CHAPTER XXIV. BATCHIAN.
(OCTOBER 1858 To APRIL 1859.)
I LANDED opposite the house kept for the use of the Resident of Ternate, and
was met by a respectable middle-aged Malay, who told me he was Secretary to
the Sultan, and would receive the official letter with which I had been provided.
On giving it him, he at once informed me I might have the use of the official
residence which was empty. I soon got my things on shore, but on looking about
me found that the house would never do to stay long in. There was no water
except at a considerable distance, and one of my men would be almost entirely
occupied getting water and firewood, and I should myself have to walk all
through the village every day to the forest, and live almost in public, a thing I
much dislike. The rooms were all boarded, and had ceilings, which are a great
nuisance, as there are no means of hanging anything up except by driving nails,
and not half the conveniences of a native bamboo and thatch cottage. I
accordingly inquired for a house outside of the village on the road to the coal
mines, and was informed by the Secretary that there was a small one belonging
to the Sultan, and that he would go with me early next morning to see it.
We had to pass one large river, by a rude but substantial bridge, and to wade
through another fine pebbly stream of clear water, just beyond which the little
but was situated. It was very small, not raised on posts, but with the earth for a
floor, and was built almost entirely of the leaf-stems of the sago-palm, called
here "gaba-gaba." Across the river behind rose a forest-clad bank, and a good
road close in front of the horse led through cultivated grounds to the forest about
half a mile on, and thence to the coal mines tour miles further. These advantages
at once decided me, and I told the Secretary I would be very glad to occupy the
house. I therefore sent my two men immediately to buy "ataps" (palm-leaf
thatch) to repair the roof, and the next day, with the assistance of eight of the
Sultan's men, got all my stores and furniture carried up and pretty comfortably
arranged. A rough bamboo bedstead was soon constructed, and a table made of