CHAPTEE XV 



DESCRIPTION OF SAVU 



Mr. Lange's account Political divisions of the island Its general appear- 

 ance Productions Buffaloes Horses Sheep Fish Vegetables 

 Fan-palm Liquor Sugar-making Fire-holes for cooking Sustaining 

 qualities of sugar Description of the natives Dress Ornaments 

 Chewing betel, areca, lime, and tobacco Construction of their houses 

 Looms and spinning-machines Surgery Religion Christian converts 

 Radjas Slaves Large stones of honour Feasts Military Weapons 

 Relations with the Dutch Mynheer Lange Language Neighbouring 

 islands Wreck of a French ship Dutch policy with regard to language. 



I SHALL now proceed to give such an account of the island 

 as I could get together during our stay, which, short as it 

 was, was so taken up with procuring refreshments, in which 

 occupation every one was obliged to exert himself, that very 

 little, I confess, is from my own observation. Almost every- 

 thing is gathered from the conversation of Mr. Lange, who 

 at first and at the end was very free and open, and, I am 

 inclined to believe, did not deceive us in what he told us, 

 how much soever he might conceal ; except, perhaps, in the 

 strength and warlike disposition of the islanders, which 

 account seems to contradict itself, as one can hardly imagine 

 these people to be of a warlike disposition who have con- 

 tinued in peace time out of mind. As for the other islands 

 in this neighbourhood, his information was all we had to go 

 upon. I would not, however, neglect to set it down, though 

 in general it was of little more consequence than to confirm 

 the policy of the Dutch in confining their spices to parti- 

 cular isles, which, being full of them, cannot supply them- 

 selves with provisions. 



