captured in the 〃blakang tana。〃 Seven men were killed and three taken prisoners。 The larger vessels have been often seen but cannot be caught； as they have very strong crews； and can always escape by rowing out to sea in the eye of the wind； returning at night。 They will thus remain among the innumerable isla