CUAI*. XV,] 



TOWTf OF MACASSAR. 



213 



stubble aud weeds. A few mootlis back tliese were a 

 mass of verdure, and their barren appearance at this 

 season offered a striking contrast to the perpetual crops 

 on the same kind of country in Loiuliock and Bali, wiiere 

 the seasons are exactly similar, but wlierc aii elaborate 

 system of irrigation pi-oduces the effect of a perpetual , 

 spring. 



The day after my arrival I paid a visit of ceremony to 

 the Governor, accompanied by my friend the Danish 

 merchant^ who spoke excellent English, His Excellency 

 was very polite, and offered me every facility for travt^lling 

 about the countiy and prosecuting my researches in 

 natnral history. We conversed in French, which all Dutch 

 officials speak very well. 



Finding it very inconvenient aud expensive to stay in 

 the town, 1 removed at the end of a week to u little 

 bamboo house, kindly offei-ed rne by Mr. Mesnian. It was 

 situated about two rnilea away, on a small coffee plantation 

 and farm, and about a mile beyonil Mr. M/s own country- 

 house. It consisted of two rooms raised about seven feet 

 above the ground, the lower part being partly open (and 

 serving excellently to skin birds in) and partly used as 

 a granary for rice. There was a kitchen and other out- 

 i louses, aud several cottages near were occupied by men in 

 Mr, M/s employ. 



After being settled a few days in my new house, I found 

 that no collections could be made without going much 

 further into the country. The rice-fields for some miles 

 round resembled English st ubbles late in autumn, and were 

 al tnost as unproductive of bii'd or insect life. There were 

 several mitivo villages scattered about, so embosomed in 

 fruit trees that at a distance they looked like clumps or 

 patches of forest. These were my only collecting places, 

 but they produced a veiy limited number of species, and 

 were soon exhausted. Before I could move to any more 

 promising district it was necessary to obtain permission 

 from the Eajah of Goa, whose territories approach to within 

 two niiles of the town of Macassar. I therefore presented 

 myself at the Governor's office and reque^jted a letter to 

 the Rajah, to clahn his prott?ction,and permission to travel 

 in his territories whenever 1 might wish to do so, Thk 



