chap, xv.] VISIT TO THE FOREST. 339 



it on a stone or stump as an offering to the deity of the 

 spot ; for though nominal Mahometans the Macassar people 

 retain many pagan superstitions, and are but lax in their 

 religious observances. Pork, it is true, they hold in 

 abhorrence, but will not refuse wine when offered them, 

 and consume immense quantities of "sagueir," or palm- 

 wine, which is about as intoxicating as ordinary beer or 

 cider. When well made it is a very refreshing drink, and 

 we often took a draught at some of the little sheds digni- 

 fied by the name of bazaars, which are scattered about 

 the country wherever there is any traffic. 



One day Mr. Mesman told me of a larger piece of forest 

 where he sometimes went to shoot deer, but he assured me 

 it was much further off, and that there were no birds. 

 However, I resolved to explore it, and the next morning 

 at five o'clock we started, carrying our breakfast and some 

 other provisions with us, and intending to stay the night 

 at a house on the borders of the wood. To my surprise 

 two hours' hard walking brought us to this house, where w& 

 obtained permission to pass the night. We then walked 

 on, Ali and Baderoon with a gun each, Baso carrying our 

 provisions and my insect-box, while I took only my net 

 and collecting-bottle and determined to devote myself 

 wholly to the insects. Scarcely had I entered the forest 

 when I found some beautiful little green and gold speckled 

 weevils allied to the genus Pachyrhynchus, a group which 



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