CHAP. XXXIII.] PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 287 



my informants stated that the two southern rivers are 

 larger than Watelai. 



The whole of Aru is low, but by no means so fiat as it 

 lias been represented, or as it appears from the sea. Most 

 of it is dry rocky ground, with a somewhat undulating 

 surface, rising here and there into abrupt hillocks, or cut 

 into steep and narrow ravines. Except the patches of 

 swamp which are found at the moutlis of most of the 

 small rivers, tliere is no absolutely level ground, althougli 

 the greatest elevation is probably not more than two 

 hundred feet. The rock which everywhere appears in the 

 ravines and brooks is a coralline limestone, in some places 

 soft and pliable, in others so hard and crystalline as to 

 resemble our mountain limestone. 



The small islands which surround the central mass are 

 very numerous ; but most of tliem are on the east side, 

 where they form a fringe, often extending ten or fifteen 

 miles from the main islands. On the west there are very 

 few, Wamma and Pulo Babi being the chief, with Ougia 

 and Wassia at the north-west extremity. On the east side 

 the sea is everywhere shallow, and full of coral ; and it is 

 here that the pearl-shells are found which form one of the 

 chief staples of Aru trade. All the islands are covered 

 with a dense and very lofty forest. 



The physical features here described are of peculiar 

 interest, and, as far as I am aware, are to some extent 



