C E L 



655 



C E L 



r\u, town. It is a tunnel, three miles long, in some parts 

 <vlebci. cut through the solid rock, and in others supp< 



masonry, with openings from above to admit 

 light and air. In many places it is choked with rub- 

 bish and earth, and is of no use in discharging the 

 superfluous waters, which escape with difficulty by 

 Home unknown channels. As the lake is supplied 

 by three considerable streams, it is often raised above 

 its ordinary level. See Sir W. Hamilton's paper in 

 the P/til. Trans, vol. Ixxxvi. p. 368 ; and Swin- 

 burne's Travel*, (j) 



CELASTRUS, a genus of plants of the class 

 Fentandria, and order Monogyma. See BOTANY, 

 p. !.>'_'. 



CELEBES, a large and populous island in the 

 Indian seas. Neither the exact site nor dimensions 

 of this island are known to be yet ascertained. Cap- 

 tain Forrest, a judicious navigator, affirms that it 

 stretches from about 2 north latitude to 6 10' 

 south, and lies between 116 40' and 121 40' east 

 longitude. Von Wurmb lays it down from the 

 third degree of north to the fifth degree of south la- 

 titude, and fixes its longitude under 136. Some na- 

 vigators and geographers maintain, that its breadth is 

 500 miles, others restrict it to 70, or even 45. Pro- 

 bably it does not exceed 100 in the broadest parts, 

 and diminishes considerably in the narrowest. We 

 may remark, in general, that though valuable Eu- 

 ropean settlements have long been established here, 

 there is scarcely any island in the same situation, in 

 the history and description of which greater confu- 

 sion prevails. 



By the natives, and also the neighbouring people, 

 this island is called, Negree Oran Buggess, or Tan- 

 Ha MataUAr. Though lying directly under the line, 

 the climate of Celebes is temperate, from the heat be- 

 ing moderated by the sea breeze circulating amo:jg 

 the mountains and vallies. Slight shocks of earth- 

 quakes are sometimes felt, and violent storms occa- 

 sionally visit the country. 



Gold is obtained in several districts of Celebes, 

 particularly towards the east, from the beds of rivers 

 or torrents issuing from the mountains, and also from 

 pits purposely dug for it. On discovering a gold mine, 

 the workmen first conduct water to its immediate vi- 

 cinity, and then dig down until finding a kind of 

 black sand among which it is lodged. Quantities of 

 this are taken up by the miners, who place them- 

 selves amidst a pond, pool, or stream of water, and 

 putting the sand into a flat wooden dish, wash the 

 whole gradually away, until the heavy particles of 

 gold falling to the bottom, alone remain in a cavity 

 in the centre. The gold thus collected is dried in a 

 cocoa nut shell near the fire, and cleansed as well as 

 possible from any remaining grains of sand. Before 

 digging a mine, the workmen turn aside the nearest 

 river, or drain off part of it ; then they search a foot 

 deep in the sand for pieces of native gold. Their 

 expectations of succets are regulated by the appear- 

 ance of the neighbouring stones and rocks : Where 

 rich ore is found, blue and yellow are predominant ; 

 where the ore is of less value, the stones are grey. Gold 

 is obtained from the crevices of the rocks in pieces of 

 considerable size ; one was lately seen weighing nine 

 pennyweights, and others are got equal to two or 

 three rials. The water, issuing from the mountains, 

 brings down earth along with it, which being recei- 



ved in vessels, deposits the gold in the bottom after 

 the water has filtered through. For the most part, 

 the gold of Celebes is pure and of the richest quali- 

 ty, but generally more valuable at the first opening 

 of a mine. No accurate calculation can be formed 

 of the quantities obtained throughout the island, but 

 tin- Dutch were formerly enabled to procure to the 

 value of 12 1,000/. annually. Iron and copper are like- 

 wise found in considerable abundance. 



The hills of Celebes are covered with woods, 

 among which are fruit trees and bushes known only 

 by description to Europeans. Lemons and oranges 

 arc in great profusion ; and also the more necessary 

 plants of sugar cane, Indian corn, rice, and cotton. 



Of quadrupeds, there are horses, cows, buffaloes, 

 wild hogs, goats, and sheep of large size. The hor- 

 ses are of a small black breed, and are greatly esteem* 

 ed by the natives. The flesh of cows and goals i> 

 ate, but no use whatever is made of the milk. 



This island is plentifully stocked with wild fowl 

 and poultry, and a great quantity of turtle abound i 

 on the coast. The latter is a principal object of pur- 

 suit among the natives, not as an article of food, but 

 for the sake of the shell. This they are said to po- 

 sess the singular art of taking off without injury to 

 the animal, which, after the operation, is allowed to 

 escape. 



The inhabitants of Celebes are supposed to be two 

 or three millions in number. Yet, though it be cer- 

 tain that the island is extremely fertile and populous, 

 we conceive that the calculation is exaggerated. 

 They are of a copper colour, or reddish yellow, ra- 

 ther of a squat figure, and ungraceful demeanour. 

 Nevertheless some of the women have regular fea* 

 tures and pleasing countenances, and are nearly as 

 fair as Europeans. In general, the natives are suspi- 

 cious, cruel, and ferocious, the common character of 

 mankind in the same latitudes ; but they are inge- 

 nious, high-spirited, and brave. The men are capable 

 of great fatigue, and can patiently endure protracted 

 abstinence ; they are temperate in living, and hence 

 longevity is frequently met with. The women are 

 greatly addicted to sensuality, susceptible of warm 

 attachments, and their jealousy is unbounded. 



The heat of the climate is so favourable to vegeta- 

 tion, that agricultural operations are attended with 

 little care or anxiety. Rice, cotton, and the sugar 

 cane, are its chief objects. The fields for cultivating 

 the first of these vegetables are divided by fences, 

 which shews that the natives have an accurate notion 

 of the distinction of property, and the disposition of 

 the surface is accommodated to essential circumstan- 

 ces. Some of the grounds for producing rice are on 

 declivities, where little canals about twenty yards asun- 

 der are formed for the irrigation of the land. The 

 fields are overflowed to the depth of six or eight 

 inches during sixteen days, and being then in a very 

 humid state, about 20 bullocks trained to the work 

 are inclosed, and driven round and round until the 

 ground is completely poached. Water is again ad- 

 mitted to overflow the surface, and the land is after- 

 wards considered i:i a fit state to produce the crop. 

 Rice plants are next s'tuck into the mud eight inches 

 asunder, and, until half grown, the ground is con- 

 stantly watered ; but at that period the shade of the 

 plants keeps it moist, which obviates the necessity of 

 continuing to overflow it. Being cut and put up in 



