354 A NATUBALI8T IN CELEBES ch. xnr 



had buried it in the sandy soil in front of his house. It 

 was a very disagreeable job, and by no means easy to 

 release the bones from the rotten and putrescent flesh, and 

 although I sifted with the greatest care the sand I dug up 

 from the grave, I found that many of the smaller bones of 

 the tail and wrist were missing, owing perhaps to the 

 depredations of crabs and worms. 



Three days of packing and my task was done. I saw 

 all my cases safely on board a Sangirese sopi bound for 

 Manado, and on the evening of June 10 1 said farewell for 

 the last time both to the ' Flying Fish ' and Talisse island. 



It was with feelings of considerable remorse that I left 

 Tahsse, the work I had commenced being in an unfinished 

 and imperfect condition. The httle island, typical in every 

 respect of the fertile, hilly, coral-girt islands of this volcanic 

 region of the tropical world, had afforded me many pleasant 

 rambles, abundance of material for observation and research, 

 and many interesting studies of Malay character and habit. 

 It would be unfair indeed if, from what I have said above, 

 my little island home should gain a character for unhealthi- 

 ness that it does not deserve. It would be ridiculous to 

 assert that an island in the tropics with extensive mangrove 

 swamps and coral reefs can be considered at any time or in 

 any region very salubrious ; but the miasmas of such places, 

 under ordinary circumstances and with a little experience, 

 may be successfully encountered by the European for many 

 years, as has been conclusively proved by the lives of the 

 missionaries who labour there. 



The close of the year 1885 was, however, an exception- 

 aHy unhealthy time, owing, it was said, to the long delay of 

 the rains, and many persons sickened and died in Celebes 

 then who had up to that time enjoyed good health. It is not 

 only possible, but I believe even probable, that if in the 

 future another English naturalist should take up his resi- 



