218 AUSTEALASIA. 



Tenimbef (Tanah Imber) was supposed to stretch uninterruptedly to the southern 

 extremity of the Archipelago, and this error still figures on most maps. Yet the 

 natives are quite aware that their territory is divided into two distinct islands, to 

 each of which they give a special name. Owen Stanley had already stated in 

 1839 that Tenimber comprised several separate islands, and in 1878 the Egeron, a 

 ship from Banda, traversed the channel between Yamdena and Selaru, varying 

 from eight to forty fathoms in depth, and presenting several excellent havens on 

 both sides. But the hydrographie survey of the group is still far from complete, 

 and so recently as 1888 a hitherto unknown island two miles long was discovered 

 at the south-west extremity of the Archipelago. 



The two chief islands, consisting of limestone rock, are almost everywhere low, 

 and the highest point of the whole group is the volcanic islet of Laibobar, off the 

 west side of Yamdena, rising, according to Forbes, to a height of about two thou- 

 sand feet. Tbe islet of Larat, separated by the navigable Wallace Strait from 

 Yamdena, is also low, but beyond it rises the precipitous islet of Yerdate, at the 

 northern extremity of the Tenimber group. The archipelago is skirted on the 

 west side by a parallel line of islets and reefs, which, lying mostly in shallow 

 water, are little accessible to shipping. 



Owing to the porous nature of the calcareous soil the rain-water almost every- 

 where disappears without forming fertilising streams ; hence, vast tracts have 

 remained barren and uninhabited. Some of the slopes are, nevertheless, clothed 

 with dense brushwood, where the cattle, let loose by the early navigators, find a 

 refuge from the native hunters. Large herds of wild boars infest the neighbour- 

 hood of the villages ; but Tenimber, like most of the Moluccas, has no monkeys, 

 and its fauna generally presents a ]S[ew Guinea aspect. 



The natives recognise no rulers, although certain individuals claim the empty 

 title of chief. In appearance they resemble the Malays much more than the 

 Papuans, although they are evidently a mixed race. Both sexes slightly tattoo the 

 forehead, cheeks, breast, and hands, and the women deck themselves with bracelets 

 and necklets of red glass beads. The wealthy natives convert into heavy rings 

 and ear ornaments the gold coins they take in exchange for their holothurise and 

 tortoise-shell ; in the decoration of their praus and dwellings they also display far 

 greater artistic taste than their Malay neighbours. They have hitherto resisted the 

 proselytising attempts of the Arabs and other Mohammedans. Nevertheless they 

 worship a supreme deity, Dwadilah, symbolised by a sacred post and other rude 

 images set up in front of their dwellings. They also believe in a future state for 

 themselves and all living beings, and the fisherman never fails to return to the sea 

 a portion of his capture, so that the soul of the fish may swim away to the spirit 

 world. 



The Kei (Ké) Islands were probably so named by the Portuguese, for the term 

 appears to be identical with that of the Keys, that is, the Cayoa, of Florida. Lying 

 nearer to Banda and Amboyna than Tenimber, this group, to which the surrounding 

 populations give the name of Evar, or Hog Islands, has been brought more under 

 Mohammedan influences. They manufacture earthenware, and build excellent 



