CHAP. XXX.] TAKING A HOUSE. 197 



of lofty forest. The houses are of various sizes, but are 

 all built after one pattern, being merely large thatched 

 sheds, a small portion of which, next the entrance, is used 

 as a dwelling, while the rest is parted ofl', and often 

 divided by one or two floors, in order better to stow away 

 merchandise and native produce. 



As we had arrived early in the season, most of the 

 houses were empty, and the place looked desolate in the 

 extreme — the whole of the inhabitants who received us 

 on our landing amounting to about half-a-dozen Bugis and 

 Chinese. Our captain, Herr Warzbergen, had promised 

 to obtain a house for me, but unforeseen difficulties pre- 

 sented themselves. One which was to let had no roof, 

 and the owner, who was building it on speculation, could 

 not promise to finish it in less than a month. Another, 

 of which the owner was dead, and which I raight there- 

 fore take undisputed possession of as the first comer, 

 wanted considerable repairs, and no one could be found 

 to do the work, although about four times its value was 

 offered. The captain, therefore, recommended me to take 

 possession of a pretty good house near his own, whose 

 owner was not expected for some weeks ; and as I was 

 anxious to be on shore,-! immediately had it cleared out, 

 and by evening had all my things housed, and was 

 regularly installed as an inhabitant of Dobbo. I had 

 brought with me a cane chair, and a few light boards, 



