chap, xi.] EXPORTS. 275 



dried beef and ox-tongues are exported, arid from Lombock 

 a good many ducks and ponies. The ducks are a peculiar 

 breed, which have very long flat bodies, and walk erect 

 almost like penguins. They are generally of a pale reddish 

 ash colour, and are kept in large flocks. They are very 

 cheap and are largely consumed by the crews of the rice 

 ships, by whom they are called Baly-soldiers, but are 

 more generally known elsewhere as penguin-ducks. 



My Portuguese bird-stuffer Fernandez now insisted on 

 breaking his agreement and returning to Singapore ; partly 

 from home-sickness, but more I believe from the idea that 

 his life was not worth many months' purchase among such 

 bloodthirsty and uncivilized peoples. It was a consider- 

 able loss to me, as I had paid him full three times the 

 usual wages for three months in advance, half of which was 

 occupied in the voyage and the rest in a place where I could 

 have done without him, owing to there being so few insects 

 that I could devote my own time to shooting and skinning. 

 A few days after Fernandez had left, a small schooner 

 came in bound for Macassar, to which place I took a pas- 

 sage. As a fitting conclusion to my sketch of these 

 interesting islands, I will narrate an anecdote which I 

 heard of the present Eajah ; and which, whether altogether 

 true or not, well illustrates native character, and will serve 

 as a means of introducing some details of the manners and 

 customs of the country to which I have not yet alluded. 



T 2 



