26S 



CELEBES, 



[chap. XVII 



pigs antl two Anoas, but the latter were ranch iujuied by 

 the doga, and I could only preserve the heads, A grand 

 hunt which we attempted on the third day failed, owing to 

 bad management in driving in tlie game, and we waited 

 Ibr five hours perched on platforras in trees without getting 

 a shot, although we had been as3ured that pigs, Babinlsas, 

 and Aii6as would rush past 113 in dozens, I myself, witli 

 two meHj stayed three days longer to get more specimens of 

 the Maleos, and succeeded in preserving twenty-six very 

 fine ones ; the flesh and eggs of which supphed us with 

 abundance of good food 



The Major sent a boat, as he had promised, to take home 

 my baggage, while 1 walked through the foreist with niy 

 two boys and a guide, about fourteen miles. For the 

 lirst luilf of the distance there was no path, and we had 

 uftcn to cut our way througli tangled rattans or thickets of 

 bamboo. In some of our turnings to fin(l the most prac- 

 ticable route I expressed my fear that we were losing our 

 w^ay, as the sun being \'ertical 1 could see no possible clue 

 to the right direction. My conductors, however, langhed 

 at the itlea, which they seemed to consider quite ludicrous ; 

 and sure enough, about half way, we suddenly encountered 

 a little hut where people from Licoupang came to hunt 

 and smoke wild pigs. My guide told me he had never 

 before traversed the forest between these two points ; and 

 this is what is considered by some travellers as one of the 

 savage *' instincts," whereas it is merely the result of wide 

 general knowledge, Tlie man knew the topography of 

 the whole district; the slope of the land, the direction 

 of the streams, the belts of bamboo or rattan, and many 

 other indications of locality and direction ; and he was thus 

 enabled to hit straight upon the hut, in the vicinity of 

 which lie had often hunted. In a forest of which he knew 

 notliing, he w^ould l>e qnite as much at a loss as a European. 

 Thus it is, 1 am convinced, with all the wonderful accounts 

 of Indians finding their way through trackless forests to 

 definite points. Tliey may never have passed straight 

 between the two particular points before, but they are well 

 acquainted with the vicinity of both, and liave such a 

 general knowledge of the whole countrj^, its wat^er system, 

 its soil and its vegetation, that m they appixjach the point 



