DESTRUCTION OF SPECIMENS. 
203 
it caught, nothing could have saved the whole 
village from destruction, nor us from the ven- 
geance of the people. At last the flames were 
got under, and I had time to realise that the few 
charred and sodden bundles before me were all 
that remained of more than 500 of the first- 
gathered specimens of the flora of Tenimber, col- 
lected at such risk and pains. I could not bear 
to stand on the shore, as usual, to welcome the 
home-coming boat ; but long ere it touched, the 
ruined drying-house had told them the disheart- 
ening news of the disaster that had happened/' 
The Tenimber islanders recognise a supreme 
existence, whom they name Duadilah f and of 
whom there is an image in every house, on a 
bracket facing the entrance, with a platter be- 
side, on which food and drink are placed every 
time they eat in its presence. In their wallets 
the men carry little gods, to which they talk, 
confiding all then' affairs and bespeaking favour- 
able fortune ; and every time they drink they 
dip the finger and thumb in the liquid, and flick 
a drop or two upwards, with a few words of in- 
vocation. 
They believe in an after-life, saying they go 
to a certain distant island when they die. This 
island is regarded with reverent fear, and no 
