well, so I told him to see that it was emptied the next
day, for that the day after I should come and occupy it.
On the day mentioned, as I was. not quite ready to go, I
sent my two Macassar boys with brooms to sweep out the
house thoroughly. They returned in the evening and told
me, that when they got there the house was inhabited, and
not a single article removed. However, on hearing they
had come to clean and take possession, the occupants
made a move, but with a good deal of grumbling, which
made me feel rather uneasy as to how the people generally
might take my intrusion into their village. The next
morning we took our baggage on three pack-horses, and,
after a few break-downs, arrived about noon at our destination.
After getting all my things set straight, and having made
a hasty meal, I determined if possible to make friends with
the people. I therefore sent for the owner of the house
and as many of his acquaintances as liked to come, to have
a “ bitchara,” or talk. When they were all seated, I gave
them a little tobacco all round, and having my hoy Baderoon
for interpreter, tried to explain to them why I came there ;
that I was very sorry to turn them out of the house, but
that the Bajah had ordered it rather than build a new one,
which was what I had asked for, and then placed five
silver rupees in the owner’s hand as one month’s rent. I
then assured them that my being there would be a benefit
to them, as I should buy their eggs and fowls and fru it;
and if their children would bring me shells and insects, of
which I showed them specimens, they also might earn a
good many coppers. After all this had been fully explained
to them, with a long talk and discussion between
every sentence, I could see that I had made a favourable
impression; and that very afternoon, as if to test my
promise. to buy even miserable little snaii-shells, a dozen
children came one after another, bringing me a few specimens
each of a small Helix, for which they duly received
“ coppers,” and went away amazed but rejoicing.
A few days’ exploration made me well acquainted with
the surrounding country. I was a long way from the road
in the forest which I had first visited, and for some distance
round my house were old clearings and cottages. I found
a few good butterflies, but beetles were very scarce, and
even rotten timber and newly-felled trees (generally so
productive) here produced scarcely anything. This convinced
me that there was not a sufficient extent of forest
in the neighbourhood to make the place worth staying at
Ions but it was too late now to think O* * of going further, as
in about a month the wet season would begin; so I resolved
to stay here and get what was to be had. Unfortunately,
after a few days I became ill with a low fever which produced
excessive lassitude and disinclination to all exertion.
In vain I endeavoured to shake it off; all I could do was