230 THE MOLUCCAS. [chap. 



tion in the IMoluccas, until it is cool enough in the evening to walk 

 down to the " Harmonie " and drink pijtjes. The Malays are more 

 energetic than their masters, and pass their time in kite-flying, an 

 amusement which is of absorbing interest to almost every one of 

 that race. It is a decorous sport, demanding no great exertion, 

 and as such, I suppose, commends itself to tlie imjDassive Malay 



character. The kites are of many shapes, but in Ternate birds did 

 not appear to be in fashion as in Sumbawa. One very pretty one 

 I noticed was a butterfly, whose wings quivered and fluttered in a 

 very lifelike manner. Most simj)le of all was that patronised by 

 the little fisher- boys — a single leaf of large size, with a tail of 

 bunches of bamboo-leaves. 



On the 7th of October the monthly mail came in, and Ternate 

 leapt suddenly into life. Coolies hurried to and fro with bales of 

 copal, bundles of deers' horns, tortoise-shell, and other products ; 

 the merchants, foregoing tlieir siesta, checked the number of 

 the packages that left their stores, and the avenue was crowded 

 with carts and natives passing and repassing. At the pier a sort 



