392 A NATURALIST'S WANDERINGS 



quantities), sago, and the famous Kajuput oil,* distilled by 

 the natives from the leaves of the gum trees (Melaletica 

 Kajuputi) which form a large part of the vegetation of the 

 shores of the Bay. In the year previous to my visit 96,000 

 bottles, worth £9,200, were shipped for Macassar, Singapore, 

 and China. From Masaretti, one of the villages in the south 

 coast, a large trade is done with Amboina in Katjang beans 

 (AracMs hypogsea), in Hotjong (Eleusine eoracana), and in 

 pigs, in exchange for copper gongs, in whose music the natives 

 greatly delight. These pigs, brought from the mountainous 

 parts of the interior, having been fed on sago, which gives 

 their flesh a specially fine flavour, fetch a higher price in the 

 market than any other. 



The island is divided into rajah-ships, whose rajahs reside 

 in Kajeli and spend most of their time under the influence of 

 opium. 



One of the chief points of interest to me in Buru, was the 

 fact that it has been considered — not on any very certain data 

 — as the starting-point of the final dispersion of the autoch- 

 thenes of the archipelago, the Mahori (or Polynesian) races,t 

 eastward to their Pacific homes. As between the coast tribes 

 and the Alefurus of the interior, who, according to their own 

 superstitions " durst not approach the sea so near as to hear 

 it breaking on the shore without being struck with dire sick- 

 ness," there has never been much inter-communication, I was 

 very anxious to see these little contaminated people of the 

 interior. 



I was disappointed, however, to find that my official letters 

 for aid were useless without " instructions " from the Resident 

 (I had applied officially for them to Mr. Eiedel, but he 

 abstained from taking any notice of my letter), the Post-holder 

 was not at liberty to assist me in obtaining porters or other 

 transport to the lake ; but as he was himself very soon to go 

 there officially, he would be very pleased, he said, if I would 

 accompany him. As it was impossible for me to obtain the 

 necessary transport except through the rajahs at the instance 

 of the Post-holder, I was glad on any terms of the chance 



' This is the Dutcli Bpellins of the Malay Kayu = wood or free, puti 

 = white, from the colour of the bark of the tree, 

 f Consult Rtaiiford's Compendium of Geography, Australasia, app., p. 612; 



