220 THE ARU ISLANDS. [chap. xxxi. 



enough to make me determine to give the place a trial, and 

 on my return, finding the "Orang-kaya" was in a strong 

 fever-fit and unable to do anything, I entered into nego- 

 tiations with the owner of the house for the use of a slip 

 at one end of it about five feet wide, for a week, and agreed 

 to pay as rent one "parang," or chopping-knife. I then 

 immediately got my boxes and bedding out of the boat, 

 hung up a shelf for my bird-skins and insects, and got all 

 ready for work next morning. My o\^ti boys slept in the 

 boat to guard the remainder of my property ; a cooking 

 place sheltered by a few mats was arranged under a tree 

 close by, and I felt that degree of satisfaction and enjoy- 

 ment which I always experience when, after much trouble 

 and delay, I am on the point of beginning work in a new 

 locality. 



One of my first objects was to inquire for the people 

 who are accustomed to slioot the Paradise birds. They 

 lived at some distance in the jungle, and a man was sent 

 to call them. "When they arrived, we had a talk by means 

 of the "Orang-kaya" as interpreter, and they said they 

 thought they could get some. They explained that they 

 shoot the birds with a bow and arrow, the arrow having a 

 conical wooden cap fitted to the end as large as a teacup, 

 so as to kill the bird by the violence of the blow without 

 making any wound or shedding any blood. The trees 

 frequented by the birds are very lofty ; it is therefore 



