434 The Aru Islands. 



and wonderful of the clear-winged moths (Cocytia durvillei), 

 were especially interesting, as well as several little " blues," 

 equalling in brilliancy and beauty any thing the butterfly 

 world can produce. In the other groups of insects I was not 

 so successful, but this was not to be wondered at in a mere 

 exploring ramble, when only what is most conspicuous and 

 novel attracts the attention. Several pretty beetles, a superb 

 " bug," and a few nice land-shells were obtained, and I re- 

 turned in the afternoon well satisfied with my first trial of 

 the promised land. 



The next two days were so wet and windy that there was 

 no going out ; but on the succeeding one the sun shone 

 brightly, and I had the good-fortune to capture one of the 

 most magnificent insects the world contains, the gi-eat bird- 

 winged butterfly (Ornithoi^tera poseidon). I trembled with 

 excitement as I saw it coming majestically toward me, and 

 could hardly believe I had really succeeded in my stroke till 

 I had taken it out of the net and was gazing, lost in admira- 

 tion, at the velvet black and brilliant green of its wings, 

 seven inches across, its golden body, and crimson breast. It 

 is true I had seen similar insects in cabinets, at home, but it 

 is quite another thing to capture such one's self — to feel it 

 struggling between one's fingers, and to gaze upon its fresh 

 and living beauty, a bright gem shining out amid the silent 

 gloom of a dark and tangled forest. The village of Dobbo 

 held that evening at least one contented man. 



Jan. 1<oth. — Having now been here a fortnight, I began to 

 understand a little of the place and its peculiarities. Praus 

 continually arrived, and the merchant population increased 

 almost daily. Every two or three days a fresh house was 

 opened, and the necessary repairs made. In every direction 

 men were bringing in poles, bamboos, rattans, and the leaves 

 of the Nipa palm to construct or repair the walls, thatch, 

 doors, and shutters of their houses, which they do with great 

 celerity. Some of the arrivals were Macassar men or Bugis, 

 but more from the small island of Goram, at the east end of 

 Ceram, whose inhabitants arc the petty traders of the far 

 East. Then the natives of Aru come in from the other side of 

 the islands (called here " blakang tana," or " back of the coun- 

 try ") with the produce they have collected during the pre- 



