340 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGKAPHY AND TEAVEL 



around a small sand-bank, the houses standmg on piles 

 half in the water, and quite concealing the land, so as to 

 give the place a most singular appearance from a distance. 

 Its eastern portion is under a native raja, and the 

 western in Dutch hands, separated from the other by a 

 strong stone wall, which also surrounds the island. 



About 30 miles farther on we come to the Goram 

 group, consisting of the two islands of Goram and 

 Manowolko, and the smaller island of Suruaki. These 

 are governed by a native raja, and the inhabitants are 

 generally known as Goram men. They are Moham- 

 medans of Malay type, with a slight infusion of Papuan 

 blood, who speak a pecuhar language, and are probably 

 derived from a mixture of Bugis with Moluccan Malays. 

 They are a race of traders and ships' pilots, making 

 voyages every year to the K^ and Aru islands, and to 

 New Guinea, selling their produce to Bugis traders, who 

 take it to Makassar or Singapore. Although a Dutch 

 postholder is resident here, money is unlaiown to them, 

 and the chief barter is cotton twist. These islands 

 consist of raised coral reefs, with chfi's and terraces 

 rising two or three hundred feet high. In Manowolko 

 there are no streams, but there are some in Goram, 

 which probably has a substratum of harder rock. Goram 

 is surrounded by an encirchng reef, entirely under water 

 except at the lowest ebb tide, but affording excellent 

 anchorage and smooth water within. 



Twenty miles farther to the south-east are the small 

 Matabello islands, of coral rock raised to a considerable 

 height, and with a closely encircling reef leaving a narrow 

 but secure passage for native boats within it. The rugged 

 hills of these islands are covered with coco-nut trees, and 

 the natives get their living by making coco-nut oil, which 

 they sell to the Bugis traders. The only water here is 



