Pad Flying Was Worse Than Not Flying At All.
So, While In Such Islands As New Zealand And Mauritius Far
From
all land, it vas safer for a ground-feeding bird not to fly at
all, and the short-winged
Individuals continually surviving,
prepared the way for a wingless group of birds; in a vast
Archipelago thickly strewn with islands and islets it was
advantageous to be able occasionally to migrate, arid thus the
long and strong-winged varieties maintained their existence
longest, and ultimately supplanted all others, and spread the
race over the whole Archipelago.
Besides this pigeon, the only new bird I obtained during the trip
was a rare goat-sucker (Batrachostomus crinifrons), the only
species of the genus yet found in the Moluccas. Among my insects
the best were the rare Pieris arum, of a rich chrome yellow
colour, with a black border and remarkable white antenna - perhaps
the very finest butterfly of the genus; and a large black wasp-
like insect, with immense jaws like a stag-beetle, which has been
named Megachile Pluto by Mr. B. Smith. I collected about a
hundred species of beetles quite new to me, but mostly very
minute, and also many rare and handsome ones which I had already
found in Batchian. On the whole I was tolerably satisfied with my
seventeen days' excursion, which was a very agreeable one, and
enabled me to sea a good deal of the island. I had hired a roomy
boat, and brought with me a small table and my rattan chair.
These were great comforts, as, wherever there was a roof, I could
immediately instal myself, and work and eat at ease. When I could
not find accommodation on shore I slept in the boat, which was
always drawn up on the beach if we stayed for a few days at one
spot.
On my return to Batchian I packed up my collections, and prepared
for my return to Ternate. When I first came I had sent back my
boat by the pilot, with two or three other men who had been glad
of the opportunity. I now took advantage of a Government boat
which had just arrived with rice for the troops, and obtained
permission to return in her, and accordingly started on the 13th
of April, having resided only a week short of six months on the
island of Batchian. The boat was one of the kind called "Kora-
kora," quite open, very low, and about four tons burthen. It had
outriggers of bamboo about five feet off each side, which
supported a bamboo platform extending the whole length of the
vessel. On the extreme outside of this sit the twenty rowers,
while within was a convenient passage fore and aft. The middle
portion of the boat was covered with a thatch-house, in which
baggage and passengers are stowed; the gunwale was not more than
a foot above water, and from the great top and side weight, and
general clumsiness, these boats are dangerous in heavy weather,
and are not unfrequently lost. A triangle mast and mat sail
carried us on when the wind was favourable, - which (as usual) it
never was, although, according to the monsoon, it ought to have
been. Our water, carried in bamboos, would only last two days,
and as the voyage occupied seven, we had to touch at a great many
places. The captain was not very energetic, and the men rowed as
little as they pleased, or we might have reached Ternate in three
days, having had fine weather and little wind all the way.
There were several passengers besides myself: three or four
Javanese soldiers, two convicts whose time had expired (one,
curiously enough, being the man who had stolen my cash-box and
keys), the schoolmaster's wife and a servant going on a visit to
Ternate, and a Chinese trader going to buy goods. We had to sleep
all together in the cabin, packed pretty close; but they very
civilly allowed me plenty of room for my mattrass, and we got on
very well together. There was a little cookhouse in the bows,
where we could boil our rice and make our coffee, every one of
course bringing his own provisions, and arranging his meal-times
as he found most convenient. The passage would have been
agreeable enough but for the dreadful "tom-toms," or wooden
drums, which are beaten incessantly while the men are rowing. Two
men were engaged constantly at them, making a fearful din the
whole voyage. The rowers are men sent by the Sultan of Ternate.
They get about threepence a day, and find their own provisions.
Each man had a strong wooden "betel" box, on which he generally
sat, a sleeping-mat, and a change of clothes - rowing naked, with
only a sarong or a waistcloth. They sleep in their places,
covered with their mat, which keeps out the rain pretty well.
They chew betel or smoke cigarettes incessantly; eat dry sago and
a little salt fish; seldom sing while rowing, except when excited
and wanting to reach a stopping-place, and do not talk a great
deal. They are mostly Malays, with a sprinkling of Alfuros from
Gilolo, and Papuans from Guebe or Waigiou.
One afternoon we stayed at Makian; many of the men went on shore,
and a great deal of plantains, bananas, and other fruits were
brought on board. We then went on a little way, and in the
evening anchored again. When going to bed for the night, I put
out my candle, there being still a glimmering lamp burning, and,
missing my handkerchief, thought I saw it on a box which formed
one side of my bed, and put out my hand to take it. I quickly
drew back on feeling something cool and very smooth, which moved
as I touched it. "Bring the light, quick," I cried; "here's a
snake." And there he was, sure enough, nicely coiled up, with his
head just raised to inquire who had disturbed him.
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