All
who could not do so were placed upon public works at low wages,
and thus were kept from the temptation to peculation or other
crimes, which the excitement of newly-acquired freedom, and
disinclination to labour, might have led them into.
CHAPTER XXII.
GILOLO.
(MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1858.)
I MADE but few and comparatively short visits to this large and
little known island, but obtained a considerable knowledge of its
natural history by sending first my boy Ali, and then my
assistant, Charles Allen, who stayed two or three months each in
the northern peninsula, and brought me back large collections of
birds and insects. In this chapter I propose to give a sketch of
the parts which I myself visited. My first stay was at Dodinga,
situated at the head of a deep-bay exactly opposite Ternate, and
a short distance up a little stream which penetrates a few miles
inland. The village is a small one, and is completely shut in by
low hills.
As soon as I arrived, I applied to the head man of the village
for a house to live in, but all were occupied, and there was much
difficulty in finding one. In the meantime I unloaded my baggage
on the beach and made some tea, and afterwards discovered a small
but which the owner was willing to vacate if I would pay him five
guilders for a month's rent.
