148 TRAVELS IX THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



leave tliis part of tlie archipelago, and have continued 

 to hold it, except for a short time in the early part 

 of the present century. 



The guest-chamber of my host, the rajah, was so 

 open at the eaves that a current of damp air Mew 

 over me all night, and I had a strong reminder of the 

 Batavia fever the next day. However, I continued 

 along the shore to Hila, where an assistant resident 

 is stationed, whose district also includes a part of the 

 neighboring coast of Ceram. In the days when the 

 clove-tree was extensively cultivated in Amboina, 

 this was an important place, but now it has become 

 almost deserted. It is chiefly famous for its fine man- 

 goes, the fruit of the Mcmgifera Indica. 



The Kesident here had two fine specimens of an 

 enormous hermit crab, the Birgos latro. The habits 

 of this animal are most remarkable. Its food is the 

 cocoa-nut, and, as the ripe nuts fall from the tree, it 

 tears off the dry husks with its powerful claws until 

 the end of the shell where the three black scars are 

 found is laid bare. It then breaks the shell by 

 hammering with one of its heavy claws, and the oily, 

 fattening food within is obtained by means of the 

 pincer-like claws attached to its hinder joints — so 

 perfectly is this animal adapted to its peculiar mode 

 of life. They are esteemed great delicacies after 

 they have been well fed for a time, and these two 

 unfortunates were destined for the table. 



A rest of a couple of days stayed the fever, and a 

 boat was ordered to take me to Zyt, the next \T.llage, 

 where I reaped another rich harvest of beautiful 

 shells. Here I purchased many Trit07is^ which the 



