io6 
FROM TORRES STRAIT TO HONG-KONG. 
those he finds on land may seem strange, but it can hardly be doubted m the face of 
numerous historical facts. Nor should it cause surprise if, in the domestic architecture of 
some nations, certain arrangements and details of structure, the origin of which it would be 
difficult to explain otherwise, can be traced to the lake-dwellings of remote ancestors. It is 
a remarkable coincidence that the style of the old farm-houses still to be seen on the banks 
of the Swiss lakes—where, as is well known, the remains of numerous lake-villages have 
been discovered—agrees in its leading features with the native dwellings in the Philippines, 
the ICi Islands, Dobbo, and other places in the Indian Archipelago : the ground floor used 
as a store or a stable; the dwelling-rooms on the first floor reached by an outer stair, 
the galleries or balconies outside the windows a vestige of the platform of the ancient 
village built above the water. 
Besides Malays and Chinese, we noticed at Dobbo a number of dark-skinned, woolly¬ 
haired, and scantily-clad figures, apparently natives of the Arrou 
Islands, and of the same race as the neighbouring Papuans. One 
of their villages, on Kobroor Island, was visited by an exploring 
party from the “ Challenger.” It consists of large huts of bamboo, 
each of which shelters several families, sometimes as many as fifty 
persons living under the same roof. 
Shortly after our arrival off Dobbo, two boats were seen, 
coming towards us carrying the Dutch flag at bow and stern, and 
propelled by brown-skinned men, who rowed with short paddles to 
the sound of the gong and drum. The boats contained a deputation, 
consisting of Malay officials dressed in gold and silver embroidered 
uniforms, and carrying silver-topped canes marked with the Dutch 
royal arms ; also a few missionaries or Protestant school teachers, arrayed in black dress-coat, 
trousers, and tall black hat—the latter of a very ancient pattern, and almost red with age. 
At the termination of their visit we were much amused to see them 
“ putting off 
These troublesome disguises which we wear,” 
so soon as they had descended into their boats ; nor was this to be wondered at, considering 
that the temperature was at about 90° F. The tall hat—precious symbol of European 
civilisation—was carefully passed from hand to hand till it was safely deposited in the 
stern, and the gorgeous uniforms and respectable suits of black were exchanged for the more 
comfortable loose garments and the broad-brimmed pointed hat of the far East. 
Among the Malay merchants then residing at Dobbo was one with whom we 
succeeded in establishing very friendly relations, although we were unable to converse with 
him in his native tongue. He seemed to take a great interest in the “Challenger” and its 
belongings, and his genial and intelligent face betokened one of those men who in every 
clime are sure to rise above the ordinary level. In Germany, he would be the popular 
landlord of the village inn, and the great authority on farming and politics ; in France, the 
