224 AUSTRALASIA. 



between two oblique mountain ranges in the Macassar peninsula, has a length 

 of no less than 2-40 miles. On the eastern slope of the same peninsula the copious 

 river Tjeurana, fed by several northern and southern tributaries and by the shallow 

 Tempe (Tamparang) lagoons, is navigable for boats for some ()0 miles from its 

 mouth. Of the other lacustrine basins one of the most romantic is Lake Tondano, 

 which lies at an altitude of 2,000 feet near the northern extremitj^ of Minahassa. 

 After piercing a winding gorge the emissary of this basin suddenly plunges from 

 a height of 490 feet into a rocky cirque, whence it escapes through a broad valley 

 northwards to Menado. 



Climate, Flora, and Fauna of Celebes. 



Like Borneo, Celebes is crossed by the equator, which leaves the three 

 southern peninsulas in the Austral, that of Minahassa in the northern hemisphere ; 

 hence the mean temperature is high, ranging from about 90° F. in the day to 

 TC F. at night. But these extremes are usually tempered bj^the alternating land 

 and sea breezes, which prevail round the whole periphery of the island. The 

 rain-bearing clouds brought by the south-eastern and north-western monsoons 

 being intercepted by the inland ranges discharge an abundance of moisture on 

 both slopes, but especially in the Matassar peninsula, which is exposed to the 

 "bad monsoon." Thus with a yearly rainfall varying from 40 to 160 inches, 

 Celebes seldom suffers from drought, and in other respects enjoys one of the 

 most salubrious climates in Indonesia. 



Its flora almost rivals in splendour and variety that of the Sunda Islands ; its 

 forests even appear more beautiful, having to a large extent preserved their 

 primeval aspect, especially in the wonderful Minahassa peninsula. But while the 

 indigenous flora is closely allied to that of the western islands, the fauna presents 

 considerable differences. Separated by deep waters from the surrounding lands, 

 Celebes appears to have enjoyed its insular independence long enough to impart 

 an original character to its fauna. Lying midway between Asia and Australasia, 

 it possesses some species belonging to both of these zoological areas ; but it also 

 presents numerous forms quite distinct from either, and often more allied with 

 African than with Indian or Australian types. Amongst these are the Cynopithecus 

 nigrescent, a baboon occurring nowhere else in Indonesia except the small island of 

 Batian ; the Anoa depressicornis, with the horns of the antelope, but by many 

 naturalists classed with the bovine family, and greatly resembling certain African 

 species ; the famous Bahirmm, half pig, half deer, with four spiral tusks. There 

 are no felines, but five varieties of the squirrel, and two marsupials, Celebes 

 being the extreme eastern and western limit of the former and latter respec- 

 tiveh". 



Inhabitants of Celebes. 



The native populations are usually classed as Malays and Alfurus ; a division, 

 however, which is much more of a social than an ethnical character. The 



