Town of Macassar. 221 



house, kindly offered me by Mr. Mesman. It was situated 

 about two miles away, on a small coffee plantation and farm, 

 and about a mile beyond Mr. M.'s own country-house. It 

 consisted of two rooms raised about seven feet above the 

 ground, the lower part being partly open (and serving ex- 

 cellently to skin birds in), and partly used as a granary for 

 rice. There was a kitchen and other out-houses, and several 

 cottages near were occupied by men in Mr. M.'s employ. 



After being settled a few days in my new house, I found 

 that no collections could be made without going much 

 farther into the country. The rice-fields for some miles 

 round resembled English stubbles late m autumn, and were 

 almost as unproductive of bird or insect life. There were 

 several native villages scattered about, so embosomed in 

 fruit-trees that at a distance they looked like clumps or 

 patches of forest. These were my only collecting-places, 

 but they produced a very limited number of species, and 

 were soon exhausted. Before I could move to any more 

 promising district it was necessary to obtain permission 

 from the Rajah of Goa, whose territories approach to within 

 two miles of the town of Macassar. I therefore presented 

 myself at the Governor's office and requested a letter to the 

 Rajah, to claim his protection, and permission to travel in 

 his territories whenever I might wish to do so. This was 

 immediately granted, and a special messenger was sent with 

 me to carry the letter. 



My friend Mr. Mesman kindly lent me a horse, and ac- 

 companied me on my visit to the Rajah, with whom he was 

 great friends. We found his Majesty seated out of doors, 

 watching the erection of a new house. He was naked from 

 the waist up, wearing only the usual short trowsers and sa- 

 rong. Two chairs were brought out for us, but all the chiefs 

 and other natives were seated on the ground. The messen- 

 ger, squatting down at the Rajah's feet, produced the letter, 

 which was sewn up in a covering of yellow silk. It was 

 handed to one of the chief ofl5cers, who ripped it open and 

 returned it to the Rajah, who read it, and then showed it to 

 Mr. M., who both speaks and reads the Macassar language 

 fluently, and who explained fully what I required. Per- 

 mission was immediately granted me to go where I liked in 



