210 THE ARU ISLANDS. [chap. xxx. 



ring round the eye of an azure blue colour ; it is named 

 the "spectacled flycatcher" (Monarcha telescopthalma), 

 and was first found in New Guinea, along with the other, 

 by the French naturalists during the voyage of the dis- 

 covery-ship Coquillc. 



Feb. 18th. — Before leaving Macassar, I had written to 

 the Governor of Amboyna requesting him to assist me 

 with the native chiefs of Aru. I now received by a 

 vessel which had arrived from Amboyna a very polite 

 answer, informing me that orders had been sent to give 

 me every assistance that I might require ; and I was just 

 congratulating myself on being at length able to get a boat 

 and men to go to the mainland and explore the interior, 

 when a sudden check came in the form of a piratical 

 incursion. A small prau arrived which had been 

 attacked by pirates and had a man wounded. They 

 were said to have five boats, but more were expected to be 

 behind, and the traders were all in consternation, fearing 

 that their small vessels sent trading to the " blakang tana " 

 would be plundered. The Aru natives were of course 

 dreadfully alarmed, as these marauders attack their 

 villages, burn and murder, and carry away women and 

 children for slaves. Not a man will stir from his village 

 for some time, and I must remain still a prisoner in 

 Dobbo. The Governor of Amboyna, out of pure kind- 

 ness, has told the chiefs that they are to be respon- 



