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1884. ] Geography and Travels, 813 
families unite to live in huts made of earth covered with turf and 
stones. Lieutenant Holm penetrated to 61 . lat., and found 
the coast indented by deep fiords which are not marked on the 
maps. South of 61° N. lat., and even for many miles to the 
northward, the interior ice cannot be seen. The interior of the 
country, as viewed from a mountain 3000 feet high, consists of 
mountains rising 7000 feet and more above the sea. 
Tue Pacific Istanps.—MVr. Forbes’ Visit to Timor Laut—The 
trip of Mr. Forbes and his wife to Timor Laut has, to some ex- 
tent, cleared the character of the natives of those little-known 
islands. Three months were passed at the village of Ritabel 
in the Island of Larat without any but friendly relations. The 
natives sold their visitors a site for a house, and did their very 
t to teach them their language. To this end the young 
women and men would bring objects and make them repeat the 
names. The houses seem all roof and floor. They are raised 
four or five feet from the ground, and entered through the floor 
by a trap door which is shut down at night. The dodokan, or 
seat of honor, with ornamented supports and a high carved back, 
is placed in front of the door. On the top of the back is an 
mage, with a platter by its side. On this the natives place a 
little food every time they eat. When they drink they dip their 
finger and thumb inthe fluid and flick a few drops upward with 
Proper food, for the natives would give nothing away, were suspi- 
= of gold, because they had been cheated with false gold, and 
tenis to purchase articles of which they felt the immediate 
sity, 
Kag name Timor, Laut is Malay. The natives have no ae 
the group. The principal island, extending from 7° to f 
"a latitude, west of 131° W. long., is Yamdena, north-east 0 
Varia. Tat, and south-west of it Selaru. d on Larat or 
o 
island a rises over about 200 feet, and the whole of the latter 
R G 
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nd Probably of most of the others, as 
» which forms cliffs often sixty or eighty 
About Egeron strait, between Selaru an 
