230 ' THE ARU ISLANDS. [crap. xxxi. 



as affecting their health, green, watery vegetables, imper- 

 fectly cooked, and even these in varying and often in- 

 sufficient quantities. To this diet may be attributed the 

 prevalence of skin diseases, and ulcers on the legs and 

 joints. The scurfy skin disease so common among savages 

 has a close connexion with the poorness and irregularity of 

 their living. The Malays, who are never without their 

 daily rice, are generally free from it ; the hill-Dyaks of 

 Borneo, who grow rice and live well, are clean skinned, 

 while the less industrious and less cleanly tribes, who 

 live for a portion of the year on fruits and vegetables only, 

 are very subject to this malady. It seems clear that in 

 this, as in other respects, man is not able to make a beast 

 of himself with impunity, feeding like the cattle on the 

 herbs and fruits of the earth, and taking no thought of 

 the morrow. To maintain his health and beauty he must 

 labour to prepare some farinaceous product capable of 

 being stored and accumulated, so as to give him a regular 

 supply of wholesome food. When this is obtained, he 

 may add vegetables, fruits, and meat with advantage. 



The chief luxury of the Aru people, besides betel 

 and tobacco, is arrack (Java rum), which the traders 

 bring in great quantities and sell very cheap. A day's 

 fishing or rattan cutting will purchase at least a half- 

 gallon bottle ; and when the tripang or birds' nests 

 collected during a season are sold, they get whole boxes. 



