686 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



shocks of a severe earthquake attended by a tidal wave ; after 

 which no earthquakes occurred till April, 1884. 



Every island belonging to the group is covered, down to the 

 water's edge, with dense tropical jungle, with gigantic creepers 

 winding from one tree to another so as to form a close network. 

 These forests contain choice kinds of timber, the inducements 

 offered by which have provoked the establishment of the present 

 German colony. The southwest monsoon, which blows during 

 our winter months, brings abundant rains; and the occasional 

 showers of April, with the heavy dews of June, July, and August, 

 keep the ground moist and afford ample nourishment to vegeta- 

 tion. In October and November, the hottest months, vegetation 

 suffers from drought. The rain percolates through the soil quick- 

 ly to the coral. The traveler will, therefore, meet with only a 

 few pieces of marshy soil on the islands ; but he is astonished at 

 the luxuriant growth of vegetation, at the gigantic and stately 

 trees spreading their roots to seek a firm hold around the coral, 

 out of whose porous texture their fibers obtain nourishment ; and 

 no place on the group is entirely barren and destitute of vegeta- 

 tion. 



The supply of fresh water is very unevenly distributed, and 

 there are many villages where none is obtainable, and the inhab- 

 itants have to go a long distance for it. Generally, the fresh- 

 water wells are situated close by the sea. All the fresh drinking- 

 water contains lime in large quantities, the characteristic effects 

 of which are neutralized by the liberal use of acid fruits. It is evi- 

 dent that the sea, infiltrating gradually through the pores of the 

 coral, becomes purified and separated from all its saline ingredi- 

 ents on its way to the wells ; and those places where fresh water 

 is not obtainable are of quartz formation. 



The islands are divided into districts, each comprising a num- 

 ber of villages with their surrounding land. Each district has 

 its principal chief, or rajah, and these have in the villages under- 

 chiefs of various ranks. All these offices are hereditary, descend- 

 ing to the eldest sons of the respective families. If there is no 

 successor, a new chief is elected by the natives of the district. A 

 chief receives no payment, but after having been acknowledged 

 and established in office by the Resident of Amboyna, he is pre- 

 sented with a silver mounting for his walking-stick, on which is 

 engraved the Dutch coat of arms. After he has held his office for 

 twenty-five years with faultless conduct and loyalty, the silver 

 mounting on the walking-stick is replaced by a golden one. If a 

 chief has rendered an extraordinarily praiseworthy service to his 

 government, he is presented with a fanciful, richly ornamented 

 umbrella, which his servant carries before him, when he walks 

 abroad, to prevent the sun from tanning his face. 



