CHAP. XXVI.] THE NATIVES. 135 



away so carefully was a great puzzle to tliem, and they 

 Avere convinced that there must be some medical or 

 magical use for them which I kept a profound secret. 

 These people were in fact as completely unacquainted with 

 civilized life as the Indians of the Eocky Mountains, or 

 the savages of Central Africa — yet a steamship, that 

 highest trium]:)h of human ingenuity, with its little float- 

 ing epitome of European civilization, touches monthly at 

 Cajeli, twenty miles off; while at Amboyna, only sixty 

 miles distant, a European population and government have 

 been established for more than three hundred years. 



Having seen a good many of the natives of Bouru from 

 different villages, and from distant parts of the island, I 

 feel convinced that they consist of two distinct races now 

 partially amalgamated. The larger portion are Malays of 

 the Celebes type, often exactly similar to the Toniore 

 people of East Celebes, whom I found settled in Batchian ; 

 while others altogether resemble the Alfuros of Ceram. 

 The influx of two races can easily be accounted for. The 

 Sula Islands, which are closely connected with East 

 Celebes, approach to within forty miles of the north coast 

 of Bouru, while the island of Manipa offers an easy point 

 of departure for the people of Ceram. I was confirmed in 

 this view by finding that the languages of Bouru possessed 

 distinct resemblances to that of Sula, as well as to those 

 of Ceram. 



