198 



TIUOM, 



[chap. 3cni. 



become large coESumers of European goods. This wouJd 

 be a far surer source of protit to tlieir rulei's than im- 

 posts and extortion, and would be iit thu same time more 

 likely to prodace peace and obe<lieuce, tliaii tlie mock- 

 military rule which has liitherto proved most ineffective. 

 To inaugurate such a system would liowever require au 

 iiimitidinte outlay of capital, which iieithcr Dutch nor 

 Portuguese seem inclined to make, — and a number of 

 honest and enei^etic officials, which ths latter natiou at 

 least seems unable to produce ; so tliat it is much to be 

 feared that Timor will for many years to come remain 

 in its present stjate of chronic insurrection and mis- 

 government, 



ilorality at DelM is at aa low an ebb aa in the far interior 

 of Brazil, and crimes are connived at which would entail 

 infamy and criminal prosecution in Eujoite. While I was 

 there it was generally asserted and believed in the place, 

 that two officers had poisoned the husbands of women 

 with whom they were carrying on intrigues, and with 

 whom they immediately cohabited on the death of their 

 rivals. Yet no one ever thought for a moment of showing 

 disapprobation of the crime, or even of considering it a 

 crime at all, the husbands in question being low half- 

 castes, who of course ought to make way for the pleasures 

 of their superiors. 



Judging from wliat I saw myself and by the descriptions 

 of Jilr. Geach, the indigenous vegetation of Timor is poor 

 and monotonous. Tbe lower ranges of the hills are every- 

 whei-e covered with sci'ubby Eucalypti, wliicli only occa- 

 sionally gi'ow into lofty forest trees. Mingled with these 

 in smaller quantities are acacias and the Iragrant sandal- 

 wood, while the higher mountains, which rise to about six 

 or seven thousand feet, are either covered with coarse grass 

 or are altogether ban^ea In the lower grounds are a 

 variety of weedy bushes, and opeu waste places are covered 

 everywhere with a nettle-like wild mint. Here is found 

 the lieautlful crown lily, Gloriosa superba, winding among 

 the bushes, and displaying its magnificent blossoms in 

 great profusion. A wild vine also occurs, bearing great 

 irregular bunches of hairy grapes of a coarse but very 

 luscious flavour. In some of the valleys where the 



