THE MOLUCCAS 327 



8. Buru. 



We now come to the soutlicni Moluccas, \vliicli are 

 under the administration of the Resident of Andjoina, oiu^ 

 of the largest of wliich is Buru, an oval island ahout 

 90 English miles in length, witli an area of oo.SO 

 square miles. Although a volcano is said to exist at the 

 western extremity, the island is believed to be largely 

 composed of the older stratified rocks. It is, in parts, of 

 great elevation. Mount Tuniahu (8530 feet) being, apart 

 from those in Ceram, the highest peak in the Moluccas, 

 while others exceed 7000 feet. The elevation is highest 

 towards the western end, while at the north and east it 

 is comparatively low. Surrounding Kajeli Bay is a vast, 

 circular, and level plain, which occupies nearly one-i'ourth 

 of the island. In the north the country is somewliat 

 bare, and much covered with coarse lalang grass, but the 

 greater part of the rest of the island is forest-clad. 'J'lie 

 villages round the coast are inhabited by semi-civilised 

 Mohammedan Malays from the various surrounding 

 islands, who have intermixed with the older inhabitants ; 

 and a tribe of mild light-coloured people of Malay type, 

 apparently allied to the natives of Eastern Celel)es, 

 occupy the northern and western parts. The interior is 

 peopled by a peculiar race, which, according to some 

 authorities, is of Papuan type. If this be true, these 

 " Alfuros " must have lost the chief characteristics of that 

 race, judging from the description of Mr. H. 0. Forbes, 

 the oidy naturalist who has visited the heart of the 

 country. He describes them as averaging 5 feet 2 

 inches in height, of a brown or yellowish-brown colour, 

 weak in build and somewhat effeminate, and very timid. 

 They live for the most part in isolated houses, and 



