124 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



that "it was intended merely for protection against the Moorish (or 

 Muslim-Malay) pirates ; who in their boats, carry persons away for 

 slaves, or to obtain a ransom. To prevent therefore a night surprise, 

 the natives have sleeping-huts in the trees, elevated many feet above 

 the ground." 



On the following day, in company with others, I took a ramble of a 

 few miles, along a path leading into the luxuriant forest. For the 

 first time, I saw monkeys in the wild state, and had an opportunity 

 of witnessing their wonderful agility. I saw also Hornbills, species 

 of Merops, Trogon, Colaris, and other birds, as well as insects of bril- 

 liant hues: and I realized finding at last, the gigantic and showy 

 animal creation associated with our usual ideas of the Tropics. Such 

 was the seeming correspondence in the surrounding natural objects, 

 that there was difficulty in giving credence to the alleged absence of 

 the elephant, rhinoceros, and all the larger quadrupeds. We were not 

 however aware at the time, that the Pythons, (the anacondas of the 

 Eastern Continent,) "were extremely common ; although often escape 

 ing notice, from their resemblance to large woody vines hanging 

 among the tree-tops." From my subsequent inquiries, I am inclined 

 to think that Mindanao may be regarded as the headquarters of these 

 reptiles. 



Towards evening^, we ajrain left the fort, to visit a village in the 

 vicinity, with the injunction, " to be very cautious, and not trust to the 

 Moors." We found only a few scattered Malay houses, of the usual 

 construction ; some of which we entered. The people were civil ; 

 and they even had in use some articles of European manufacture. 

 Our Malay soldier, however, pronounced them 'Moors,' and spoke 

 with a compassionate air of " their ignorance." 



I was a little perplexed with the personal appearance of these 

 Muslims ; as the complexion appeared to me (though not to others) 

 lighter than in the pure Malay race ; and one individual had a diffe- 

 rent expression of countenance. This was certainly not Mongolian ; 

 but from my present recollections, I am not sure of the entire absence 

 of an Arab tinge. 



We passed through a field of maize, which at a distance would 

 hardly have been recognised. Although planted 'in hills,' these were 

 so near together that we had difficulty in forcing our way between 

 the stems, which were about eight feet in height. It should here be 

 observed, the maize is regarded by Crawford as of aboriginal cultiva- 

 tion in the East Indies. 



