340 A NATUBALIST IN CELEBES ch. xrv 



colony, and in the absence of daily newspapers and letters 

 conversation on the topics of the day was soon exhausted. 

 But Manado was not without its occasional excitements, 

 and the varied beauties of sea and sky and land which 

 bountiful Nature provides in this favoured region afford 

 unending themes for contemplation and enjoyment. Day 

 after day I would wander down to the sea-coast, as the sun 

 was setting, to watch the glorious effects of red and gold 

 upon the sea and the giant beams of burning light which 

 formed a great celestial fan behind Manado tuwa peak ; 

 or in the evening, when the moon rose and cast a streak 

 of rippling silver over the inky waters, I would join 

 a little group of club-men from, the ' Soc ' upon the pier, 

 and enjoy for a while the refreshing breezes of the land 

 wind. 



One day in February I shall not forget. There was 

 great excitement in our little colony. It was Chinese New 

 Year's Day, and it was announced that the Tapi Kong 

 would walk that evening. All day long business in 

 Manado was suspended. Everybody ' who was anybody ' 

 paid visits of congratulation to the leading Chinamen. 

 Champagne and tea with little biscuits from ' Eeading ' 

 were on the tables of the Chinese and their friends, and 

 everything was en fete. Now in writing about this 

 religious festival of the Chinese in Manado, I am painfully 

 aware that I am writing on a subject about which I know 

 nothing. I knew nothing about the religions of China at 

 the time, and I know very little more now ; but the 

 religions of the Chinese in China and the religions of the 

 Chinese in Manado are probably very different. The 

 Chinamen in the Dutch colonies are, it must be under- 

 stood, purely traders, and as the Government will not allow 

 Chinawomen to enter the country, there is little more of 

 the ' Celestial ' about many of them than the pigtail. It 



