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！
ed true and smooth with the adze； and a plank； properly curved and tapering at each end； is held firmly up against it； while a line is struck along it which allows it to be cut so as to fit exactly。 A series of auger holes； about as large as one's finger； are then bored along the opposite edges； and pins of very hard wood are fitted to these； so that the two planks are held firmly； and can be driven into the closest contact； and difficult as this seems to do without any other aid than rude practical skill in forming each edge to the true corresponding curves； and in poring the holes so as exactly to match both in position and direction； yet so well is it done that the best European shipwright cannot produce sounder or closer… fitting joints。 The boat is built up in this way by fitting plank to plank till the proper height and width are obtained。 We have now a skin held together entirely by the hardwood pins connecting the edges of the planks； very strong and elastic； but having nothing but the adhesion of these pins to prevent the planks gaping。 In the smaller boats seats； in the larger ones cross… beams； are now fixed。 They are sprung into slight notches cut to receive them； and are further secured to the projecting pieces of the plank below by a strong lashing of rattan。 Ribs are now formed of single pieces of tough wood chosen and trimmed so as exactly to fit on to the projections from each plank； being slightly notched to receive them； and securely bound to them by rattans passed through a hole in each projecting piece close to the surface of the plank。 The ends are closed against the vertical prow and stern posts； and further secured with pegs and rattans； and then the boat is complete； and when fitted with rudders； masts； and thatched covering； is ready to do battle with； the waves。 A careful consideration of the principle of this mode of construction； and allowing for the strength and binding qualities of rattan （which resembles in these respects wire rather than cordage）； makes me believe that a vessel carefully built in this manner is actually stronger and safer than one fastened in the ordinary way with nails。
During our stay here we were all very busy。 Our captain was daily superintending the completion of his two small praus。 All day long native boats were coming with fish； cocoa…nuts； parrots and lories； earthen pans； sirip leaf； wooden bowls； and trays； &c。 &e。； which every one of the fifty inhabitants of our prau seemed to be buying on his own account； till all available and most unavailable space of our vessel was occupied with these miscellaneous articles： for every man on board a prau considers himself at liberty to trade； and to carry with him whatever he can afford to buy。
Money is unknown and valueless hereknives； cloth； and arrack forming the only medium of exchange； with tobacco for small coin。 Every transaction is the subject of a special bargain； and the cause of much talking。 It is absolutely necessary to offer very little； as the natives are never satisfied till you add a little more。 They are then far better pleased than if you had given them twice the amount at first and refused to increase it。
I； too； was doing a little business； having persuaded some of the natives to collect insects for me； and when they really found that I gave them most fragrant tobacco for worthless black and green beetles； I soon had scores of visitors； men； women； and children； bringing bamboos full of creeping things； which； alas！ too frequently had eaten each other into fragments during the tedium of a day's confinement。 Of one grand new beetle； glittering with ruby and emerald tints； I got a large quantity； having first detected one of its wing…cases ornamenting the outside of a native's tobacco pouch。 It was quite a new species； and had not been found elsewhere than on this little island。 It is one of the Buprestidae； and has been named Cyphogastra calepyga。
Each morning after an early breakfast I wandered by myself into the forest； where I found delightful occupation in capturing the large and handsome butterflies； which were tolerably abundant； and most of them new to me； for I was now upon the confines of the Moluccas and New Guinea；a region the productions of which were then among the most precious and rare in the cabinets of Europe。 Here my eyes were feasted for the first time with splendid scarlet lories on the wing； as well as by the sight of that most imperial butterfly； the 〃Priamus 〃of collectors； or a closely allied species； but flying so high that I did not succeed in capturing a specimen。 One of them was brought me in a bamboo； bored up with a lot of beetles； and of course torn to pieces。 The principal drawback of the place for a collector is the want of good paths； and the dreadfully rugged character of the surface； requiring the attention to be so continually directed to securing a footing； as to make it very difficult to capture active winged things； who pass out of reach while one is glancing to see that the next step may not plunge one into a chasm or over a precipice。 Another inconvenience is that there are no running streams； the rock being of so porous a nature that the surface… water everywhere penetrates its fissures； at least such is the character of the neighbourhood we visited； the only water being small springs trickling out close to the sea…beach。
In the forests of Ke； arboreal Liliaceae and Pandanaceae abound； and give a character to the vegetation in the more exposed rocky places。 Flowers were scarce； and there were not many orchids； but I noticed the fine white butterfly…orchis； Phalaenopsis grandiflora； or a species closely allied to it。 The freshness and vigour of the vegetation was very pleasing； and on such an arid rocky surface was a sure indication of a perpetually humid climate。 Tall clean trunks； many of them buttressed； and immense trees of the fig family； with aerial roots stretching out and interlacing and matted together for fifty or a hundred feet above the ground； were the characteristic features； and there was an absence of thorny shrubs and prickly rattans； which would have made these wilds very pleasant to roam in； had it not been for the sharp honeycombed rocks already alluded to。 In damp places a fine undergrowth of broadleaved herbaceous plants was found； about which swarmed little green lizards； with tails of the most 〃heavenly blue；〃 twisting in and out among the stalks and foliage so actively that I often caught glimpses of their tails only； when they startled me by their resemblance to small snakes。 Almost the only sounds in these primeval woods proceeded from two birds； the red lories； who utter shrill screams like most of the parrot tribe； and the large green nutmeg…pigeon； whose voice is either a loud and deep boom； like two notes struck upon a very large gong； or sometimes a harsh toad…like croak； altogether peculiar and remarkable。 Only two quadrupeds are said by the natives to inhabit the islanda wild pig and a Cuscus； or Eastern opossum； of neither of which could I obtain specimens。
The insects were more abundant； and very interesting。 Of butterflies I caught thirty…five species； most of them new to me； and many quite unknown in European collections。 Among them was the fine yellow and black Papilio euchenor； of which but few specimens had been previously captured； and several other handsome butterflies of large size； as well as some beautiful little 〃blues；〃 and some brilliant dayflying moths。 The beetle tribe were less abundant； yet I obtained some very fine and rare species。 On the leaves of a slender shrub in an old clearing I found several fine blue and black beetles of the genus Eupholus； which almost rival in beauty… the diamond beetles of South America。 Some cocoa…nut palms in blossom on the beach were frequented by a fine green floral beetle （Lomaptera which； when the flowers were shaken； flew off like a small swarm of bees。 I got one of our crew to climb up the tree； and he brought me a good number in his hand； and seeing they were valuable； I sent him up again with my net to shake the flowers into； and thus secured a large quantity。 My best capture； however； was the superb insect of the Buprestis family； already mentioned as having been obtained from the natives； who told me they found it in rotten trees in the mountains。
In the forest itself the only common and conspicuous coleoptera were two tiger beetles。 One； Therates labiata； was much larger than our green tiger beetle； of a purple black colour； with green metallic glosses； and the broad upper lip of a bright yellow。 It was always found upon foliage； generally of broad…leaned herbaceous plants； and in damp and gloomy situations； taking frequent short flights from leaf to leaf； and preserving an alert attitude； as if always looking out for its prey。 Its vicinity could be immediately ascertained； often before it was seen； by a very pleasant odour； like otto of roses； which it seems to emit continually； and which may probably be attractive to the small insects on which it feeds。 The other； Tricondyla aptera； is one of the most curious forms in the family of the Cicindelidae； and is almost exclusively confined to the Malay islands。 In shape it resembles a very large ant； more than an inch