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eys and other animals。 This is rendered more probable by the fact that the animal is not found in Gilolo； which is only separated from Batchian by a very narrow strait。 The introduction may have been very recent； as in a fertile and unoccupied island such an animal would multiply rapidly。 The only other mammals obtained were an Eastern opossum； which Dr。 Gray has described as Cuscus ornatus； the little flying opossum； Belideus ariel； a Civet cat； Viverra zebetha； and nice species of bats； most of the smaller ones being caught in the dusk with my butterfly net as they flew about before the house。
After much delay； owing to bad weather and the illness of one of my men； I determined to visit Kasserota （formerly the chief village）； situated up a small stream； on an island close to the north coast of Batchian； where I was told that many rare birds were found。 After my boat was loaded and everything ready； three days of heavy squalls prevented our starting； and it was not till the 21st of March that we got away。 Early next morning we entered the little river； and in about an hour we reached the Sultan's house； which I had obtained permission to use。 It was situated on the bank of the river； and surrounded by a forest of fruit trees； among which were some of the very loftiest and most graceful cocoa…nut palms I have ever seen。 It rained nearly all that day； and I could do little but unload and unpack。 Towards the afternoon it cleared up； and I attempted to explore in various directions； but found to my disgust that the only path was a perfect mud swamp； along which it was almost impossible to walk； and the surrounding forest so damp and dark as to promise little in the way of insects。 I found too on inquiry that the people here made no clearings； living entirely on sago； fruit； fish； and game； and the path only led to… a steep rocky mountain equally impracticable and unproductive。 The next day I sent my men to this hill； hoping it might produce some good birds； but they returned with only two common species； and I myself had been able to get nothing； every little track I had attempted to follow leading to a dense sago swamp。 I saw that I should waste time by staying here； and determined to leave the following day。
This is one of those spots so hard for the European naturalist to conceive； where with all the riches of a tropical vegetation； and partly perhaps from the very luxuriance of that vegetation； insects are as scarce as in the most barren parts of Europe； and hardly more conspicuous。 In temperate climates there is a tolerable uniformity in the distribution of insects over those parts of a country in which there is a similarity in the vegetation； any deficiency being easily accounted for by the absence of wood or uniformity of surface。 The traveller hastily passing through such a country can at once pick out a collecting ground which will afford him a fair notion of its entomology。 Here the case is different。 There are certain requisites of a good collecting ground which can only be ascertained to exist by some days' search in the vicinity of each village。 In some places there is no virgin forest； as at Djilolo and Sahoe； in others there are no open pathways or clearings； as here。 At Batchian there are only two tolerable collecting places；the road to the coal mines； and the new clearings made by the Tomóre people； the latter being by far the most productive。 I believe the fact to be that insects are pretty uniformly distributed over these countries （where the forests have not been cleared away）； and are so scarce in any one spot that searching for them is almost useless。 If the forest is all cleared away； almost all the insects disappear with it； but when small clearings and paths are made； the fallen trees in various stages of drying and decay； the rotting leaves； the loosening bark and the fungoid growths upon it； together with the flowers that appear in much greater abundance where the light is admitted； are so many attractions to the insects for miles around； and cause a wonderful accumulation of species and individuals。 When the entomologist can discover such a spot； he does more in a mouth than he could possibly do by a year's search in the depths of the undisturbed forest。
The next morning we left early； and reached the mouth of the little river in about au hour。 It flows through a perfectly flat alluvial plain； but there are hills which approach it near the mouth。 Towards the lower part； in a swamp where the salt…water must enter at high tides； were a number of elegant tree…ferns from eight to fifteen feet high。 These are generally considered to be mountain plants； and rarely to occur on the equator at an elevation of less than one or two thousand feet。 In Borneo； in the Aru Islands； and on the banks of the Amazon； I have observed them at the level of the sea； and think it probable that the altitude supposed to be requisite for them may have been deduced from facts observed in countries where the plains and lowlands are largely cultivated； and most of the indigenous vegetation destroyed。 Such is the case in most parts of Java； India； Jamaica； and Brazil； where the vegetation of the tropics has been most fully explored。
Coming out to sea we turned northwards； and in about two hours' sail reached a few huts； called Langundi； where some Galela men had established themselves as collectors of gum…dammar； with which they made torches for the supply of the Ternate market。 About a hundred yards back rises a rather steep hill； and a short walk having shown me that there was a tolerable path up it； I determined to stay here for a few days。 Opposite us； and all along this coast of Batchian； stretches a row of fine islands completely uninhabited。 Whenever I asked the reason why no one goes to live in them； the answer always was； 〃For fear of the Magindano pirates。〃 Every year these scourges of the Archipelago wander in one direction or another； making their rendezvous on some uninhabited island； and carrying devastation to all the small settlements around； robbing； destroying； killing； or taking captive all they nee with。 Their long well…manned praus escape from the pursuit of any sailing vessel by pulling away right in the wind's eye； and the warning smoke of a steamer generally enables them to hide in some shallow bay； or narrow river； or forest…covered inlet； till the danger is passed。 The only effectual way to put a stop to their depredations would be to attack them in their strongholds and villages； and compel them to give up piracy； and submit to strict surveillance。 Sir James Brooke did this with the pirates of the north…west coast of Borneo； and deserves the thanks of the whole population of the Archipelago for having rid them of half their enemies。
All along the beach here； and in the adjacent strip of sandy lowland； is a remarkable display of Pandanaceae or Screw…pines。 Some are like huge branching candelabra； forty or fifty feet high； and bearing at the end of each branch a tuft of immense sword…shaped leaves； six or eight inches wide； and as many feet long。 Others have a single unbranched stem； six or seven feet high； the upper part clothed with the spirally arranged leaves； and bearing a single terminal fruit ac large as a swan's egg。 Others of intermediate size have irregular clusters of rough red fruits； and all have more or less spiny…edged leaves and ringed stems。 The young plants of the larger species have smooth glossy thick leaves； sometimes ten feet long and eight inches wide； which are used all over the Moluccas and New Guinea； to make 〃cocoyas〃 or sleeping mats； which are often very prettily ornamented with coloured patterns。 Higher up on the bill is a forest of immense trees； among which those producing the resin called dammar （Dammara sp。） are abundant。 The inhabitants of several small villages in Batchian are entirely engaged in searching for this product； and making it into torches by pounding it and filling it into tubes of palm leaves about a yard long； which are the only lights used by many of the natives。 Sometimes the dammar accumulates in large masses of ten or twenty pounds weight； either attached to the trunk； or found buried in the ground at the foot of the trees。 The most extraordinary trees of the forest are； however； a kind of fig； the aerial roots of which form a pyramid near a hundred feet high； terminating just where the tree branches out above； so that there is no real trunk。 This pyramid or cone is formed of roots of every size； mostly descending in straight lines； but more or less obliquely… and so crossing each other； and connected by cross branches； which grow from one to another； as to form a dense and complicated network； to which nothing but a photograph could do justice （see illustration at Vol。 I。 page 130）。 The Kanary is also abundant in this forest； the nut of which has a very agreeable flavour； and produces an excellent oil。 The fleshy outer covering of the nut is the favourite food of the great green pigeons of these islands （Carpophaga； perspicillata）； and their hoarse copings and heavy flutterings among the branches can be almost continually heard。
After ten days at Langundi； finding it impossible to get the bird I was particularly in search of （the Nicobar pigeon； or