china, and produce a spark, which they catch in some kind of tinder.
On the evening of October 21st we reached our destination, having been
twelve days on the voyage. It had been tine weather all the time, and, although
very hot, I had enjoyed myself exceedingly, and had besides obtained some
experience in boat work among islands and coral reefs, which enabled me
afterwards to undertake much longer voyages of the same kind. The village or
town of Batchian is situated at the head of a wide and deep bay, where a low
isthmus connects the northern and southern mountainous parts of the island. To
the south is a fine range of mountains, and I had noticed at several of our
landing-places that the geological formation of the island was very different
from those around it. Whenever rock was visible it was either sandstone in thin
layers, dipping south, or a pebbly conglomerate. Sometimes there was a little
coralline limestone, but no volcanic rocks. The forest had a dense luxuriance and
loftiness seldom found on the dry and porous lavas and raised coral reefs of
Ternate and Gilolo; and hoping for a corresponding richness in the birds and
insects, it was with much satisfaction and with considerable expectation that I
began my explorations in the hitherto unknown island of Batchian.