the great red parrot (Eclectus grandis), found in most of the Moluccas, a crow,
and a Megapodius, or mound-maker. A few of the pretty racquet-tailed
kingfishers were also obtained, but in very poor plumage. They proved,
however, to be of a different species from those found in the other islands, and
come nearest to the bird originally described by Linnaeus under the name of
Alcedo dea, and which came from Ternate. This would indicate that the small
chain of islands parallel to Gilolo have a few peculiar species in common, a fact
which certainly occurs in insects.
The people of Kaioa interested me much. They are evidently a mixed race,
having Malay and Papuan affinities, and are allied to the peoples of Ternate and
of Gilolo. They possess a peculiar language, somewhat resembling those of the
surrounding islands, but quite distinct. They are now Mahometans, and are
subject to Ternate, The only fruits seen here were papaws and pine-apples, the
rocky soil and dry climate being unfavourable. Rice, maize, and plantains
flourish well, except that they suffer from occasional dry seasons like the present
one. There is a little cotton grown, from which the women weave sarongs
(Malay petticoats). There is only one well of good water on the islands, situated
close to the landing-place, to which all the inhabitants come for drinking water.
The men are good boat-builders, and they make a regular trade of it and seem to
be very well off.
After five days at Kaióa we continued our journey, and soon got among the
narrow straits and islands which lead down to the town of Batchian. In the
evening we stayed at a settlement of Galela men. These are natives of a district
in the extreme north of Gilolo, and are great wanderers over this part of the
Archipelago. They build large and roomy praus with outriggers, and settle on
any coast or island they take a fancy for. They hunt deer and wild pig, drying the
meat; they catch turtle and tripang; they cut down the forest and plant rice or
maize, and are altogether remarkably energetic and industrious. They are very
line people, of light complexion, tall, and with Papuan features, coming nearer to
the drawings and descriptions of the true Polynesians of Tahiti and Owyhee than
any I have seen.
During this voyage I had several times had an opportunity of seeing my men
get fire by friction. A sharp-edged piece of bamboo is rubbed across the convex
surface of another piece, on which a small notch is first cut. The rubbing is slow
at first and gradually quicker, till it becomes very rapid, and the fine powder
rubbed off ignites and falls through the hole which the rubbing has cut in the
bamboo. This is done with great quickness and certainty. The Ternate, people
use bamboo in another way. They strike its flinty surface with a bit of broken