76 A NATUBALIST IN CELEBES ch. iv 



fresh water and the fairly good anchorage afforded by the 

 bay, to carry on their peaceful agricultural and fishing 

 pursuits unmolested and unmolesting. When the herrings 

 come, a certain number of wandering fishermen from Sangir 

 and elsewhere follow them to the bay called Djiko Calimata, 

 and at other seasons some of these same people may often 

 be seen at other parts of the island (21). 



Kinabohutan now belongs to the M.H.V., and is covered 

 with young coco-nut trees. 



The neighbouring islands, Ganga and Tindela, do not 

 call for much comment. Ganga has a small village on 

 the western coast, Tindela is uninhabited. They are both 

 covered with bush and scrub. The most interesting fea- 

 ture about them, and one which puzzled me considerably at 

 the time, is that there are no coral reefs on the eastern 

 shores at all, whilst on the western sides the reef is extensive 

 and vigorous. 



Without more definitive information than I have at my 

 command it is with some hesitation I put forward now the 

 view that this is due to the scouring action of the tide 

 which sets in through the Straits between Kinabohutan and 

 Banka across Talisse Sea and out through the Straits of 

 Tindela and Ganga. Having experienced the effect of this 

 current so often in canoes and sailing ships, I can testify to 

 its strength and regularity, and it is a pity I cannot be more 

 accurate and give in figures its measurement and average 

 duration. 



Whatever may be the cause of the absence of the coral 

 reef on the eastern shore of Ganga and the vigour and 

 extent of its growth upon the west, it seems to act upon 

 nearly all the promontories of the coasts and islands ex- 

 posed to the N.N.E. If the reader will refer to Map II. he 

 will notice that no coral reefs are marked on the east- 

 ern shores of Ganga and Tindela, at Tanjong Aros and a 



