296 TRAVELS m THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



Ternate, tlie very place I was anxious to reach, and 

 at the same time to leave an order for sapis^ whicli 

 she would take to Ceram on her return. The sapi 

 or Madura cattle have been introduced into all these 

 islands by the government to be used as food for the 

 soldiers, but only in cases of emergency. I imme- 

 diately prepared to continue my travels to other isl- 

 ands, and that day, September 6th, we steamed out 

 of Kayeli Bay. For two months I had wandered 

 over hills and mountains, penetrating the densest 

 jungles, and picking my way through bogs filled ^vith 

 thorny vines. Again and again the natives enter- 

 tained me with descriptions of the great pythons 

 with which the whole island abounds, but whenever 

 I saw a bird that I wanted, I always followed it as 

 long as I could see it. The result was, that I had 

 collected eighty-one species,* which were represented 

 by over four hundred specimens, nine-tenths of which 

 I had shot myself. 



This bay is a good harbor for our whalers, and, 

 before the war, several came here eveiy year. It is 

 a free port, and there is a safe anchorage, plenty of 

 good water and wood, and vegetables can be obtained 

 at cheap rates. 



For the last time I looked back on the mountains 

 rising behind in the interior of the village. Many 

 and many an hour, as the sun was setting, I used to 

 stand by the shore of the bay where a large cannon 

 was planted erect in the sand, and, leaning against its 

 dumb, rusty mouth, watch the changing of beautiful 



* In the same length of time Mr. A. R. Wallace collected sixty-six 

 species ox» this island. 



