2tl:4 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



the arcliipelago. Farther to tlie east are the Am (in 

 Dutcli, Aroe) Islands, tliat is, " tlie islands of tlie casu- 

 arina-trees." They number about eighty, and are 

 very low, forming a chain about a hundi'ed miles 

 long: and half as broad. When seen on the west 

 they apjDear as one continuous, low island ; but on 

 coming nearer, intricate channels are found winding 

 among them, through which set strong tidal currents. 

 The people are said to closely resemble those of 

 Haruku, Saparua, and Nusalaut. The total popula- 

 tion is given at only fourteen thousand. A few are 

 Christians, and two or three native schoolmasters 

 from Amboina are employed there. Papuans are 

 said to live on the most eastern island. Large quan- 

 tities of tripang are gathered on the shallow coral 

 banks of these low islands, and in the sea the du- 

 gong, Halicore dugong^ Cuv., is seen. The great bird 

 of paradise, P. apoda^ is found here, and also the 

 red bird of paradise, P. regia. The skins of these 

 beautiful birds were probably brought here to Banda 

 and sold to the Chinese traders for many ages, but 

 the first account we have of them is by Pigafetta, who 

 accompanied Magellan's fleet. He says that the king 

 of Bachian, an island west of the southern end of 

 Grilolo, gave his companions a slave and nearly two 

 hundred pounds of cloves as a present for their Em- 

 peror, Charles V., and also " two most beautiful 

 dead birds. These are about the size of a thrush, 

 have small heads, long bills, legs a palm in length 

 and as slender as a wiiting-quill. In lieu of proper 

 wings, they have long feathers of different colors, like 

 great ornamental plumes. The tail resembles that 



