IN THE EAST INDIES. 127 
Ambon, Amboina, February 2, 1907. 
Dear Fred : 
Since I last wrote you from Makassar I have seen 
two more islands of the East Indies and very pretty 
ones too. Day before yesterday we were at Tifu on 
Buru, a small village visited only four times a year by 
ships like this one. You would have thought that the 
inhabitants would have been delighted to see us, but 
not at all; a more indifferent set you never saw. All 
their houses are made of bamboo and surrounded by 
simply beautiful hedges of pink roses and white 
gardenias. But the effect is generally spoiled by cur 
dogs rooting underneath them and also hens of every 
variety and color scratching big holes and dusting 
themselves. The reef fishes were simply lovely; they 
were generally small with gorgeous shades of blue, 
green, pink, ete. We had only three hours there and 
then we came here. There are wonderful sea gardens 
here, with all kinds of corals and shells and fishes in 
them. The water is just as clear as crystal and you 
ean look down sixty feet and see objects on the bottom 
as plainly as possible. I collected some of the prettiest 
shells on the beach. The butterflies we have are as 
large as small birds and of every known color. I am 
just counting the days before we arrive at New 
Guinea. The Captain told me that he had bought six 
very large pearls from the natives for $4.80. No jok- 
ing, if this is the case I shall buy enough to make a 
good showing. He assured me that he was not joking 
and that the pearls are of fine color and good shape, 
