Plants of the families Apocynaceae and Euphorbiacea,
abound; but there is nothing that can be called a forest, and the
whole country has a parched and desolate appearance, contrasting
strongly with the lofty forest trees and perennial verdure of the
Moluccas or of Singapore.
The most conspicuous feature of the
vegetation was the abundance of fine fanleaved palms (Borassus
flabelliformis), from the leaves of which are constructed the strong
and durable water-buckets in general use, and which are much superior
to those formed from any other species of palm. From the same tree,
palm-wine and sugar are made, and the common thatch for houses formed
of the leaves lasts six or seven years without removal. Close to the
town I noticed the foundation of a ruined house below high-water mark,
indicating recent subsidence. Earthquakes are not severe here, and are
so infrequent and harmless that the chief houses are built of stone.
The inhabitants of Coupang consist of Malays, Chinese, and Dutch,
besides the natives, so that there are many strange and complicated
mixtures among the population. There is one resident English merchant,
and whalers as well as Australian ships often come here for stores and
water. The native Timorese preponderate, and a very little examination
serves to show that they have nothing in common with Malays, but are
much more closely allied to the true Papuans of the Aru Islands and
New Guinea. They are tall, have pronounced features, large somewhat
aquiline noses, and frizzly hair, and are generally of a dusky brown
colour.
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