52 
CUPANG, 
greenery. The true natives of Timor we did 
not see : they come down from their mountain 
homes only occasionally to meet purchasers of 
bee’s -wax, dammar for torches, and such pro- 
ducts ; but no intercourse can be established, for 
they will not conform to civilisation. Trade is 
conducted by barter, tobacco being a favourite 
article of exchange ; but they will strive for years 
to get the means of purchasing a species of bead 
of a reddish colour, evidently a sort of soft 
stone, giving for it more than its weight in 
gold. Whence these beads come is quite un- 
known ; the natives say they are pulled off the 
grass blades in certain spots very early in the 
morning. The counterfeit beads made in Bir- 
mingham for the Chinese traders are excellent 
imitations, but the native is not to be deceived 
into giving the price of the genuine article. 
A complete string of eight or nine inches costs 
about £12. 
Trade in Cupang is in the hands chiefly of 
Chinese and Arabs : the dark race we met in 
the streets are natives of the island of Solor, 
who are imported for servants and coolies. 
From Macassar to Cupang we had a Chinese 
gentleman as saloon passenger, and as I had 
never before occasion to be so near a member 
