THE MOLUCCAS 
327 
8. Burn. 
We now come to the southern Moluccas, which are 
under the administration of the Eesident of Amboina, one 
of the largest of which is Buru, an oval island about 
9 0 English miles in length, with an area of 3380 
square miles. Although a volcano is said to exist at the 
western extremity, the island is believed to be largely 
composed of the older stratified rocks. It is, in parts, of 
great elevation, Mount Tumahu (8530 feet) being, apart 
from those in Ceram, the highest peak in the Moluccas, 
while others exceed 7000 feet. The elevation is highest 
towards the western end, while at the north and east it 
is comparatively low. Surrounding Kajeli Bay is a vast, 
circular, and level plain, which occupies nearly one-fourth 
of the island. In the north the country is somewhat 
bare, and much covered with coarse lalang grass, but the 
greater part of the rest of the island is forest-clad. The 
villages round the coast are inhabited by semi-civilised 
Mohammedan Malays from the various surrounding 
islands, who have intermixed with the older inhabitants; 
and a tribe of mild light-coloured people. of Malay type, 
apparently allied to the natives of Eastern Celebes, 
occupy the northern and western parts. The interior is 
peopled by a peculiar race, which, according to some 
authorities, is of Papuan type. If this be true, these 
“ Alfuros ” must have lost the chief characteristics of that 
race, judging from the description of Mr. H. O. Forbes, 
the only naturalist who has visited the heart of the 
country. He describes them as averaging 5 feet 2 
inches in height, of a brown or yellowish-brown colour, 
weak in build and somewhat effeminate, and very timid. 
They live for the most part in isolated houses, and 
