366 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
in height, and a fair harbour. The nutmeg is said to have 
grown here at one time, but to have been extirpated by 
the Dutch. About 7 0 miles farther in the same direction 
is Mia, with a small volcano which has been active in 
recent times. Finally, the chain terminates with Serua ; 
or possibly Manok Island, a small and isolated volcanic 
peak in 5° 33' S., may be the ultimate link. 
The remainder of the Serwatti islands form a chain 
connecting Wetta with the Timor Laut group, though 
whether situated on one and the same raised submarine 
bank is unknown, the soundings in these seas being few 
in number. Kissa is the most western, and is densely 
populated, for, though possessed of an area of less than 40 
square miles,there were in 18 86 nearly 10,000 inhabitants. 
The Dutch formerly had settlements in two or more 
places on the island, but have now abandoned them, 
chiefly, it is said, owing to the droughts which so fre¬ 
quently occurred. In spite of the barren and mountain¬ 
ous character of the land, the soil is very fertile, and 
passing ships obtain provision abundantly and cheaply. 
The inhabitants are a tall and good-looking race of Chris¬ 
tian Malays, who are good agriculturists. Pura-pura, a 
village on the south-west coast, is the principal port of 
the Serwatti islands, and two miles inland is a walled 
town of some size, with a large church. The Letti group, 
of which Moa is the largest island, is peopled almost as 
thickly with a similar race. Many cattle are raised. 
The Karbau peak on Moa attains a height of 4100 feet, 
but the remainder of the island is flat and coralline. 
The group contains 11,000 inhabitants, and a representa¬ 
tive of the Dutch Government resides on Letti. Sermata, 
about 40 miles eastward, is little known. Leaving this 
Malayan oasis, we come again, at the Baba group, to a 
dark Papuan race, who bear a rather bad character. 
