* 148 
OUR TRADE GOODS. 
are too coarse and large. In vain I have made 
tempting strings of our gorgeous stock, which 
would have gladdened the heart of any child at 
home, and presented them to the little ones, 
thinking to educate the taste to our wares, but 
they would have none of them ; their taste lies 
in small red and blue sorts. Our German knives 
and coloured calicoes are acceptable ; a large 
stock of white calico and various sizes of brass 
wire were long rejected, but now later on are 
more useful. I am amused to have to make 
mention of some dimly printed sheets of calico, 
which a trader in Banda solemnly assured us 
were eagerly sought as grave-cloths. No Ten- 
imber man ever saw such a shroud, and we are 
unable to arouse any desire for the glory of such 
a last wrapping. Arabs from Macassar come 
every year to collect tortoise-shell in these parts ; 
but their trade must be among more civilised 
people, with more wants, for such things as 
matches, papers for cigarettes, and drinking- 
glasses, which they recommended to us, we can- 
not dispose of in Tenimber. 
The post-holder’s wife manages to have an 
excellent table from the few native products, and 
we know the difference when left to the tender 
mercies of Kobez, our own cook, who has pro- 
