37$ ABORIGINES OF TIMOR. 



quite unrestrained when out of sight of the two 

 principal posts. The south side of the island being 

 exposed to the trade wind, which blows from the 

 S.E. eight months in the year, and being destitute 

 of harbours, is occupied, I believe, solely by the 

 original Timorese, who likewise possess all the 

 interior of the island. These Timorese are said to 

 be a totally different race to the Malays, to have 

 frizzled hair, and to be allied to the Papuans. 

 Their language is quite different from any of the 

 Malay tongues.* Their customs are said to be 

 analogous to the Papuan, especially that of esteem- 

 ing the possession of the head of an enemy a great 

 honour, it being nothing to have killed an enemy in 

 battle unless his head is taken ; while, to lose the 

 head, is considered the greatest disgrace. Flores is 

 said to be the western limit of the frizzled-haired 

 race, all to the west of that being inhabited by races 

 with long straight hair. The frizzled-haired people 

 are said to be of a much more ferocious natural 

 disposition, and to be generally much ruder and 

 more uncivilized than the others. The Timorese 

 are said in the interior to inhabit houses consisting 

 of a mere roof of palm-leaves on four rude posts, 

 and to cultivate but little ground, living pretty 

 much in a state of nature. They collect sandal- 

 wood and bees- wax, however, which they bring to 

 the coast, and barter, preferring gold and silver 



* See " Notices of Indian Archipelago and adjacent Countries. 

 A collection of papers, &c.,by J. H. Moor. 4to. Singapore/' 



