THE TIMOR GROUP 
371 
From a passage in Pigafetta’s diary, it appears possible 
that the Portuguese may have reached Timor before the 
visit of the Spaniards in 1522, but we have no definite 
record of any such occurrence, or of when they became 
established on the island. They were driven out of 
Kupang by the Dutch in 1613, and the two nations 
were engaged in frequent warfare during the eighteenth 
century. In 1859 the boundaries were settled by treaty, 
leaving, roughly speaking, the south-western moiety to 
the Dutch and the north-eastern to the Portuguese. 
The latter government, however, also own two small 
districts within their neighbour’s territory. The Dutch 
capital is Kupang, a neat little town near the southern 
extremity of the island, with a mixed population of about 
7000, consisting of Malays, Chinese, Arabs, and natives, 
besides a considerable number of Dutch, living in well- 
built houses. The Resident administers the government 
of Sumba, Savu, and the Solor and Allor groups, in addi¬ 
tion to the many native “kingdoms” into which Timor 
is divided. The town is a place of some trade, and 
whalers, as well as many merchant ships, call here for 
provision and water. Trade is still carried on chiefly by 
barter, the most prized article of exchange, according to 
Mr. Forbes, being a species of bead of an ochreous red 
colour, the place of manufacture of which is quite 
unknown. A small string eight or nine inches long has 
a value of about £12. 
The Portuguese have their chief settlement at Dilli, a 
miserable town of hovels, half ruined and deserted, the 
houses and even the church being only of clay and 
thatch, without any attempt at decoration or even neat¬ 
ness. With the exception of the Governor, officials, and 
soldiers, there are hardly any Europeans, and the entire 
population is not above 3000. It is, moreover, very 
