12 A NATURALIST IN CELEBES ch. i 



of the beautiful country lying round the town and of the 

 society of the little colony of Europeans in this remote 

 corner of the globe. I will leave, therefore, what I have to 

 say about Manado and the Minahassers to a later chapter, 

 mentioning only a few facts which are necessary for a 

 proper understanding of the extent and management of the 

 colony. 



The district which comes under the jurisdiction of the 

 Eesident of Manado includes the whole of the northern 

 peninsula of the island, the coasts and islands of the Tomini 

 Bay, a portion of the south-east peninsula, and^ the 

 islands which lie between Celebes and Mindanao. Of this 

 enormous territory the only parts which have yet been 

 brought under the ' direkt bestuur ' of the Dutch Govern- 

 ment are the province of Minahassa and a small district 

 round the port of Gorontalo in the Tomini Bay. The rest 

 of the country is governed by native rajahs and chiefs, some 

 of whom are appointed by the Eesident of Manado and pay 

 a small annual tribute to the Government. 



Minahassa itself is in many respects a perfect specimen 

 of the well-governed, peaceful, and contented Dutch colony. 

 In addition to the Eesident, who is supreme in the 

 district, there are four Controleurs stationed at Manado, 

 Tondano, Kema, and Amurang, who act as magistrates, 

 collectors of the taxes, and overseers of the Government 

 plantations. 



Several European missionaries, schoolmasters and mis- 

 tresses are resident in different parts of Minahassa, and the 

 religious training and secular education are sound and 

 simple. The natives are as a general rule well-dressed, 

 clean, respectful, honest, sober, and contented ; they live in 

 tidy little wooden houses in well-regulated villages, and are 

 diligent in their attendance at both church and school. 

 When young, both men and women are often very handsome^ 



