24 



SINGAPORE. 



[chap. II. 



house fit Biikit'tima was surrounded by several of 

 wood-topped lulls, which were much frequented hy wood- 

 cutters and sawyei-s, and ofFertd me an excellent collecting 

 giYjund for insects. Here and there, too, were tiger pits, 

 carefully covered over with sticks and leaves, and so well 

 concealed, that in several cases I had a narrow escape from 

 fnlliiig into them. They are shaped like a!i iron luniace, 

 wider at tlie bottom than the top, and are perhaps fifteen 

 or twenty feet deep, so that it would be almost impossible 

 for a pei'soti unassisted to get out of one. Formerly a 

 sharp stake was stuck erect in the bottom ; but after an 

 unfortunate traveller liad been killed by falling on one, 

 its me Wiis forbidden. There are always a few tigers 

 roaming about Singapore, and they kill on an average a 

 Chinaman every day, principally those who work in the 

 gambir plantations, which are always made in newl>- 

 cleared jungle. ^V^e heard a tiger roar once or twice in 

 the evening, and it was rather uervous work hunting for 

 insects among the fallen trunks and old sawpits, when one 

 of these savage anuiials might be lurking close by, waiting 

 an opportunity to ispring upon us. 



Severd hours in the middle of every fine day were 

 spent in these patches of forest, which were delightfully 

 cool ami shady by contrast witli the bare open country 

 we had to walk over to reach them. The vegetation was 

 most luxuriant, comprising enormous foif st ti'ees, as well 

 as a variety of ferns, caladiums, and other undergrowth, 

 and abundance of climbing rattan pabns. Insects were 

 exceedingly abundant and very interesting, and every day 

 furnished scores of new and curious forms. In about two 

 months I olitained no less than 700 species of beetles, a 

 large proportion of which were quite new, and among 

 them were 130 distinct kinds of the elegant Longicorns 

 (Cerandiycidie), so much osteemeil by collectors. iUmost 

 all these were collected in uue patch of jungle, not more 

 tlian a square mile in extent, and in all my subsequent 

 travels in the East I rarely if ever met with so productive 

 a spot This exceeding productiveness was due in part no 

 doubt to some favom-able conditions in the soil, climate, 

 and vegetation, and to the season being very bright and 

 sumiy, with sufficient showera to keep everything freah. 



