152 A NATURALIST IN CELEBES 



CHAPTEE VII 



TO SANGIE AND TALATJT 



Arrival of tlie ' Ternate ' at Talisse — Lirung — Saha islands — The rajah of 

 Pulutan — NanusaArohipelago — Kampong Karaton — Eaised coral reefs — 

 Legend of Mengampit — Alaoruru — Mangarang — Abundance of butterflies 

 — B6o — Terrible sickness — Glorious sunset — Sangir — Coco-nut pahns — 

 Taruna — Manganitu — Mr. Steller's house and gardens — Koffo— Curious 

 mode of keeping time — Visit to the coral reefs — Trip to the interior — 

 Beception of the Eesident at Manganitu — Siauw — Tagulandang again — 

 Talisse. 



On Sunday, November 8, the little post-prau from Manado 

 brought us a letter from the agent of the Company, telling 

 us to prepare for the reception of no less a personage than 

 the Eesident of Manado. 



From time to time it is the duty of the Eesident to 

 make an official tour to the coasts and islands which are 

 under his control in a steamer provided for him by the 

 Government. As there had been rumours for some months 

 of very severe sickness and distress in the Sangir and 

 Talaut islands, the Eesident had urged upon the Government 

 the necessity of sending him a steamer as soon as possible 

 to enable him to make the necessary inquiries and carry 

 medicine and food to the afflicted districts. After some 

 delay the Government had sent him the ' Gouvernement's 

 stoomschip ' ' Ternate ' and the tour was to commence 

 with a visit to Talisse for the purpose of coaling. 



It is hardly necessary to say that this news caused no 

 little excitement in our colony. The visit of H.M.S. ' Flying 

 Fish ' had been an event of the greatest importance, but that 



