354 Batchian. 



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 most- 

 ly Malays, with a sprinkling of Alfuros from Gilolo, and Pa- 

 puans from Guebe or Waigiou. 



One afternoon we staid 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. It was now necessary to 

 catch or kill him neatly, or he would escape among the piles 

 of miscellaneous luggage, and we should hardly sleep comfort- 

 ably. One of the ex-convicts volunteered to catch him with 

 his hand wrapped up in a cloth, but from the way he went 

 about it I saw he was nervous and would let the thing go, so 

 I would not allow him to make the attempt. I then got a 

 chopping-knife, and carefully moving my insect-nets, which 

 hung just over the snake and prevented me getting a free 

 blow, I cut him quietly across the back, holding him do"\vn 

 while my boy with another knife crushed his head. On ex- 

 amination, I found he had large poison fangs, and it is a won- 

 der he did not bite me when I first touched him. 



Thinking it very unlikely that two snakes had got on board 

 at the same time, I turned in and went to sleep ; but having 

 all the time a vague dreamy idea that I might put my hand 

 on another one, I lay wonderfully still, not turning over once 

 all night, quite the reverse of my usual habits. The next day 

 we reached Ternate, and I ensconced myself in my comforta- 

 ble hoiise, to examine all my treasures, and pack them secure- 

 ly for the voyage home. 



