24G TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO, 



sented as having become one " sea of fire," and all 

 tlie inhabitants were obliged to flee to Banda. Again, 

 in September, 1844, after a rest of a hundred and 

 fifty years, another eruption began, which compelled 

 €very one to leave its inhospitable shores once more. 

 Since that time it has been settled again, and here in 

 Banda are many of the boats its people bring in the 

 latter part of this month, when continuously for days 

 not a breeze ripples the glassy sea — halcyon days in- 

 deed. As the natives have no iron, the whole boat is 

 built of wood. The central pai-t is low, but the bow 

 and stern curve up high, quite diiferent from all I 

 have seen in any other part of the archipelago, and 

 reminding one of the representations usually given of 

 those used in some parts of the South Sea. 



While I had been turning my attention to ge- 

 ology, the native who was assisting me to collect 

 shells was searching for a " hunter," that is, one who 

 can skin birds. He soon had the good foi-tune to 

 find one, who was also a native of Amboina, for all 

 these natives dislike those of another village, and 

 only associate with them when they can find none of 

 theii' own people. During the few days we were 

 at the Bandas they collected several species of 

 most beautiful kingfishers ; indeed, those who have 

 seen only our sombre-colored specimens can scarcely 

 conceive of the rich plumage these birds assume in 

 the tropical East. They were also so fortunate as to 

 find a few superb specimens of a very rare and valu- 

 able bird, with scarcely any tail, and having eight 

 very different colors, the Pitta vigorsi. An allied 

 species is found on the Arru Islands, and another on 



