464 AMBOYNA. [chap. xx. 



ever seen them, forming tangled festoons over almost 

 every large forest tree. The cottage I was to occupy was 

 situated in a large clearing of about a hundred acres, part 

 of which was already planted with young cacao-trees and 

 plantains to shade them, while the rest was covered with 

 dead and half-burnt forest trees ; and on one side there 

 was a tract where the trees had been recently felled and 

 were not yet burnt. The path by which I had arrived 

 continued along one side of this clearing, and then again 

 entering the virgin forest passed over hill and dale to the 

 northern side of the island. 



My abode was merely a little thatched hut, consisting 

 of an open verandah in front and a small dark sleeping- 

 room behind. It was raised about five feet from the 

 ground, and was reached by rude steps to the centre of 

 the verandah. The walls and floor were of bamboo, 

 and it contained a table, two bamboo chairs, and a couch. 

 Here I soon made myself comfortable, and set to work 

 hunting for insects among the more recently felled 

 timber, which swarmed with fine Curcnb'onidse, Longi- 

 corns, and Buprestidse, most of them remarkable for 

 their elegant forms or brilliant colours, and almost all 

 entirely new to me. Only the entomologist can appreciate 

 the delight with which I hunted about for hours in the 

 hot sunshine, among the branches and twigs and bark of 

 the fallen trees, every few minutes securing insects which 



