422 TSE BIRDS OF PARADISE. [ch xxxviii. 



and very natural dread of some ulterior object in a 

 white man's coming at so much trouble and expense to 

 their country only to get Birds of Paradise, of which 

 they know he can buy plenty (of the common yellow 

 ones which alone they value) at Ternate, Macassar, or 

 Singapore. 



It thus happened that when Mr. Allen arrived at Sorong, 

 and explained his intention of going to seek Birds of 

 Paradise in the interior, innumerable objections were 

 raised. He was told it was three or four days' journey 

 over swamps and mountains ; that the mountaineers were 

 savages and cannibals, who would certainly kiU him ; 

 and, lastly, that not a man in the village could be found 

 who dare go with him. After some days spent in these 

 discussions, as he still persisted in making the attempt, 

 and showed them his authority from the Sultan of Tidore 

 to go where he pleased and receive every assistance, they 

 at length provided him with a boat to go the first part 

 of the journey up a river; at the same time, however, 

 they sent private orders to the interior villages to refuse 

 to sell any provisions, so as to compel him to return. On 

 arriving at the village where they were to leave the river 

 and strike inland, the coast people returned, leaving Mr. 

 Allen to get on as he could. Here he called on the 

 Tidore lieutenant to assist him, and procure men as 

 guides and to carry his baggage to the villages of the 



