344 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



as to require very little caulking. Every plauk is cut 

 out of the tree with an axe, each tree producing two 

 only. In this manner craft of all sizes are made, from 

 the smallest canoe to schooners of 150 tons, the latter 

 being brought for sale to Banda and other places, or 

 acquired by Bugis traders for the Aru trade and pearl- 

 fishing. All the tools necessary for the work are con- 

 structed ,by native blacksmiths, who are almost without 

 exception from the island of Teor, some 80 miles north- 

 west of the group. 



There is little trade in Ke excepting in timber ; the 

 most important tree is a species of ironwood. Marinda 

 citrifolia gives a yellow dye from its bast, of which 

 8 to 100 tons are annually exported. The fauna of the 

 group is hardly known, but appears to be of Papuan type, 

 and one of the small tree kangaroos {Dendrolagus) is 

 found. 



