from their plantations, and the birds the little boys shot
with their bows and arrows, kept them all well supplied
with tobacco and gambir, besides enabling them to accumulate
a stock of beads and coppers for future expenses.
The owner of the house was supplied gratis with a little
rice, fish, or salt, whenever he asked for it, which I must
say was not very often. On parting, I distributed among
them my remnant stock of salt and tobacco, and gave my
host a flask of arrack, and believe that on the whole my
stay with these simple and good-natured people was productive
of pleasure and profit to both parties. I fully
intended to come back; and had I known that circumstances
would have prevented my doing so, should have
felt some sorrow in leaving a place where I had first seen
so many rare and beautiful living things, and had so fully
enjoyed the pleasure which fills the heart of the naturalist
when he is so fortunate as to discover a district hitherto
unexplored, and where every day brings forth new and
unexpected treasures. "We loaded our boat in the afternoon,
and, starting before daybreak, by the help of a fair
wind reached Dobbo late the same evening.