IX.] TALISSE ISLAND. 185 



supply it. It remained still by clay in its darkened cage, but at 

 night, especially if disturbed, it would spring vertically upwards in 

 an odd mechanical manner, not unlike the hopping of a flea. On 

 the third day it found a grave in a pickle-bottle, and was duly con- 

 signed to a shelf in the Marchesa's Columbarium. 



Our destination on leaving Menado was Talisse Island, wrongly 

 called Salice on the English charts. It lies at the extreme north 

 end of Celebes, and is distant some five and twenty miles N.W. 

 from Menado. Lately some Dutclimen in the latter village have 

 established a small plantation on it, and we were anxious to see 

 the results of the venture, as well as to secure some of the peculiar 

 ]\Iound- builders or Maleos {Mcgaccplmlon malco), which were 

 reported to be found there in some abundance. We made for the 

 southern point of the island, Ijut our charts gave no indications 

 whatever as to the depth of water, and on approaching the little 

 island of Tindila, wliich lies immediately to the south of it, the 

 passage between the two appeared so narrow that we hardly liked 

 to try it. The southern and safer route would, however, have 

 cost us another hour or two, so, we decided in favour of the attempt. 

 At the entrance we encountered a heavy tide race, running from 

 six to seven knots, in which a sailing vessel would have been 

 unmanageable, but putting the engines at full speed, we came 

 through slowly without mishap, and shortly after anchored in 

 about fifteen fathoms on the eastern side of the island. This 

 anchorage is really the best in this part of Celebes, being more or 

 less protected in both monsoons. It is without reefs, and a small 

 stream of good water is accessible close to the beach. 



We went ashore and introduced ourselves to the manager of 

 the estate, a half-caste gentleman of the name of Kijkschroeff, 

 whom we found reading a life of Drydeu m Dutch ! He was a 

 most pleasant fellow, had been wounded in the Atjeh war, and 

 had seen many vicissitudes. His life upon the island must have 

 been lonely enough, but the neatness of his house and its sur- 

 roundings showed that this had had but little effect upon his energy. 



