366 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



in height, and a fair harbour. The nutmeg is said to have 

 grown here at one time, but to have been extirpated by 

 the Dutch. About 70 miles farther in the same direction 

 is Nila, with a small volcano which has been active in 

 recent times. Finally, the chain terminates with Serua ; 

 or possibly Manok Island, a small and isolated volcanic 

 peak in 5° 33' S., may be the ultimate link. 



The remainder of the Serwatti islands form a chain 

 connecting Wetta with the Timor Laut group, though 

 whether situated on one and the same raised submarine 

 bank is unknown, the soundings in these seas being few 

 in number. Kissa is the most western, and is densely 

 populated, for, though possessed of an area of less than 40 

 square miles, there were in 1 8 8 6 nearly 10,000 inhabitants. 

 The Dutch formerly had settlements in two or more 

 places on the island, but have now abandoned them, 

 chiefly, it is said, owing to the droughts which so fre- 

 quently occurred. In spite of the barren and mountain- 

 ous character of the land, the soil is very fertile, and 

 passing ships obtain provision abundantly and cheaply. 

 The inhabitants are a tall and good-looking race of Chris- 

 tian Malays, who are good agriculturists. Pura-pura, a 

 village on the south-west coast, is the principal port of 

 the Serwatti islands, and two miles inland is a walled 

 town of some size, with a large church. The Letti group, 

 of which Moa is the largest island, is peopled almost as 

 thickly with a similar race. Many cattle are raised. 

 The Karbau peak on Moa attains a height of 4100 feet, 

 but the remainder of the island is flat and coralline. 

 The group contains 11,000 inhabitants, and a representa- 

 tive of the Dutch Government resides on Letti. Sermata, 

 about 40 miles eastward, is little known. Leaving this 

 Malayan oasis, we come again, at the Baba group, to a 

 dark Papuan race, who bear a rather bad character. 



