The People of Kaioa. 331 



at all common were the great red pari'ot (Eclectus granclis), 

 found in most of the Moluccas, a crow, and a Megapodius, or 

 mound-maker. A few of the pretty racquet-tailed kingfishers 

 were also obtained, but in very poor plumage. They proved, 

 however, to be of a different species from those found in the 

 other islands, and come nearest to the bird originally described 

 by Linnteus under the name of Alcedo dea, and which came 

 from Ternate. This would indicate that the small chain of 

 islands parallel to Gilolo have a few peculiar species in com- 

 mon, a fact which certainly occurs in insects. 



The people of Kaioa interested me much. They are evi- 

 dently a mixed race, having Mala}"- and Papuan affinities, and 

 are allied to the peoples of Ternate and of Gilolo. They pos- 

 sess a peculiar language, somewhat resembling those of the 

 surrounding islands, but quite distinct. They are now Mo- 

 hammedans, and are subject to Ternate. The only fruits seen 

 here were papaws and pine-apples, the rocky soil and dry cli- 

 mate being unfavorable. Rice, maize, and plantains flourish 

 well, except that they suffer from occasional dry seasons like 

 the present one. There is a little cotton grown, from which 

 the women weave sarongs (Malay petticoats). There is only 

 one well of good water on the islands, situated close to the 

 landing-place, to Avhich all the inhabitants come for drinking- 

 water. The men are good boat-builders, and they make a 

 regular trade of it, and seem to be very well off. 



After five days at Kaioa we continued our journey, and 

 soon got among the narrow straits and islands which lead 

 down to the town of Batchian. In the evening we staid at a 

 settlement of Galela men. These are natives of a district in 

 the extreme north of Gilolo, and are great wanderers over this 

 part of the Archipelago. They build large and roomy praus 

 with outriggers, and settle on any coast or islahd they take a 

 fancy for. They hunt deer and wild-pig, drying the meat, 

 they catch turtle and tripang, they cut down the forest and 

 plant rice or maize, and are altogether remarkably energetic 

 and industrious. They are very fine people, of light -complex- 

 ion, tall, and Avith Papuan features, coming nearer to the 

 drawings and descriptions of the true Polynesians of Tahiti 

 and Owyhee than any I have seen. 



During this voyage I had several times had an opportuni- 



