374 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGEAPHY AND TRAVEL 



corn. The population of the island can only be con- 

 jecturally estimated. By Senor Vaquinhas that of Por- 

 tuguese Timor is thought to be over half a million, and 

 of the Dutch possessions abo^it 250,000. 



Semao or Semang Island is only important as forming 

 a Dutch coaling station. Eotti, distant only 8 miles 

 to the south-west — for Landu is a peninsula, and not an 

 island as usually represented — has an area of 6 5 5 square 

 miles, and is chiefly of limestone formation with elevated 

 coral-reefs, and is nowhere more than 800 feet high. 

 The population is probably about 60,000, and the people 

 of Malay origin, being short, smooth-haired, and brown- 

 complexioned. They are very peaceable, and are ruled 

 by eighteen Eajas, who are all under Dutch authority. 

 A few are Christian, but the majority pagan. Eice, 

 sugar, tobacco, and cotton are grown, and the miniature 

 ponies of the island are renowned throughout the archi- 

 pelago for their excellence. 



Though only about 20 miles in length and 185 

 square miles in area, the small island of Savu is thickly 

 populated, and contained in 1884 over 20,000 people. 

 Judging by some of the chiefs seen by Mr, Wallace in 

 Timor, they are of a very superior type, resembling Hindus 

 or Arabs rather than Malays, and having fine, well- 

 formed features, with straight, thin noses and clear brown 

 complexions. A Dutch postholder resides at Seba or 

 Laipaka on the north-west coast, and a school has been 

 established here. Large numbers of ponies are bred, 

 some of which are exported. 



Sumba or Sandalwood Island is of considerable extent; 

 containing about 4000 square miles, and having a length 

 of 130 and a breadth of some 30 or 35 miles. It 

 appears to be surrounded on all sides by very deep water, 

 although the strait separating it from Mores is only 27 



