THE MOLUCCAS 
329 
The highest of these is Nusa-heli, the height of which 
has been found to be 9612 feet, and there are at least 
four other peaks exceeding 6000 feet. None of them 
are believed to be volcanic, and the mass of the island 
where it has been examined is found to be composed of 
plutonic and sedimentary rocks. Coal exists, but of 
what period does not seem clear. The only evidences of 
active volcanic forces are hot springs and the rather 
frequent occurrence of earthquakes. There is not a 
single good harbour in the whole island except at 
Amahai on the south coast, and there are no navigable 
rivers. Towards the western end two deep bays, nearly 
opposite each other, reduce the width of the island to 
about 15 miles. Here a native path crosses from shore 
to shore, and this is almost the only part of the interior 
known to Europeans. 
The coast villages, as is generally the case in these 
islands, are inhabited by a mixed Malay people, and in 
the neighbourhood of the Amboina group many are 
Orang Sirani, or so-called Christians, of whom a consider¬ 
able number can read and write. In the interior live a 
race who are perhaps of mixed Papuan descent, split up 
into different tribes, speaking different languages, and 
little, if at all more civilised than the pure Dyaks of 
Borneo. They are head-hunters, living in large villages, 
and cultivating sago, bananas, and a little rice. The 
whole island is densely covered with forest, and in all 
the swampy valleys the sago-palm grows wild, supplying 
the chief food of the inhabitants, as well as an article of 
trade, sago cakes being the provision with which every 
native boat is supplied for a voyage. The Dutch have 
four stations on the island, and an “ Aspirant Controleur ” 
lives at Wahai on the north coast, where there are Euro¬ 
pean coffee and coco plantations. The people are, how- 
