226 Celebes. 



horror that a cohimn of small red ants were descending the 

 string and entering the box. They were already busy at 

 work at the bodies of my treasures, and another half-hour 

 would have seen my whole day's collection destroyed. As 

 it was, I had to take every insect out, clean them thoroughly 

 as well as the box, and then seek for a place of safety for 

 them. As the only effectual one, I begged a plate and a basin 

 from my host, filled the former with water, and standing the 

 latter in it, placed my box on the top, and then felt secure 

 for the night ; a few inches of clean water or oil being the 

 only barrier these terrible pests are not able to pass. 



On returning home to Mamajani (as my house was called) 

 I had a slight return of intermittent fever, which kept me 

 some days in-doors. As soon as I was well I again went to 

 Goa, accompanied by Mr, Mesman, to beg the Rajah's assist- 

 ance in getting a small house built for me near the forest. 

 We found him at a cock-fight in a shed near his palace, which 

 however he immediately left to receive us, and walked with 

 us up an inclined plane of boards, which serves for stairs, to 

 his house. This was large, well-built, and lofty, with bamboo 

 floor and glass windows. The greater part of it seemed to 

 be one large hall divided by the supporting posts. Near a 

 window sat the Queen, squatting on a rough Avooden arm- 

 chair, chewing the everlasting sirih and betel-nut, while a 

 brass spittoon by her side and a sirih-box in front were ready 

 to administer to her wants. The Rajah seated himself oppo- 

 site to her in a similar chair, and a similar spittoon and sirih- 

 box were held by a little boy squatting at his side. Two 

 other chairs were brought for us. Several young women, 

 some the Rajah's daughters, others slaves, were standing 

 about ; a few were Avorking at frames making sarongs, but 

 most of them were idle. 



And here I might (if I followed the example of most trav- 

 ellers) launch out into a glowing description of the charms 

 of these damsels, the elegant costumes they wore, and the 

 gold and silver ornaments with which they were adorned. 

 The jacket or body of purple gauze would figure well in such 

 a description, allowing the heaving bosom to be seen beneath 

 it, while "sparkling eyes," and "jetty tresses," and "tiny 

 feet " might be thrown in profusely. But, alas ! regard for 



