360 CELEBES. [chap. xvi. 



the plain right and left of ns, and the ground became 

 pierced here and there with blocks and pillars of lime- 

 stone rock, while a few abrupt conical hills and peaks rose' 

 like islands. Passing over an elevated tract forming the 

 shoulder of one of the hills, a picturesque scene lay before 

 us. We looked down into a little valley almost entirely 

 surrounded by mountains, rising abruptly in huge preci- 

 pices, and forming a succession of knolls and peaks and 

 domes of the most varied and fantastic shapes. In the 

 very centre of the valley was a large bamboo house, 

 while scattered around were a dozen cottages of the same 

 material. 



I was kindly received by Mr. Jacob Mesman in an airy 

 saloon detached from the house, and entirely built of 

 bamboo and thatched with grass. After breakfast he took 

 me to his foreman's house, about a hundred yards off, 

 half of which was given up to me till I should decide 

 where to have a cottage built for my own use. I soon 

 found that this spot was too much exposed to the wind 

 and dust, which rendered it very difficult to work with 

 papers or insects. It was also dreadfully hot in the after- 

 noon, and after a few days I got a sharp attack of fever, 

 which determined me to mov* I accordingly fixed on a 

 place about a mile off, at the foot of a forest-covered hill, 

 where in a few days Mr. M. built for me a nice little 

 house, consisting of a good-sized enclosed verandah or open 



