CH. I FIRST GLIMPSES OF CELEBES 7 



pologist, I felt it was too dark perhaps that night to 

 welcome an Amook as a subject for scientific study. 



We stayed two days in Makassar, and then, shortly after 

 sunrise on Sunday, July 26, we sailed for the northern 

 coasts of Celebes. 



This, the last part of my long journey from Europe, was 

 in many ways the most interesting and enjoyable, due in no 

 small degree to the clearness and calmness of the atmo- 

 sphere, which, free from mist and cloud, enabled us to see 

 with perfect ease the bold and beauteous scenery of the 

 coast. 



As we threaded our way through the thousand Httle 

 islands of the Straits of Makassar, we were able to gaia 

 some idea of the great extent and extreme fertihty of this 

 beautiful country. The lofty mountains standing out in 

 bold relief against the clear blue sky are covered with 

 dense forest from their summits to the level of the sea. 

 Scarcely a rock or field of grass can be discovered to break 

 the monotony of the sea of trees from Makassar to Manado. 

 Everywhere, on island or on strand, on mountain, plain, 

 and dale, are signs of a richness and fertility of soil unsur- 

 passed perhaps in any part of the habitable world. 



The Httle islands of the coast through which we pass 

 add considerably to the beauty of the scene. The httle 

 patch of forest with which each one is covered is bordered 

 in some cases by rows of coco-nuts or banana plantations, 

 and the huts of a few families of wandering fishermen may 

 be seen nestling in their shade. Around each island is a 

 narrow strip of sand formed of coral and shell detritus, 

 . which glistens and sparkles in the sunshine, and then the 

 shallow milky green water covering the coral reefs blends 

 with the blue waters of the deeper sea beyond it. 



The traveller cannot fail to be impressed, on such a trip 

 as this, with the clearness and brilliancy of colours in 



