194 The Philippine Journal of Science 1914 
tions to various parts of the island. At first he made trips alone, 
but later almost invariably took with him the Javanese assist- 
ant, Mardjoeki, supplied by the botanical garden at Buitenzorg, 
and usually also one or two natives of Amboina. He soon came 
to be widely known among the natives, who named him Tuan 
Doctor Kembang (literally, “the flower doctor”). His relations 
with both the Europeans and the natives were most cordial. 
In view of the peculiar nature of his death, peculiar in that 
his murder was so entirely unexpected and unlooked for, it has 
been considered advisable to give the following data, for the 
most part taken from the official report prepared by the assistant 
resident of Amboina, Mr. Van Dissel, and submitted by the 
resident of Amboina, Mr. H. J. A. Raedt van Oldenbarnevelt, 
to his Excellency Governor-General Idenburg of the Netherlands 
East Indies : 
Doctor Robinson left the town of Amboina on the morning of December 
5, unaccompanied, for the purpose of making a botanical excursion through 
the country to the south of the town through Amahoesoe, Eri, Silalei, Latoe- 
halat, Aerlo, and Seri, back to Amboina, a distance of about 21 miles, 
stating that he would return that evening. His failure to return that 
night excited no special comment, but on the following day the native 
Javanese assistant, Mardjoeki, instituted a search on his own account 
which proved to be fruitless. The matter was, after a few days’ delay, 
reported to the police authorities who at once instituted a most vigorous 
search. The general impression at first prevailed that Doctor Robinson 
had met with some accident, as he was, in the course of his work, in the 
habit of frequenting remote places. As in many parts of Amboina the 
ground is full of covered and hence invisible holes and crevices and as 
the island was considered entirely safe, so far as the natives were concerned, 
this belief was only natural. 
The report of the disappearance of Doctor Robinson having been received 
with so many days’ delay, the finding of the right clue was rendered difficult 
during the first days of the investigation by misleading and most fantastic 
and contradictory reports, this despite the tireless search made by the 
police with the active cooperation of the populace in all parts of the terri- 
tory where one might expect to find the body of Doctor Robinson, for all 
thought of finding him alive had been abandoned. Finally, a mere chance 
gave rise to the suspicion that there had been foul play. 
A Boetonese, who had stated that he had met Doctor Robinson, on closer 
examination gave contradictory replies, whereupon the magistrate who was 
investigating the affair suspected that the witness knew more than he had 
stated regarding the disappearance of Doctor Robinson. This man soon 
confessed that Doctor Robinson had not met with an accident, but that 
he had been murdered. However, due to the distance that Doctor Robinson 
had traveled and the difficult nature of the country, several days elapsed 
before the matter was completely cleared up. 
Having left Amboina in the morning, Doctor Robinson arrived at noon 
on December 5 between the hamlets Aerlo and Seri, at a settlement of 
