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 a new
species allied to it), and finding no new birds, and very few
insects, I left early on the morning of April 1st, and in the
evening entered a river on the main island of Batchian (Langundi,
like Kasserota, being on a distinct island), where some Malays
and Galela men have a small village, and have made extensive
rice-fields and plantain grounds. Here we found a good house near
the river bank, where the water was fresh and clear, and the
owner, a respectable Batchian Malay, offered me sleeping room and
the use of the verandah if I liked to stay. Seeing forest all
round within a short distance, I accepted his offer, and the next
morning before breakfast walked out to explore, and on the skirts
of the forest captured a few interesting insects.
Afterwards, I found a path which led for a mile or more through a
very fine forest, richer in palms than any I had seen in the
Moluccas. One of these especially attracted my attention from its
elegance.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 56 of 412
Words from 14817 to 15074
of 111511
