266 THE JRU ISLANDS. [chap. xxxi. 



from their plantations, and the birds the little boys shot 

 with their bows and arrows, kept them all well supplied 

 with tobacco and gambir, besides enabling them to accu- 

 mulate a stock of beads and coppers for future expenses. 

 The owner of the house was supplied gratis with a little 

 rice, fish, or salt, whenever he asked for it, which I must 

 say was not very often. On parting, I distributed among 

 them my remnant stock of salt and tobacco, and gave my 

 host a flask of arrack, and believe that on the whole my 

 stay with these simple and good-natured people was pro- 

 ductive of pleasure and profit to both parties. I fully 

 intended to come back; and had I known that circum- 

 stances would have prevented my doing so, should have 

 felt some sorrow in leaving a place where I had first seen 

 so many rare and beautiful living things, and had so fully 

 enjoyed the pleasure which fills the heart of the naturalist 

 when he is so fortunate as to discover a district hitherto 

 unexplored, and where every day brings forth new and 

 unexpected treasures. We loaded our boat in the after- 

 noon, and, starting before daybreak, by the help of a fair 

 wind reached Dobbo late the same evening. 



