SUMBA. 209 



entirely of limestone cliffs pierced by caverns, which are frequented by myriads of 

 edible-nest builders. Towards the centre the somewhat level surface presents the 

 aspect of a plateau rising to a height of 2,000 feet above the sea, and developing 

 ranges of hills and mountains only on the north side. 



Amongst the numerous names, such as Sumba, Chandana or Chindana, given 

 to this island, there is one, that of Sandalwood, which it scarcely deserves any 

 longer, for this valuable tree, which formerly covered the coast-lands, almost 

 entirely disappeared during a terrific explosion and is now found only in the heart 

 of the island. There are two varieties, the red and the grey, the latter being the 

 more valued and much used in the powdered state as a cosmetic and medicinally. 

 Sumba also possesses some gold deposits, and was regarded as one of the legendary 

 " Golden Isles." 



^Notwithstanding the generally peaceful disposition of the natives, who are 

 divided into numerous small communities, the interior is still little known. The 

 estimate of the population, till recently ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000, is at 

 present about 400,000, a relatively large number for an area not exceeding 4,300 

 square miles. The people are all of Malay stock, but speak a peculiar dialect 

 unintelligible to the surrounding populations. Like their eastern neighbours of 

 the Savu group, they have preserved the worship of ancestry mingled with rites 

 and tenets which attest Hindu influence. Thus, they speak of a trinity of 

 mysterious deities, the Good, the Protector, and Evil One ; but the offerings of 

 the "elders " are made, not to these superior beings, but to the ocean waves, to the 

 forest trees, to the rockj- headlands and the graves of their forefathers. There 

 are neither temples nor priests, unless the heads of families and the old men of 

 the tribe can be regarded as such. In the Savu islands, however, the title of 

 priest is borne by the executioner, who beheads the criminals condemned by the 

 rajahs. 



Nangamem., on the north coast, where there is a small Arab trading settle- 

 ment, is the chief market in Sumba, and from this port are forwarded hardy little 

 ponies to all parts of Indonesia and even to Mauritius and Australia. This island 

 jointly w^ith the Savu group (Great Savu, Ran j una, and Dana) constitutes an 

 administrative district dependent on Timor. The population of Savu exceeded 

 30,000 in 1869, when half of the inhabitants of the archipelago were swept away 

 by an outbreak of small-pox. At present the population is estimated at 16,000 

 in a total area of less than 200 square miles. According to Wallace the natives 

 resemble the Hindus or Arabs in physical appearance much more than they do the 

 Malays. 



Timor and Eotti. 



Like Sumba, Timor, largest of the Little Sundas, lies beyond the line of 

 volcanic islands. Disposed in the direction from south-west to north-east, it 

 forms an acute angle with that chain, which, in crossing, it appears to have 

 deflected from west and east to the same south-west and north-east direction 

 parallel with itself. Hence the Links of the Sunda volcanic chain lying farther 

 14—0 



