In all this part of the Archipelago the Dutch make
very praiseworthy efforts to improve the condition of the
aborigines by establishing schoolmasters in every village
(who are mostly natives of Amboyna or Saparua, who have
been instructed by the resident missionaries), and by employing
native vaccinators to prevent the ravages of smallpox.
They also encourage the settlement of Europeans, and
the formation of new plantations of cacao and coffee, one of
the best means of raising the condition of the natives, who
thus obtain work at fair wages, and have the opportunity
of acquiring something of European tastes and habits.
My collections here did not* progress much better than
at my former station, except that butterflies were a little
more plentiful, and some very fine species were to be found
in the morning on the sea-beach, sitting so quietly on the
wet sand that they could be caught with the fingers. In
this way I had many fine specimens of Papilios brought
me by the children. Beetles, however, were scarce, and
birds still more so, and I began- to- think that the handsome
species which I had so often heard were found in
Ceram must be entirely confined to the eastern extremity
of the island.
A few miles further north, at the head of the Bay
of Amahay, is situated the village of Makariki, from
whence there is a native path quite across the island
to the north coast. My friend Mr. Bosenberg, whose
[cquaintance I had made at New Guinea, and who was
low the Government superintendent of all this part of
(Ceram, returned from "Wahai, on the north coast, after I
lad been three weeks at Awaiya, and showed me some
fine butterflies he had obtained on the mountain streams
[n the interior. He indicated a spot about the centre of
the island where he thought I might advantageously stay
I few days. I accordingly visited Makariki with him the
next day, and he instructed the chief of the village to
[furnish me with men to carry my baggage, and accompany
me on my excursion. As the people of the village
[wanted to be at home on Christmas-day, it was necessary
[to start as soon as possible ; so we agreed that the men
tehould be ready in two days, and I returned to make my
[arrangements.
I put up the smallest quantity of baggage possible for a
[six days’ trip, and on the morning of December 18th we
left Makariki, with six men carrying my baggage and their
own provisions, and a lad from Awaiya, who was accustomed
to 'catch butterflies for me. My two Amboyna
hunters I left behind to shoot and skin what birds they
could while I was away. Quitting the village, we first
walked briskly for an hour through a dense tangled
[undergrowth, dripping wet from a storm of the previous
[night, and full of mud holes. After crossing several
[small streams we reached one of the largest rivers in
VOL. II. G