26 [January, 



yielding only a few inconspicuous Curculionidce, &c. In the five days 

 I managed to obtain by hard work about 110 species of Coleoptera, 

 besides a fair assortment of other insects, a few nice land shells, &c. 

 Birds were tolerably plentiful and variable, the most abundant being 

 a large and very handsome fruit pigeon {Carpophaga roncinna, Wa]\.), 

 the deep booming note of which was to be heard everywhere in the 

 forest. A good many of these fine birds were shot by our sportsmen, 

 and proved to be excellent eating ; their crops usually contained entire 

 nutmegs, which appear to grow wild in this island, as they are not 

 cultivated here. 



Leaving Damma on the afternoon of the 11th, two days' easy 

 steaming through a sea smooth as glass brought us to Amboyna, and 

 at 2 p.m. on the 13th we anchored off the town within a quarter of a 

 mile of Fort " Neuw Victoria." Since I last set eyes on Tahiti, nearly 

 nine years ago, I do not recall to mind a more perfectly beautiful 

 piece of thoroughly tropical scenery than is presented by the noble 

 harbour of Amboyna. It is a deep-water inlet some fifteen miles in 

 length, with an average width of one to two miles, enclosed by rugged 

 but not precipitous hills of ancient volcanic rock, which attain an 

 extreme elevation of 4000 feet, and are everywhere clothed (except 

 where the land has been cleared) with a splendid forest growth, es- 

 pecially dense and luxuriant on the northern side opposite the town. 

 All round the harbour the lower land, which consists almost entirely 

 of upheaved coral rock, is occupied by a nearly continuous belt of 

 coco-nut and nutmeg plantations, and groves of fruit trees in which 

 the town is in great part concealed ; and looking towards its upper 

 extremity, the view is bounded in that direction by a distant glimpse 

 of the lofty and rugged mountains in the great Island of Ceram. 



We remained here until the morning of the 17th, the time being 

 fully occupied in coaling, giving leave to the ship's company, and 

 making magnetic and other observations. The Resident and the 

 Dutch Officials stationed here vied with each other in showing us the 

 utmost kindness and hospitality, an experience which was repeated at 

 Ternate. After the lapse of more than thirty years, it is pleasing to 

 find that the memory of Dr. Wallace's residence in these islands is 

 not forgotten, and the Dutch translation of the " Malay Archipelago " 

 is as highly appreciated in the lands of which he gives us so vivid a 

 picture, as the original work is at home. 



In this renowned locality 1 was naturally anxious to make the 

 most of the time at my disposal, and as the weather was fortunately 

 all that could be desired (November being the finest and driest month 



