1 LOMBOCK' [chap. xi. 



the latter on the hills. Tlie rice is exported veiy largely 

 to other islands of the Archipekf^n, to Hingiipore, and even 

 to China, and there are genemlly one or more vessels 

 loadin.!^ in tlie port. It is brought into Ampanorn on 

 pack-hoi-ses, and almost every day ti string of tliese wouhl 

 (Xtme into Mr. Carter's yard. The only nioncy the natives 

 will take for thoir rice is Chinese copper casli, twelve 

 hundred of which go to a (if>llar. ICvery morning twft 

 large sacks of this money had to be counted out into 

 convenient smns for payiiient From Bali quantities of 

 dried beef and ox-tongiu-s are exported, and from Lombock 

 a good many ducks and ponies. Tlie ducks are a peculiar 

 breed, which have veiy long Hat bodies, and walk erect 

 almost like penguins. They are generally of a pale reddish 

 ash colour, and are kept in large flocks. Tlie'j are very 

 fiieap and are largely consumed by the crews of the rice 

 shiiis, by whom they are called Baly-soldiers, but are 

 n»ore generally known elsewhere as peng^iun- ducks. 



ify Portngnese bird-stuffer Fernandez now insisted on 

 hrt'aking liis agreement and returning to Singapore; partly 

 from honie-sickness, but moi-e I believe from the idea that 

 hi.s life was not "woTlh many montljs* purchase among such 

 bloodthii-sty and uncivilized peo])Ies. It was a consider- 

 able loss to me, as I had paid him full three tinicjs the 

 usual wages for three months in advance, half of which was 

 occupied in the voyage and the rest in a place where I could 

 have done without him, owing to there being so few insects 

 that I could devote my own time to shooting and skinning. 

 A few days after Fernandez had left, a small schooner 

 came in bound for Macassar, to which place I took a pas- 

 mige. As a fitting conclusion to my sketch of these 

 interesting islands^ I will narrate an anecdote which I 

 heard of the present liajah ; and which, whether altogether 

 true or not, well illustrates native character, and wiD serve 

 as a means of introducing some details of the manners and 

 customs of the country to which I have not yet alluded. 



