170 A NATUBALI8T IN CELEBES ch. vii 



But I should be sorry to accuse the climate of Talaut of 

 being exceptionally bad, without first of all trying the effect 

 of a few simple sanitary experiments. If a strong native 

 government could insist upon a general destruction of all 

 those huge foliaceous trees which retain the heavy moisture 

 and prevent the free play of the sea-breezes, and a general 

 clearance of the long rank vegetation which chokes the 

 paths through the village and of the accumulated filth and 

 rubbish beneath the huts, I believe that Beo might become 

 as healthy a spot as any in the archipelago. There are no 

 vast pestilential mangrove swamps in the neighbourhood, 

 there are no stagnant ponds nor slow -flowing rivers to keep 

 the district damp and fever- stricken, but there are cool 

 breezes every evening from the hill ranges, and refreshing 

 winds from the sea-coast to clear the country of evil 

 vapours. It is, I believe, the indolence and filthy habits 

 of man alone which cause the frightful calamities in these 

 remote districts, and I believe that a few simple lessons in 

 sanitary conditions would do far more good than thousands 

 of war-ships bringing quinine and other medicines. 



The Dutch Government has established elementary 

 schools throughout the colonies under their direct control, 

 and even in Beo I saw signs of an attempt on the part 

 of a native teacher to impart an elementary education. 

 Would it not be possible for the Government to instruct 

 these teachers in the first principles of sanitary science, and 

 give them powers to carry their principles into practice ? 

 We went from hut to hut in this dreary village, hearing the 

 same story of sickness and death until we were heartily 

 tired of it, and felt quite relieved when we were once more 

 on the way back to the ' Ternate.' 



In one house we entered we found a woman sitting on 

 a mat in the middle of the floor with a crowd of her rela- 

 tives and friends around her. We were told that people 



