首页 >出版文学> The Malay Archipelago>第1章
  Thelandoftheorang-utan,andthebirdorparadise。
  Anarrativeoftravel,withsketchesofmanandnature。
  ToCHARLESDARWIN,AUTHOROF"THEORIGINOFSPECIES,"
  Idedicatethisbook,NotonlyasatokenofpersonalesteemandfriendshipButalsoToexpressmydeepadmirationForHisgeniusandhisworks。
  PREFACE。
  MyreaderswillnaturallyaskwhyIhavedelayedwritingthisbookforsixyearsaftermyreturn;andIfeelboundtogivethemfullsatisfactiononthispoint。
  WhenIreachedEnglandinthespringof1862,IfoundmyselfsurroundedbyaroomfullofpackingcasescontainingthecollectionsthatIhad,fromtimetotime,senthomeformyprivateuse。Thesecomprisednearlythreethousandbirdskinsofaboutonethousandspecies,atleasttwentythousandbeetlesandbutterfliesofaboutseventhousandspecies,andsomequadrupedsandlandshellsbesides。AlargeproportionoftheseIhadnotseenforyears,andinmythenweakenedstateofhealth,theunpacking,sorting,andarrangingofsuchamassofspecimensoccupiedalongtime。
  IverysoondecidedthatuntilIhaddonesomethingtowardsnaminganddescribingthemostimportantgroupsinmycollection,andhadworkedoutsomeofthemoreinterestingproblemsofvariationandgeographicaldistributionofwhichIhadhadglimpseswhilecollectingthem,Iwouldnotattempttopublishmytravels。Indeed,Icouldhaveprintedmynotesandjournalsatonce,leavingallreferencetoquestionsofnaturalhistoryforafuturework;but,Ifeltthatthiswouldbeasunsatisfactorytomyselfasitwouldbedisappointingtomyfriends,anduninstructivetothepublic。
  Sincemyreturn,uptothisdate,Ihavepublishedeighteenpapersinthe"Transactions"or"ProceedingsoftheLinneanZoologicalandEntomologicalSocieties",describingorcataloguingportionsofmycollections,alongwithtwelveothersinvariousscientificperiodicalsonmoregeneralsubjectsconnectedwiththem。
  NearlytwothousandofmyColeoptera,andmanyhundredsofmybutterflies,havebeenalreadydescribedbyvariouseminentnaturalists,Britishandforeign;butamuchlargernumberremainsundescribed。Amongthosetowhomscienceismostindebtedforthislaboriouswork,ImustnameMr。F。P。Pascoe,latePresidentoftheEntomologicalSocietyofLondon,whohadalmostcompletedtheclassificationanddescriptionofmylargecollectionofLongicornbeetlesnowinhispossession,comprisingmorethanathousandspecies,ofwhichatleastninehundredwerepreviouslyundescribedandnewtoEuropeancabinets。
  Theremainingordersofinsects,comprisingprobablymorethantwothousandspecies,areinthecollectionofMr。WilliamWilsonSaunders,whohascausedthelargerportionofthemtobedescribedbygoodentomologists。TheHymenopteraaloneamountedtomorethanninehundredspecies,amongwhichweretwohundredandeightydifferentkindsofants,ofwhichtwohundredwerenew。
  Thesixyears'delayinpublishingmytravelsthusenablesmetogivewhatIhopemaybeaninterestingandinstructivesketchofthemainresultsyetarrivedatbythestudyofmycollections;
  andasthecountriesIhavetodescribearenotmuchvisitedorwrittenabout,andtheirsocialandphysicalconditionsarenotliabletorapidchange,Ibelieveandhopethatmyreaderswillgainmuchmorethantheywilllosebynothavingreadmybooksixyearsago,andbythistimeperhapsforgottenallaboutit。
  Imustnowsayafewwordsontheplanofmywork。
  Myjourneystothevariousislandswereregulatedbytheseasonsandthemeansofconveyance。Ivisitedsomeislandstwoorthreetimesatdistantintervals,andinsomecaseshadtomakethesamevoyagefourtimesover。Achronologicalarrangementwouldhavepuzzledmyreaders。Theywouldneverhaveknownwheretheywere,andmyfrequentreferencestothegroupsofislands,classedinaccordancewiththepeculiaritiesoftheiranimalproductionsandoftheirhumaninhabitants,wouldhavebeenhardlyintelligible。Ihaveadopted,therefore,ageographical,zoological,andethnologicalarrangement,passingfromislandtoislandinwhatseemsthemostnaturalsuccession,whileI
  transgresstheorderinwhichImyselfvisitedthem,aslittleaspossible。
  IdividetheArchipelagointofivegroupsofislands,asfollows:
  I。THEINDO-MALAYISLANDS:comprisingtheMalayPeninsulaandSingapore,Borneo,Java,andSumatra。
  II。THETIMORGROUP:comprisingtheislandsofTimor,Flores,Sumbawa,andLombock,withseveralsmallerones。
  III。CELEBES:comprisingalsotheSulaIslandsandBouton。
  IV。THEMOLUCCANGROUP:comprisingBouru,Ceram,Batchian,Gilolo,andMorty;withthesmallerislandsofTernate,Tidore,Makian,Kaióa,Amboyna,Banda,Goram,andMatabello。
  V。THEPAPUANGROUP:comprisingthegreatislandofNewGuinea,withtheAruIslands,Mysol,Salwatty,Waigiou,andseveralothers。TheKeIslandsaredescribedwiththisgrouponaccountoftheirethnology,thoughzoologicallyandgeographicallytheybelongtotheMoluccas。
  ThechaptersrelatingtotheseparateislandsofeachofthesegroupsarefollowedbyoneontheNaturalHistoryofthatgroup;
  andtheworkmaythusbedividedintofiveparts,eachtreatingoneofthenaturaldivisionsoftheArchipelago。
  Thefirstchapterisanintroductoryone,onthePhysicalGeographyofthewholeregion;andthelastisageneralsketchofthepacesofmanintheArchipelagoandthesurroundingcountries。Withthisexplanation,andareferencetothemapswhichillustratethework,Itrustthatmyreaderswillalwaysknowwheretheyare,andinwhatdirectiontheyaregoing。
  Iamwellawarethatmybookisfartoosmallfortheextentofthesubjectsittouchesupon。Itisameresketch;butsofarasitgoes,Ihaveendeavouredtomakeitanaccurateone。Almostthewholeofthenarrativeanddescriptiveportionswerewrittenonthespot,andhavehadlittlemorethanverbalalterations。
  ThechaptersonNaturalHistory,aswellasmanypassagesinotherpartsofthework,havebeenwritteninthehopeofexcitinganinterestinthevariousquestionsconnectedwiththeoriginofspeciesandtheirgeographicaldistribution。InsomecasesIhavebeenabletoexplainmyviewsindetail;whileinothers,owingtothegreatercomplexityofthesubject,Ihavethoughtitbettertoconfinemyselftoastatementofthemoreinterestingfactsoftheproblem,whosesolutionistobefoundintheprinciplesdevelopedbyMr。Darwininhisvariousworks。
  Thenumerousillustrationswill,itisbelieved,addmuchtotheinterestandvalueofthebook。Theyhavebeenmadefrommyownsketches,fromphotographs,orfromspecimens——andsuch,onlysubjectsthatwouldreallyillustratethenarrativeorthedescriptions,havebeenchosen。
  IhavetothankMessrs。WalterandHenryWoodbury,whoseacquaintanceIhadthepleasureofmakinginJava,foranumberofphotographsofsceneryandofnatives,whichhavebeenofthegreatestassistancetome。Mr。WilliamWilsonSaundershaskindlyallowedmetofigurethecurioushornedflies;andtoMr。PascoeIamindebtedforaloanoftwooftheveryrareLongicornswhichappearintheplateofBorneanbeetles。Alltheotherspecimensfiguredareinmyowncollection。
  Asthemainobjectofallmyjourneyswastoobtainspecimensofnaturalhistory,bothformyprivatecollectionandtosupplyduplicatestomuseumsandamateurs,IwillgiveageneralstatementofthenumberofspecimensIcollected,andwhichreachedhomeingoodcondition。ImustpremisethatIgenerallyemployedoneortwo,andsometimesthreeMalayservantstoassistme;andfornearlyhalfthetimehadtheservicesofanEnglishlad,CharlesAllen。IwasjusteightyearsawayfromEngland,butasItravelledaboutfourteenthousandmileswithintheArchipelago,andmadesixtyorseventyseparatejourneys,eachinvolvingsomepreparationandlossoftime,Idonotthinkthatmorethansixyearswerereallyoccupiedincollecting。
  IfindthatmyEasterncollectionsamountedto:
  310specimensofMammalia。
  100specimensofReptiles。
  8,050specimensofBirds。
  7,500specimensofShells。
  13,100specimensofLepidoptera。
  83,200specimensofColeoptera。
  13,400specimensofotherInsects。
  125,660specimensofnaturalhistoryinall。
  ItnowonlyremainsformetothankallthosefriendstowhomI
  amindebtedforassistanceorinformation。MythanksaremoreespeciallyduetotheCounciloftheRoyalGeographicalSociety,throughwhosevaluablerecommendationsIobtainedimportantaidfromourownGovernmentandfromthatofHolland;andtoMr。
  WilliamWilsonSaunders,whosekindandliberalencouragementintheearlyportionofmyjourneywasofgreatservicetome。IamalsogreatlyindebtedtoMr。SamuelStevenswhoactedasmyagent,bothforthecarehetookofmycollections,andfortheuntiringassiduitywithwhichhekeptmesupplied,bothwithusefulinformationandwithwhatevernecessariesIrequired。
  Itrustthatthese,andallotherfriendswhohavebeeninanywayinterestedinmytravelsandcollections,mayderivefromtheperusalofmybook,somefaintreflexionofthepleasuresI
  myselfenjoyedamidthescenesandobjectsitdescribes。
  THEMALAYARCHIPELAGO。
  CHAPTERI。
  PHYSICALGEOGRAPHY。
  FromalookataglobeoramapoftheEasternhemisphere,weshallperceivebetweenAsiaandAustraliaanumberoflargeandsmallislandsformingaconnectedgroupdistinctfromthosegreatmassesofland,andhavinglittleconnectionwitheitherofthem。
  SituatedupontheEquator,andbathedbythetepidwaterofthegreattropicaloceans,thisregionenjoysaclimatemoreuniformlyhotandmoistthanalmostanyotherpartoftheglobe,andteemswithnaturalproductionswhichareelsewhereunknown。
  TherichestoffruitsandthemostpreciousofspicesareIndigenoushere。ItproducesthegiantflowersoftheRafflesia,thegreatgreen-wingedOrnithopteraprincesamongthebutterflytribes,theman-likeOrangutan,andthegorgeousBirdsofParadise。Itisinhabitedbyapeculiarandinterestingraceofmankind——theMalay,foundnowherebeyondthelimitsofthisinsulartract,whichhashencebeennamedtheMalayArchipelago。
  TotheordinaryEnglishmanthisisperhapstheleastknownpartoftheglobe。Ourpossessionsinitarefewandscanty;scarcelyanyofourtravellersgotoexploreit;andinmanycollectionsofmapsitisalmostignored,beingdividedbetweenAsiaandthePacificIslands。Itthushappensthatfewpersonsrealizethat,asawhole,itiscomparablewiththeprimarydivisionsoftheglobe,andthatsomeofitsseparateislandsarelargerthanFranceortheAustrianEmpire。Thetraveller,however,soonacquiresdifferentideas。Hesailsfordaysorevenweeksalongtheshoresofoneofthesegreatislands,oftensogreatthatitsinhabitantsbelieveittobeavastcontinent。Hefindsthatvoyagesamongtheseislandsarecommonlyreckonedbyweeksandmonths,andthattheirseveralinhabitantsareoftenaslittleknowntoeachotherasarethenativeracesofthenortherntothoseofthesoutherncontinentofAmerica。Hesooncomestolookuponthisregionasoneapartfromtherestoftheworld,withitsownracesofmenanditsownaspectsofnature;withitsownideas,feelings,customs,andmodesofspeech,andwithaclimate,vegetation,andanimatedlifealtogetherpeculiartoitself。
  Frommanypointsofviewtheseislandsformonecompactgeographicalwhole,andassuchtheyhavealwaysbeentreatedbytravellersandmenofscience;but,amorecarefulanddetailedstudyofthemundervariousaspectsrevealstheunexpectedfactthattheyaredivisibleintotwoportionsnearlyequalinextentwhichdifferwidelyintheirnaturalproducts,andreallyformtwopartsoftheprimarydivisionsoftheearth。IhavebeenabletoprovethisinconsiderabledetailbymyobservationsonthenaturalhistoryofthevariouspartsoftheArchipelago;and,asinthedescriptionofmytravelsandresidenceintheseveralislandsIshallhavetorefercontinuallytothisview,andadducefactsinsupportofit,IhavethoughtitadvisabletocommencewithageneralsketchofthemainfeaturesoftheMalayanregionaswillrenderthefactshereafterbroughtforwardmoreinteresting,andtheirbearinguponthegeneralquestionmoreeasilyunderstood。Iproceed,therefore,tosketchthelimitsandextentoftheArchipelago,andtopointoutthemorestrikingfeaturesofitsgeology,physicalgeography,vegetation,andanimallife。
  DefinitionandBoundaries——Forreasonswhichdependmainlyonthedistributionofanimallife,IconsidertheMalayArchipelagotoincludetheMalayPeninsulaasfarasTenasserimandtheNicobarIslandsonthewest,thePhilippinesonthenorth,andtheSolomonIslands,beyondNewGuinea,ontheeast。Allthegreatislandsincludedwithintheselimitsareconnectedtogetherbyinnumerablesmallerones,sothatnooneofthemseemstobedistinctlyseparatedfromtherest。Withbutfewexceptionsallenjoyanuniformandverysimilarclimate,andarecoveredwithaluxuriantforestvegetation。Whetherwestudytheirformanddistributiononmaps,oractuallytravelfromislandtoisland,ourfirstimpressionwillbethattheyformaconnectedwhole,allthepartsofwhichareintimatelyrelatedtoeachother。
  ExtentoftheArchipelagoandIslands——TheMalayArchipelagoextendsformorethan4,000milesinlengthfromeasttowest,andisabout1,300inbreadthfromnorthtosouth。ItwouldstretchoveranexpanseequaltothatofallEuropefromtheextremewestfarintoCentralAsia,orwouldcoverthewidestpartsofSouthAmerica,andextendfarbeyondthelandintothePacificandAtlanticoceans。ItincludesthreeislandslargerthanGreatBritain;andinoneofthem,Borneo,thewholeoftheBritishIslesmightbesetdown,andwouldbesurroundedbyaseaofforests。NewGuinea,thoughlesscompactinshape,isprobablylargerthanBorneo。SumatraisaboutequalinextenttoGreatBritain;Java,Luzon,andCelebesareeachaboutthesizeofIreland。Eighteenmoreislandsare,ontheaverage,aslargeasJamaica;morethanahundredareaslargeastheIsleofWight;
  whiletheislesandisletsofsmallersizeareinnumerable。
  TheabsoluteextentoflandintheArchipelagoisnotgreaterthanthatcontainedbyWesternEuropefromHungarytoSpain;but,owingtothemannerinwhichthelandisbrokenupanddivided,thevarietyofitsproductionsisratherinproportiontotheimmensesurfaceoverwhichtheislandsarespread,thantothequantityoflandwhichtheycontain。
  GeologicalContrasts——OneofthechiefvolcanicbeltsupontheglobepassesthroughtheArchipelago,andproducesastrikingcontrastinthesceneryofthevolcanicandnon-volcanicislands。
  Acurvingline,markedoutbyscoresofactive,andhundredsofextinct,volcanoesmaybetracedthroughthewholelengthofSumatraandJava,andthencebytheislandsofBali,Lombock,Sumbawa,Flores,theSerwattyIslands,Banda,Amboyna,Batchian,Makian,Tidore,Ternate,andGilolo,toMortyIsland。Herethereisaslightbutwell-markedbreak,orshift,ofabout200milestothewestward,wherethevolcanicbeltbeginsagaininNorthCelebes,andpassesbySianandSanguirtothePhilippineIslandsalongtheeasternsideofwhichitcontinues,inacurvingline,totheirnorthernextremity。FromtheextremeeasternbendofthisbeltatBanda,wepassonwardsfor1,000milesoveranon-
  volcanicdistricttothevolcanoesobservedbyDampier,in1699,onthenorth-easterncoastofNewGuinea,andcantheretraceanothervolcanicbeltthroughNewBritain,NewIreland,andtheSolomonIslands,totheeasternlimitsoftheArchipelago。
  Inthewholeregionoccupiedbythisvastlineofvolcanoes,andforaconsiderablebreadthoneachsideofit,earthquakesareofcontinualrecurrence,slightshocksbeingfeltatintervalsofeveryfewweeksormonths,whilemoresevereones,shakingdownwholevillages,anddoingmoreorlessinjurytolifeandproperty,aresuretohappen,inonepartoranotherofthisdistrict,almosteveryyear。Onmanyoftheislandstheyearsofthegreatearthquakesformthechronologicalepochsofthenativeinhabitants,bytheaidofwhichtheagesoftheirchildrenareremembered,andthedatesofmanyimportanteventsaredetermined。
  Icanonlybrieflyalludetothemanyfearfuleruptionsthathavetakenplaceinthisregion。Intheamountofinjurytolifeandproperty,andinthemagnitudeoftheireffects,theyhavenotbeensurpassedbyanyuponrecord。FortyvillagesweredestroyedbytheeruptionofPapandayanginJava,in1772,whenthewholemountainwasblownupbyrepeatedexplosions,andalargelakeleftinitsplace。BythegreateruptionofTomboroinSumbawa,in1815,12,000peopleweredestroyed,andtheashesdarkenedtheairandfellthicklyupontheearthandseafor300milesaround。
  Evenquiterecently,sinceIleftthecountry,amountainwhichhadbeenquiescentformorethan200yearssuddenlyburstintoactivity。TheislandofMakian,oneoftheMoluccas,wasrentopenin1646byaviolenteruptionwhichleftahugechasmononeside,extendingintotheheartofthemountain。Itwas,whenI
  lastvisiteditin1860,clothedwithvegetationtothesummit,andcontainedtwelvepopulousMalayvillages。Onthe29thofDecember,1862,after215yearsofperfectinaction,itagainsuddenlyburstforth,blowingupandcompletelyalteringtheappearanceofthemountain,destroyingthegreaterpartoftheinhabitants,andsendingforthsuchvolumesofashesastodarkentheairatTernate,fortymilesoff,andtoalmostentirelydestroythegrowingcropsonthatandthesurroundingislands。
  TheislandofJavacontainsmorevolcanoes,activeandextinct,thananyotherknowndistrictofequalextent。Theyareaboutforty-fiveinnumber,andmanyofthemexhibitmostbeautifulexamplesofthevolcanicconeonalargescale,singleordouble,withentireortruncatedsummits,andaveraging10,000feethigh。
  Itisnowwellascertainedthatalmostallvolcanoeshavebeenslowlybuiltupbytheaccumulationofmatter——mud,ashes,andlava——ejectedbythemselves。Theopeningsorcraters,however,frequentlyshifttheirposition,sothatacountrymaybecoveredwithamoreorlessirregularseriesofhillsinchainsandmasses,onlyhereandthererisingintoloftycones,andyetthewholemaybeproducedbytruevolcanicaction。InthismannerthegreaterpartofJavahasbeenformed。Therehasbeensomeelevation,especiallyonthesouthcoast,whereextensivecliffsofcorallimestonearefound;andtheremaybeasubstratumofolderstratifiedrocks;butstillessentiallyJavaisvolcanic,andthatnobleandfertileisland——theverygardenoftheEast,andperhapsuponthewholetherichest,thebestcultivated,andthebestgovernedtropicalislandintheworld——owesitsveryexistencetothesameintensevolcanicactivitywhichstilloccasionallydevastatesitssurface。
  ThegreatislandofSumatraexhibits,inproportiontoitsextent,amuchsmallernumberofvolcanoes,andaconsiderableportionofithasprobablyanon-volcanicorigin。
  Totheeastward,thelongstringofislandsfromJava,passingbythenorthofTimorandawaytoPanda,areprobablyallduetovolcanicaction。Timoritselfconsistsofancientstratifiedrocks,butissaidtohaveonevolcanonearitscentre。
  Goingnorthward,Amboyna,apartofBouru,andthewestendofCeram,thenorthpartofGilolo,andallthesmallislandsaroundit,thenorthernextremityofCelebes,andtheislandsofSianandSang-air,arewhollyvolcanic。ThePhilippineArchipelagocontainsmanyactiveandextinctvolcanoes,andhasprobablybeenreducedtoitspresentfragmentaryconditionbysubsidencesattendingonvolcanicaction。
  Allalongthisgreatlineofvolcanoesaretobefoundmoreorlesspalpablesignsofupheavalanddepressionofland。TherangeofislandssouthofSumatra,apartofthesouthcoastofJavaandoftheislandseastofit,thewestandeastendofTimor,portionsofalltheMoluccas,theKeandAruIslands,Waigiou,andthewholesouthandeastofGilolo,consistinagreatmeasureofupraisedcoral-rock,exactlycorrespondingtothatnowformingintheadjacentseas。InmanyplacesIhaveobservedtheunalteredsurfacesoftheelevatedreefs,withgreatmassesofcoralstandingupintheirnaturalposition,andhundredsofshellssofresh-lookingthatitwashardtobelievethattheyhadbeenmorethanafewyearsoutofthewater;and,infact,itisveryprobablethatsuchchangeshaveoccurredwithinafewcenturies。
  Theunitedlengthsofthesevolcanicbeltsisaboutninetydegrees,orone-fourthoftheentirecircumferenceoftheglobe。
  Theirwidthisaboutfiftymiles;but,foraspaceoftwohundredmilesoneachsideofthem,evidencesofsubterraneanactionaretobefoundinrecentlyelevatedcoral-rock,orinbarriercoral-
  reefs,indicatingrecentsubmergence。IntheverycentreorfocusofthegreatcurveofvolcanoesisplacedthelargeislandofBorneo,inwhichnosignofrecentvolcanicactionhasyetbeenobserved,andwhereearthquakes,socharacteristicofthesurroundingregions,areentirelyunknown。TheequallylargeislandofNewGuineaoccupiesanotherquiescentarea,onwhichnosignofvolcanicactionhasyetbeendiscovered。Withtheexceptionoftheeasternendofitsnorthernpeninsula,thelargeandcuriously-shapedislandofCelebesisalsoentirelyfreefromvolcanoes;andthereissomereasontobelievethatthevolcanicportionhasonceformedaseparateisland。TheMalayPeninsulaisalsonon-volcanic。
  ThefirstandmostobviousdivisionoftheArchipelagowouldthereforebeintoquiescentandvolcanicregions,anditmight,perhaps,beexpectedthatsuchadivisionwouldcorrespondtosomedifferencesinthecharacterofthevegetationandtheformsoflife。Thisisthecase,however,toaverylimitedextent;andweshallpresentlyseethat,althoughthisdevelopmentofsubterraneanfiresisonsovastascale——haspiledupchainsofmountainstenortwelvethousandfeethigh——hasbrokenupcontinentsandraisedupislandsfromtheocean——yetithasallthecharacterofarecentactionwhichhasnotyetsucceededinobliteratingthetracesofamoreancientdistributionoflandandwater。
  ContrastsofVegetation——PlacedimmediatelyupontheEquatorandsurroundedbyextensiveoceans,itisnotsurprisingthatthevariousislandsoftheArchipelagoshouldbealmostalwaysclothedwithaforestvegetationfromtheleveloftheseatothesummitsoftheloftiestmountains。Thisisthegeneralrule。
  Sumatra,NewGuinea,Borneo,thePhilippinesandtheMoluccas,andtheuncultivatedpartsofJavaandCelebes,areallforestcountries,exceptafewsmallandunimportanttracts,dueperhaps,insomecases,toancientcultivationoraccidentalfires。Tothis,however,thereisoneimportantexceptionintheislandofTimorandallthesmallerislandsaroundit,inwhichthereisabsolutelynoforestsuchasexistsintheotherislands,andthischaracterextendsinalesserdegreetoFlores,Sumbawa,Lombock,andBali。
  InTimorthemostcommontreesareEucalyptiofseveralspecies,alsocharacteristicofAustralia,withsandalwood,acacia,andothersortsinlessabundance。Thesearescatteredoverthecountrymoreorlessthickly,but,neversoastodeservethenameofaforest。Coarseandscantygrassesgrowbeneaththemonthemorebarrenhills,andaluxuriantherbageinthemoisterlocalities。IntheislandsbetweenTimorandJavathereisoftenamorethicklywoodedcountryaboundinginthornyandpricklytrees。Theseseldomreachanygreatheight,andduringtheforceofthedryseasontheyalmostcompletelylosetheirleaves,allowingthegroundbeneaththemtobeparchedup,andcontrastingstronglywiththedamp,gloomy,ever-verdantforestsoftheotherislands。Thispeculiarcharacter,whichextendsinalessdegreetothesouthernpeninsulaofCelebesandtheeastendofJava,ismostprobablyowingtotheproximityofAustralia。
  Thesouth-eastmonsoon,whichlastsforabouttwo-thirdsoftheyearfromMarchtoNovember,blowingoverthenorthernpartsofthatcountry,producesadegreeofheatanddrynesswhichassimilatesthevegetationandphysicalaspectoftheadjacentislandstoitsown。AlittlefurthereastwardinTimorandtheKeIslands,amoisterclimateprevails;thesoutheastwindsblowingfromthePacificthroughTorresStraitsandoverthedampforestsofNewGuinea,andasaconsequence,everyrockyisletisclothedwithverduretoitsverysummit。Furtherwestagain,asthesamedrywindsblowoverawiderandwiderextentofocean,theyhavetimetoabsorbfreshmoisture,andweaccordinglyfindtheislandofJavapossessingalessandlessaridclimate,untilintheextremewestnearBatavia,rainoccursmoreorlessalltheyearround,andthemountainsareeverywhereclothedwithforestsofunexampledluxuriance。
  ContrastsinDepthofSea——ItwasfirstpointedoutbyMr。
  GeorgeWindsorEarl,inapaperreadbeforetheRoyalGeographicalSocietyin1845,andsubsequentlyinapamphlet"OnthePhysicalGeographyofSouth-EasternAsiaandAustralia",dated1855,thatashallowseaconnectedthegreatislandsofSumatra,Java,andBorneowiththeAsiaticcontinent,withwhichtheirnaturalproductionsgenerallyagreed;whileasimilarshallowseaconnectedNewGuineaandsomeoftheadjacentislandstoAustralia,allbeingcharacterisedbythepresenceofmarsupials。
  WehavehereacluetothemostradicalcontrastintheArchipelago,andbyfollowingitoutindetailIhavearrivedattheconclusionthatwecandrawalineamongtheislands,whichshallsodividethemthatone-halfshalltrulybelongtoAsia,whiletheothershallnolesscertainlybealliedtoAustralia。I
  termtheserespectivelytheIndo-MalayanandtheAustro-MalayandivisionsoftheArchipelago。
  Onreferringtopages12,13,and36ofMr。Earl'spamphlet,itwillbeseenthathemaintainstheformerconnectionofAsiaandAustraliaasanimportantpartofhisview;whereas,Idwellmainlyontheirlongcontinuedseparation。Notwithstandingthisandotherimportantdifferencesbetweenus,tohimundoubtedlybelongsthemeritoffirstindicatingthedivisionoftheArchipelagointoanAustralianandanAsiaticregion,whichithasbeenmygoodfortunetoestablishbymoredetailedobservations。
  ContrastsinNaturalProductions——Tounderstandtheimportanceofthisclassoffacts,anditsbearingupontheformerdistributionoflandandsea,itisnecessarytoconsidertheresultsarrivedatbygeologistsandnaturalistsinotherpartsoftheworld。
  Itisnowgenerallyadmittedthatthepresentdistributionoflivingthingsonthesurfaceoftheearthismainlytheresultofthelastseriesofchangesthatithasundergone。Geologyteachesusthatthesurfaceoftheland,andthedistributionoflandandwater,iseverywhereslowlychanging。Itfurtherteachesusthattheformsoflifewhichinhabitthatsurfacehave,duringeveryperiodofwhichwepossessanyrecord,beenalsoslowlychanging。
  Itisnotnownecessarytosayanythingabouthoweitherofthosechangestookplace;astothat,opinionsmaydiffer;butastothefactthatthechangesthemselveshaveoccurred,fromtheearliestgeologicalagesdowntothepresentday,andarestillgoingon,thereisnodifferenceofopinion。Everysuccessivestratumofsedimentaryrock,sand,orgravel,isaproofthatchangesoflevelhavetakenplace;andthedifferentspeciesofanimalsandplants,whoseremainsarefoundinthesedeposits,provethatcorrespondingchangesdidoccurintheorganicworld。
  Taking,therefore,thesetwoseriesofchangesforgranted,mostofthepresentpeculiaritiesandanomaliesinthedistributionofspeciesmaybedirectlytracedtothem。Inourownislands,withaveryfewtriflingexceptions,everyquadruped,bird,reptile,insect,andplant,isfoundalsoontheadjacentcontinent。InthesmallislandsofSardiniaandCorsica,therearesomequadrupedsandinsects,andmanyplants,quitepeculiar。InCeylon,morecloselyconnectedtoIndiathanBritainistoEurope,manyanimalsandplantsaredifferentfromthosefoundinIndia,andpeculiartotheisland。IntheGalapagosIslands,almosteveryindigenouslivingthingispeculiartothem,thoughcloselyresemblingotherkindsfoundinthenearestpartsoftheAmericancontinent。
  Mostnaturalistsnowadmitthatthesefactscanonlybeexplainedbythegreaterorlesslapseoftimesincetheislandswereupraisedfrombeneaththeocean,orwereseparatedfromthenearestland;andthiswillbegenerallythoughnotalways
  indicatedbythedepthoftheinterveningsea。Theenormousthicknessofmanymarinedepositsthroughwideareasshowsthatsubsidencehasoftencontinuedwithintermittingperiodsofreposeduringepochsofimmenseduration。Thedepthofseaproducedbysuchsubsidencewillthereforegenerallybeameasureoftime;andinlikemanner,thechangewhichorganicformshaveundergoneisameasureoftime。WhenwemakeproperallowanceforthecontinuedintroductionofnewanimalsandplantsfromsurroundingcountriesbythosenaturalmeansofdispersalwhichhavebeensowellexplainedbySirCharlesLyellandMr。Darwin,itisremarkablehowcloselythesetwomeasurescorrespond。
  Britainisseparatedfromthecontinentbyaveryshallowsea,andonlyinaveryfewcaseshaveouranimalsorplantsbeguntoshowadifferencefromthecorrespondingcontinentalspecies。
  CorsicaandSardinia,dividedfromItalybyamuchdeepersea,presentamuchgreaterdifferenceintheirorganicforms。Cuba,separatedfromYucatanbyawideranddeeperstrait,differsmoremarkedly,sothatmostofitsproductionsareofdistinctandpeculiarspecies;whileMadagascar,dividedfromAfricabyadeepchannelthreehundredmileswide,possessessomanypeculiarfeaturesastoindicateseparationataveryremoteantiquity,oreventorenderitdoubtfulwhetherthetwocountrieshaveeverbeenabsolutelyunited。
  ReturningnowtotheMalayArchipelago,wefindthatallthewideexpanseofseawhichdividesJava,Sumatra,andBorneofromeachother,andfromMalaccaandSiam,issoshallowthatshipscananchorinanypartofit,sinceitrarelyexceedsfortyfathomsindepth;andifwegoasfarasthelineofahundredfathoms,weshallincludethePhilippineIslandsandBali,eastofJava。
  If,therefore,theseislandshavebeenseparatedfromeachotherandthecontinentbysubsidenceoftheinterveningtractsofland,weshouldconcludethattheseparationhasbeencomparativelyrecent,sincethedepthtowhichthelandhassubsidedissosmall。ItisalsotoberemarkedthatthegreatchainofactivevolcanoesinSumatraandJavafurnishesuswithasufficientcauseforsuchsubsidence,sincetheenormousmassesofmattertheyhavethrownoutwouldtakeawaythefoundationsofthesurroundingdistrict;andthismaybethetrueexplanationoftheoften-noticedfactthatvolcanoesandvolcanicchainsarealwaysnearthesea。Thesubsidencetheyproducearoundthemwill,intime,makeasea,ifonedoesnotalreadyexist。
  But,itiswhenweexaminethezoologyofthesecountriesthatwefindwhatwemostrequire——evidenceofaverystrikingcharacterthatthesegreatislandsmusthaveonceformedapartofthecontinent,andcouldonlyhavebeenseparatedataveryrecentgeologicalepoch。TheelephantandtapirofSumatraandBorneo,therhinocerosofSumatraandthealliedspeciesofJava,thewildcattleofBorneoandthekindlongsupposedtobepeculiartoJava,arenowallknowntoinhabitsomepartorotherofSouthernAsia。Noneoftheselargeanimalscouldpossiblyhavepassedoverthearmsoftheseawhichnowseparatethesecountries,andtheirpresenceplainlyindicatesthatalandcommunicationmusthaveexistedsincetheoriginofthespecies。
  Amongthesmallermammals,aconsiderableportionarecommontoeachislandandthecontinent;butthevastphysicalchangesthatmusthaveoccurredduringthebreakingupandsubsidenceofsuchextensiveregionshaveledtotheextinctionofsomeinoneormoreoftheislands,andinsomecasesthereseemsalsotohavebeentimeforachangeofspeciestohavetakenplace。Birdsandinsectsillustratethesameview,foreveryfamilyandalmosteverygenusofthesegroupsfoundinanyoftheislandsoccursalsoontheAsiaticcontinent,andinagreatnumberofcasesthespeciesareexactlyidentical。Birdsofferusoneofthebestmeansofdeterminingthelawofdistribution;forthoughatfirstsightitwouldappearthatthewateryboundarieswhichkeepoutthelandquadrupedscouldbeeasilypassedoverbybirds,yetpracticallyitisnotso;forifweleaveouttheaquatictribeswhicharepreeminentlywanderers,itisfoundthattheothersandespeciallythePasseres,ortrueperching-birds,whichformthevastmajorityaregenerallyasstrictlylimitedbystraitsandarmsoftheseaasarequadrupedsthemselves。Asaninstance,amongtheislandsofwhichIamnowspeaking,itisaremarkablefactthatJavapossessesnumerousbirdswhichneverpassovertoSumatra,thoughtheyareseparatedbyastraitonlyfifteenmileswide,andwithislandsinmid-channel。Java,infact,possessesmorebirdsandinsectspeculiartoitselfthaneitherSumatraorBorneo,andthiswouldindicatethatitwasearliestseparatedfromthecontinent;nextinorganicindividualityisBorneo,whileSumatraissonearlyidenticalinallitsanimalformswiththepeninsulaofMalacca,thatwemaysafelyconcludeittohavebeenthemostrecentlydismemberedisland。
  Thegeneralresulttherefore,atwhichwearrive,isthatthegreatislandsofJava,Sumatra,andBorneoresembleintheirnaturalproductionstheadjacentpartsofthecontinent,almostasmuchassuchwidely-separateddistrictscouldbeexpectedtodoeveniftheystillformedapartofAsia;andthiscloseresemblance,joinedwiththefactofthewideextentofseawhichseparatesthembeingsouniformlyandremarkablyshallow,andlastly,theexistenceoftheextensiverangeofvolcanoesinSumatraandJava,whichhavepouredoutvastquantitiesofsubterraneanmatterandhavebuiltupextensiveplateauxandloftymountainranges,thusfurnishingaveracausaforaparallellineofsubsidence——allleadirresistiblytotheconclusionthatataveryrecentgeologicalepoch,thecontinentofAsiaextendedfarbeyonditspresentlimitsinasouth-
  easterlydirection,includingtheislandsofJava,Sumatra,andBorneo,andprobablyreachingasfarasthepresent100-fathomlineofsoundings。
  ThePhilippineIslandsagreeinmanyrespectswithAsiaandtheotherislands,butpresentsomeanomalies,whichseemtoindicatethattheywereseparatedatanearlierperiod,andhavesincebeensubjecttomanyrevolutionsintheirphysicalgeography。
  TurningourattentionnowtotheremainingportionoftheArchipelago,weshallfindthatalltheislandsfromCelebesandLombockeastwardexhibitalmostasclosearesemblancetoAustraliaandNewGuineaastheWesternIslandsdotoAsia。ItiswellknownthatthenaturalproductionsofAustraliadifferfromthoseofAsiamorethanthoseofanyofthefourancientquartersoftheworlddifferfromeachother。Australia,infact,standsalone:itpossessesnoapesormonkeys,nocatsortigers,wolves,bears,orhyenas;nodeerorantelopes,sheeporoxen;noelephant,horse,squirrel,orrabbit;none,inshort,ofthosefamiliartypesofquadrupedwhicharemetwithineveryotherpartoftheworld。Insteadofthese,ithasMarsupialsonly:
  kangaroosandopossums;wombatsandtheduckbilledPlatypus。Inbirdsitisalmostaspeculiar。Ithasnowoodpeckersandnopheasants——familieswhichexistineveryotherpartoftheworld;butinsteadofthemithasthemound-makingbrush-turkeys,thehoneysuckers,thecockatoos,andthebrush-tonguedlories,whicharefoundnowhereelseupontheglobe。AllthesestrikingpeculiaritiesarefoundalsointhoseislandswhichformtheAustro-MalayandivisionoftheArchipelago。
  ThegreatcontrastbetweenthetwodivisionsoftheArchipelagoisnowheresoabruptlyexhibitedasonpassingfromtheislandofBalitothatofLombock,wherethetworegionsareinclosestproximity。InBaliwehavebarbets,fruit-thrushes,andwoodpeckers;onpassingovertoLombocktheseareseennomore,butwehaveabundanceofcockatoos,honeysuckers,andbrush-
  turkeys,whichareequallyunknowninBali,oranyislandfurtherwest。[Iwasinformed,however,thattherewereafewcockatoosatonespotonthewestofBali,showingthattheinterminglingoftheproductionsoftheseislandsisnowgoingon。]Thestraitisherefifteenmileswide,sothatwemaypassintwohoursfromonegreatdivisionoftheearthtoanother,differingasessentiallyintheiranimallifeasEuropedoesfromAmerica。IfwetravelfromJavaorBorneotoCelebesortheMoluccas,thedifferenceisstillmorestriking。Inthefirst,theforestsaboundinmonkeysofmanykinds,wildcats,deer,civets,andotters,andnumerousvarietiesofsquirrelsareconstantlymetwith。Inthelatternoneoftheseoccur;buttheprehensile-
  tailedCuscusisalmosttheonlyterrestrialmammalseen,exceptwildpigs,whicharefoundinalltheislands,anddeerwhichhaveprobablybeenrecentlyintroducedinCelebesandtheMoluccas。ThebirdswhicharemostabundantintheWesternIslandsarewoodpeckers,barbets,trogons,fruit-thrushes,andleaf-thrushes;theyareseendaily,andformthegreatornithologicalfeaturesofthecountry。IntheEasternIslandstheseareabsolutelyunknown,honeysuckersandsmallloriesbeingthemostcommonbirds,sothatthenaturalistfeelshimselfinanewworld,andcanhardlyrealizethathehaspassedfromtheoneregiontotheotherinafewdays,withouteverbeingoutofsightofland。
  Theinferencethatwemustdrawfromthesefactsis,undoubtedly,thatthewholeoftheislandseastwardsbeyondJavaandBorneodoessentiallyformapartofaformerAustralianorPacificcontinent,althoughsomeofthemmayneverhavebeenactuallyjoinedtoit。ThiscontinentmusthavebeenbrokenupnotonlybeforetheWesternIslandswereseparatedfromAsia,butprobablybeforetheextremesoutheasternportionofAsiawasraisedabovethewatersoftheocean;foragreatpartofthelandofBorneoandJavaisknowntobegeologicallyofquiterecentformation,whiletheverygreatdifferenceofspecies,andinmanycasesofgeneraalso,betweentheproductionsoftheEasternMalayIslandsandAustralia,aswellasthegreatdepthoftheseanowseparatingthem,allpointtoacomparativelylongperiodofisolation。
  Itisinterestingtoobserveamongtheislandsthemselveshowashallowseaalwaysintimatesarecentlandconnexion。TheAruIslands,Mysol,andWaigiou,aswellasJobie,agreewithNewGuineaintheirspeciesofmammaliaandbirdsmuchmorecloselythantheydowiththeMoluccas,andwefindthattheyareallunitedtoNewGuineabyashallowsea。Infact,the100-fathomlineroundNewGuineamarksoutaccuratelytherangeofthetrueParadisebirds。
  Itisfurthertobenoted——andthisisaveryinterestingpointinconnectionwiththeoriesofthedependenceofspecialformsoflifeonexternalconditions——thatthisdivisionoftheArchipelagointotworegionscharacterisedbyastrikingdiversityintheirnaturalproductionsdoesnotinanywaycorrespondtothemainphysicalorclimataldivisionsofthesurface。Thegreatvolcanicchainrunsthroughbothparts,andappearstoproducenoeffectinassimilatingtheirproductions。
  BorneocloselyresemblesNewGuineanotonlyinitsvastsizeanditsfreedomfromvolcanoes,butinitsvarietyofgeologicalstructure,itsuniformityofclimate,andthegeneralaspectoftheforestvegetationthatclothesitssurface。TheMoluccasarethecounterpartofthePhilippinesintheirvolcanicstructure,theirextremefertility,theirluxuriantforests,andtheirfrequentearthquakes;andBaliwiththeeastendofJavahasaclimatealmostasdryandasoilalmostasaridasthatofTimor。
  Yetbetweenthesecorrespondinggroupsofislands,constructedasitwereafterthesamepattern,subjectedtothesameclimate,andbathedbythesameoceans,thereexiststhegreatestpossiblecontrastwhenwecomparetheiranimalproductions。Nowheredoestheancientdoctrine——thatdifferencesorsimilaritiesinthevariousformsoflifethatinhabitdifferentcountriesareduetocorrespondingphysicaldifferencesorsimilaritiesinthecountriesthemselves——meetwithsodirectandpalpableacontradiction。BorneoandNewGuinea,asalikephysicallyastwodistinctcountriescanbe,arezoologicallywideasthepolesasunder;whileAustralia,withitsdrywinds,itsopenplains,itsstonydeserts,anditstemperateclimate,yetproducesbirdsandquadrupedswhicharecloselyrelatedtothoseinhabitingthehotdampluxuriantforests,whicheverywhereclothetheplainsandmountainsofNewGuinea。
  InordertoillustratemoreclearlythemeansbywhichIsupposethisgreatcontrasthasbeenbroughtabout,letusconsiderwhatwouldoccuriftwostronglycontrasteddivisionsoftheearthwere,bynaturalmeans,broughtintoproximity。NotwopartsoftheworlddiffersoradicallyintheirproductionsasAsiaandAustralia,butthedifferencebetweenAfricaandSouthAmericaisalsoverygreat,andthesetworegionswillwellservetoillustratethequestionweareconsidering。Ontheonesidewehavebaboons,lions,elephants,buffaloes,andgiraffes;ontheotherspider-monkeys,pumas,tapirs,anteaters,andsloths;whileamongbirds,thehornbills,turacos,orioles,andhoneysuckersofAfricacontraststronglywiththetoucans,macaws,chatterers,andhummingbirdsofAmerica。
  NowletusendeavourtoimaginewhatitisveryprobablemayoccurinfutureagesthataslowupheavalofthebedoftheAtlanticshouldtakeplace,whileatthesametimeearthquake-
  shocksandvolcanicactiononthelandshouldcauseincreasedvolumesofsedimenttobepoureddownbytherivers,sothatthetwocontinentsshouldgraduallyspreadoutbytheadditionofnewly-formedlands,andthusreducetheAtlanticwhichnowseparatesthem,toanarmoftheseaafewhundredmileswide。Atthesametimewemaysupposeislandstobeupheavedinmid-
  channel;and,asthesubterraneanforcesvariedinintensity,andshiftedtheirpointsofgreatestaction,theseislandswouldsometimesbecomeconnectedwiththelandononesideorotherofthestrait,andatothertimesagainbeseparatedfromit。
  Severalislandswouldatonetimebejoinedtogether,atanotherwouldbebrokenupagain,untilatlast,aftermanylongagesofsuchintermittentaction,wemighthaveanirregulararchipelagoofislandsfillinguptheoceanchanneloftheAtlantic,inwhoseappearanceandarrangementwecoulddiscovernothingtotelluswhichhadbeenconnectedwithAfricaandwhichwithAmerica。Theanimalsandplantsinhabitingtheseislandswould,however,certainlyrevealthisportionoftheirformerhistory。OnthoseislandswhichhadeverformedapartoftheSouthAmericancontinent,weshouldbesuretofindsuchcommonbirdsaschatterersandtoucansandhummingbirds,andsomeofthepeculiarAmericanquadrupeds;whileonthosewhichhadbeenseparatedfromAfrica,hornbills,orioles,andhoneysuckerswouldascertainlybefound。Someportionoftheupraisedlandmightatdifferenttimeshavehadatemporaryconnectionwithbothcontinents,andwouldthencontainacertainamountofmixtureinitslivinginhabitants。SuchseemstohavebeenthecasewiththeislandsofCelebesandthePhilippines。Otherislands,again,thoughinsuchcloseproximityasBaliandLombock,mighteachexhibitanalmostunmixedsampleoftheproductionsofthecontinentsofwhichtheyhaddirectlyorindirectlyonceformedapart。
  IntheMalayArchipelagowehave,Ibelieve,acaseexactlyparalleltothatwhichIhaveheresupposed。Wehaveindicationsofavastcontinent,withapeculiarfaunaandflorahavingbeengraduallyandirregularlybrokenup;theislandofCelebesprobablymarkingitsfurthestwestwardextension,beyondwhichwasawideocean。AtthesametimeAsiaappearstohavebeenextendingitslimitsinasoutheastdirection,firstinanunbrokenmass,thenseparatedintoislandsaswenowseeit,andalmostcomingintoactualcontactwiththescatteredfragmentsofthegreatsouthernland。
  Fromthisoutlineofthesubject,itwillbeevidenthowimportantanadjunctNaturalHistoryistoGeology;notonlyininterpretingthefragmentsofextinctanimalsfoundintheearth'scrust,butindeterminingpastchangesinthesurfacewhichhaveleftnogeologicalrecord。Itiscertainlyawonderfulandunexpectedfactthatanaccurateknowledgeofthedistributionofbirdsandinsectsshouldenableustomapoutlandsandcontinentswhichdisappearedbeneaththeoceanlongbeforetheearliesttraditionsofthehumanrace。Whereverthegeologistcanexploretheearth'ssurface,hecanreadmuchofitspasthistory,andcandetermineapproximatelyitslatestmovementsaboveandbelowthesea-level;butwhereveroceansandseasnowextend,hecandonothingbutspeculateontheverylimiteddataaffordedbythedepthofthewaters。Herethenaturaliststepsin,andenableshimtofillupthisgreatgapinthepasthistoryoftheearth。
  Oneofthechiefobjectsofmytravelswastoobtainevidenceofthisnature;andmysearchaftersuchevidencehasbeenrewardedbygreatsuccess,sothatIhavebeenabletotraceoutwithsomeprobabilitythepastchangeswhichoneofthemostinterestingpartsoftheearthhasundergone。Itmaybethoughtthatthefactsandgeneralizationsheregivenwouldhavebeenmoreappropriatelyplacedattheendratherthanatthebeginningofanarrativeofthetravelswhichsuppliedthefacts。Insomecasesthismightbeso,butIhavefounditimpossibletogivesuchanaccountasIdesireofthenaturalhistoryofthenumerousislandsandgroupsofislandsintheArchipelago,withoutconstantreferencetothesegeneralizationswhichaddsomuchtotheirinterest。Havinggiventhisgeneralsketchofthesubject,Ishallbeabletoshowhowthesameprinciplescanbeappliedtotheindividualislandsofagroup,astothewholeArchipelago;
  andtherebymakemyaccountofthemanynewandcuriousanimalswhichinhabitthemboth,moreinterestingandmoreinstructivethaniftreatedasmereisolatedfacts。
  ContrastsofRaces——BeforeIhadarrivedattheconvictionthattheeasternandwesternhalvesoftheArchipelagobelongedtodistinctprimaryregionsoftheearth,IhadbeenledtogroupthenativesoftheArchipelagoundertworadicallydistinctraces。InthisIdifferedfrommostethnologistswhohadbeforewrittenonthesubject;forithadbeenthealmostuniversalcustomtofollowWilliamvonHumboldtandPritchard,inclassingalltheOceanicracesasmodificationsofonetype。Observationsoonshowedme,however,thatMalaysandPapuansdifferedradicallyineveryphysical,mental,andmoralcharacter;andmoredetailedresearch,continuedforeightyears,satisfiedmethatunderthesetwoforms,astypes,thewholeofthepeoplesoftheMalayArchipelagoandPolynesiacouldbeclassified。Ondrawingthelinewhichseparatestheseraces,itisfoundtocomeneartothatwhichdividesthezoologicalregions,butsomewhateastwardofit;acircumstancewhichappearstomeverysignificantofthesamecauseshavinginfluencedthedistributionofmankindthathavedeterminedtherangeofotheranimalforms。
  Thereasonwhyexactlythesamelinedoesnotlimitbothissufficientlyintelligible。Manhasmeansoftraversingtheseawhichanimalsdonotpossess;andasuperiorracehaspowertopressoutorassimilateaninferiorone。ThemaritimeenterpriseandhighercivilizationoftheMalayraceshaveenabledthemtooverrunaportionoftheadjacentregion,inwhichtheyhaveentirelysupplantedtheindigenousinhabitantsifiteverpossessedany;andtospreadmuchoftheirlanguage,theirdomesticanimals,andtheircustomsfaroverthePacific,intoislandswheretheyhavebutslightly,ornotatall,modifiedthephysicalormoralcharacteristicsofthepeople。
  Ibelieve,therefore,thatallthepeoplesofthevariousislandscanbegroupedeitherwiththeMalaysorthePapuans;andthatthesetwohavenotraceableaffinitytoeachother。Ibelieve,further,thatalltheraceseastofthelineIhavedrawnhavemoreaffinityforeachotherthantheyhaveforanyoftheraceswestofthatline;that,infact,theAsiaticracesincludetheMalays,andallhaveacontinentalorigin,whilethePacificraces,includingalltotheeastoftheformerexceptperhapssomeintheNorthernPacific,arederived,notfromanyexistingcontinent,butfromlandswhichnowexistorhaverecentlyexistedinthePacificOcean。ThesepreliminaryobservationswillenablethereaderbettertoapprehendtheimportanceIattachtothedetailsofphysicalformormoralcharacter,whichIshallgiveindescribingtheinhabitantsofmanyoftheislands。
  CHAPTERII。
  SINGAPORE。
  ASKETCHOFTHETOWNANDISLANDASSEENDURINGSEVERALVISITS
  FROM1854TO1862。
  FEWplacesaremoreinterestingtoatravellerfromEuropethanthetownandislandofSingapore,furnishing,asitdoes,examplesofavarietyofEasternraces,andofmanydifferentreligionsandmodesoflife。Thegovernment,thegarrison,andthechiefmerchantsareEnglish;butthegreatmassofthepopulationisChinese,includingsomeofthewealthiestmerchants,theagriculturistsoftheinterior,andmostofthemechanicsandlabourers。ThenativeMalaysareusuallyfishermenandboatmen,andtheyformthemainbodyofthepolice。ThePortugueseofMalaccasupplyalargenumberoftheclerksandsmallermerchants。TheKlingsofWesternIndiaareanumerousbodyofMahometans,and,withmanyArabs,arepettymerchantsandshopkeepers。ThegroomsandwashermenareallBengalees,andthereisasmallbuthighlyrespectableclassofParseemerchants。Besidesthese,therearenumbersofJavanesesailorsanddomesticservants,aswellastradersfromCelebes,Bali,andmanyotherislandsoftheArchipelago。Theharbouriscrowdedwithmen-of-warandtradingvesselsofmanyEuropeannations,andhundredsofMalayprausandChinesejunks,fromvesselsofseveralhundredtonsburthendowntolittlefishingboatsandpassengersampans;andthetowncompriseshandsomepublicbuildingsandchurches,Mahometanmosques,Hindutemples,Chinesejoss-houses,goodEuropeanhouses,massivewarehouses,queeroldKlingandChinabazaars,andlongsuburbsofChineseandMalaycottages。
  ByfarthemostconspicuousofthevariouskindsofpeopleinSingapore,andthosewhichmostattractthestranger'sattention,aretheChinese,whosenumbersandincessantactivitygivetheplaceverymuchtheappearanceofatowninChina。TheChinesemerchantisgenerallyafatround-facedmanwithanimportantandbusiness-likelook。Hewearsthesamestyleofclothingloosewhitesmock,andblueorblacktrousersasthemeanestcoolie,butoffinermaterials,andisalwayscleanandneat;andhislongtailtippedwithredsilkhangsdowntohisheels。Hehasahandsomewarehouseorshopintownandagoodhouseinthecountry。Hekeepsafinehorseandgig,andeveryeveningmaybeseentakingadrivebareheadedtoenjoythecoolbreeze。Heisrich——heownsseveralretailshopsandtradingschooners,helendsmoneyathighinterestandongoodsecurity,hemakeshardbargains,andgetsfatterandrichereveryyear。
  IntheChinesebazaararehundredsofsmallshopsinwhichamiscellaneouscollectionofhardwareanddrygoodsaretobefound,andwheremanythingsaresoldwonderfullycheap。Youmaybuygimletsatapennyeach,whitecottonthreadatfourballsforahalfpenny,andpenknives,corkscrews,gunpowder,writing-
  paper,andmanyotherarticlesascheaporcheaperthanyoucanpurchasetheminEngland。Theshopkeeperisverygood-natured;hewillshowyoueverythinghehas,anddoesnotseemtomindifyoubuynothing。Hebatesalittle,butnotsomuchastheKlings,whoalmostalwaysasktwicewhattheyarewillingtotake。Ifyoubuyafewthingsfromhim,hewillspeaktoyouafterwardseverytimeyoupasshisshop,askingyoutowalkinandsitdown,ortakeacupoftea;andyouwonderhowhecangetalivingwheresomanysellthesametriflingarticles。
  Thetailorssitatatable,notonone;andboththeyandtheshoemakersworkwellandcheaply。Thebarbershaveplentytodo,shavingheadsandcleaningears;forwhichlatteroperationtheyhaveagreatarrayoflittletweezers,picks,andbrushes。Intheoutskirtsofthetownarescoresofcarpentersandblacksmiths。
  Theformerseemchieflytomakecoffinsandhighlypaintedanddecoratedclothes-boxes。Thelatteraremostlygun-makers,andborethebarrelsofgunsbyhandoutofsolidbarsofiron。Atthistediousoperationtheymaybeseeneveryday,andtheymanagetofinishoffagunwithaflintlockveryhandsomely。Allaboutthestreetsaresellersofwater,vegetables,fruit,soup,andagar-agarajellymadeofseaweed,whohavemanycriesasunintelligibleasthoseofLondon。Otherscarryaportablecooking-apparatusonapolebalancedbyatableattheotherend,andserveupamealofshellfish,rice,andvegetablesfortwoorthreehalfpence——whilecooliesandboatmenwaitingtobehiredareeverywheretobemetwith。
  IntheinterioroftheislandtheChinesecutdownforesttreesinthejungle,andsawthemupintoplanks;theycultivatevegetables,whichtheybringtomarket;andtheygrowpepperandgambir,whichformimportantarticlesofexport。TheFrenchJesuitshaveestablishedmissionsamongtheseinlandChinese,whichseemverysuccessful。IlivedforseveralweeksatatimewiththemissionaryatBukit-tima,aboutthecentreoftheisland,whereaprettychurchhasbeenbuiltandthereareabout300converts。Whilethere,ImetamissionarywhohadjustarrivedfromTonquin,wherehehadbeenlivingformanyyears。
  TheJesuitsstilldotheirworkthoroughlyasofold。InCochinChina,Tonquin,andChina,whereallChristianteachersareobligedtoliveinsecret,andareliabletopersecution,expulsion,andsometimesdeath,everyprovince——eventhosefarthestintheinterior——hasapermanentJesuitmissionestablishmentconstantlykeptupbyfreshaspirants,whoaretaughtthelanguagesofthecountriestheyaregoingtoatPenangorSingapore。InChinatherearesaidtobenearamillionconverts;inTonquinandCochinChina,morethanhalfamillion。
  Onesecretofthesuccessofthesemissionsistherigideconomypractisedintheexpenditureofthefunds。Amissionaryisallowedabout£30。ayear,onwhichhelivesinwhatevercountryhemaybe。Thisrendersitpossibletosupportalargenumberofmissionarieswithverylimitedmeans;andthenatives,seeingtheirteacherslivinginpovertyandwithnoneoftheluxuriesoflife,areconvincedthattheyaresincereinwhattheyteach,andhavereallygivenuphomeandfriendsandeaseandsafety,forthegoodofothers。Nowondertheymakeconverts,foritmustbeagreatblessingtothepoorpeopleamongwhomtheylabourtohaveamanamongthemtowhomtheycangoinanytroubleordistress,whowillcomfortandadvisethem,whovisitstheminsickness,whorelievestheminwant,andwhotheyseelivingfromday-to-dayindangerofpersecutionanddeath——entirelyfortheirsakes。
  MyfriendatBukit-timawastrulyafathertohisflock。HepreachedtotheminChineseeverySunday,andhadeveningsfordiscussionandconversationonreligionduringtheweek。Hehadaschooltoteachtheirchildren。Hishousewasopentothemdayandnight。Ifamancametohimandsaid,"Ihavenoriceformyfamilytoeattoday,"hewouldgivehimhalfofwhathehadinthehouse,howeverlittlethatmightbe。Ifanothersaid,"Ihavenomoneytopaymydebt,"hewouldgivehimhalfthecontentsofhispurse,wereithislastdollar。So,whenhewashimselfinwant,hewouldsendtosomeofthewealthiestamonghisflock,andsay,"Ihavenoriceinthehouse,"or"Ihavegivenawaymymoney,andaminwantofsuchandsucharticles。"Theresultwasthathisflocktrustedandlovedhim,fortheyfeltsurethathewastheirtruefriend,andhadnoulteriordesignsinlivingamongthem。
  TheislandofSingaporeconsistsofamultitudeofsmallhills,threeorfourhundredfeethigh,thesummitsofmanyofwhicharestillcoveredwithvirginforest。Themission-houseatBukit-timawassurroundedbyseveralofthesewood-toppedhills,whichweremuchfrequentedbywoodcuttersandsawyers,andofferedmeanexcellentcollectinggroundforinsects。Hereandthere,too,weretigerpits,carefullycoveredoverwithsticksandleaves,andsowellconcealed,thatinseveralcasesIhadanarrowescapefromfallingintothem。Theyareshapedlikeanironfurnace,wideratthebottomthanthetop,andareperhapsfifteenortwentyfeetdeepsothatitwouldbealmostimpossibleforapersonunassistedtogetoutofone。Formerlyasharpstakewasstuckerectinthebottom;butafteranunfortunatetravellerhadbeenkilledbyfallingonone,itsusewasforbidden。TherearealwaysafewtigersroamingaboutSingapore,andtheykillonanaverageaChinamaneveryday,principallythosewhoworkinthegambirplantations,whicharealwaysmadeinnewly-clearedjungle。Weheardatigerroaronceortwiceintheevening,anditwasrathernervousworkhuntingforinsectsamongthefallentrunksandoldsawpitswhenoneofthesesavageanimalsmightbelurkingcloseby,awaitinganopportunitytospringuponus。
  Severalhoursinthemiddleofeveryfinedaywerespentinthesepatchesofforest,whichweredelightfullycoolandshadybycontrastwiththebareopencountrywehadtowalkovertoreachthem。Thevegetationwasmostluxuriant,comprisingenormousforesttrees,aswellasavarietyofferns,caladiums,andotherundergrowth,andabundanceofclimbingrattanpalms。Insectswereexceedinglyabundantandveryinteresting,andeverydayfurnishedscoresofnewandcuriousforms。
  InabouttwomonthsIobtainednolessthan700speciesofbeetles,alargeproportionofwhichwerequitenew,andamongthemwere130distinctkindsoftheelegantLongicornsCerambycidae,somuchesteemedbycollectors。Almostallthesewerecollectedinonepatchofjungle,notmorethanasquaremileinextent,andinallmysubsequenttravelsintheEastI
  rarelyifevermetwithsoproductiveaspot。Thisexceedingproductivenesswasdueinpartnodoubttosomefavourableconditionsinthesoil,climate,andvegetation,andtotheseasonbeingverybrightandsunny,withsufficientshowerstokeepeverythingfresh。Butitwasalsoinagreatmeasuredependent,Ifeelsure,onthelaboursoftheChinesewood-
  cutters。Theyhadbeenatworkhereforseveralyears,andduringallthattimehadfurnishedacontinualsupplyofdryanddeadanddecayingleavesandbark,togetherwithabundanceofwoodandsawdust,forthenourishmentofinsectsandtheirlarvae。Thishadledtotheassemblageofagreatvarietyofspeciesinalimitedspace,andIwasthefirstnaturalistwhohadcometoreaptheharvesttheyhadprepared。Inthesameplace,andduringmywalksinotherdirections,Iobtainedafaircollectionofbutterfliesandofotherordersofinsects,sothatonthewholeIwasquitesatisfiedwiththese——myfirstattemptstogainaknowledgeoftheNaturalHistoryoftheMalayArchipelago。
  CHAPTERIII。
  MALACCAANDMOUNTOPHIR。
  JULYTOSEPTEMBER,1854。
  BIRDSandmostotherkindsofanimalsbeingscarceatSingapore,IleftitinJulyforMalacca,whereIspentmorethantwomonthsintheinterior,andmadeanexcursiontoMountOphir。TheoldandpicturesquetownofMalaccaiscrowdedalongthebanksofthesmallriver,andconsistsofnarrowstreetsofshopsanddwellinghouses,occupiedbythedescendantsofthePortuguese,andbyChinamen。InthesuburbsarethehousesoftheEnglishofficialsandofafewPortuguesemerchants,embeddedingrovesofpalmsandfruit-trees,whosevariedandbeautifulfoliagefurnishesapleasingrelieftotheeye,aswellasmostgratefulshade。
  Theoldfort,thelargeGovernmentHouse,andtheruinsofacathedralattesttheformerwealthandimportanceofthisplace,whichwasonceasmuchthecentreofEasterntradeasSingaporeisnow。ThefollowingdescriptionofitbyLinschott,whowrotetwohundredandseventyyearsago,strikinglyexhibitsthechangeithasundergone:
  "MalaccaisinhabitedbythePortugueseandbynativesofthecountry,calledMalays。ThePortuguesehavehereafortress,asatMozambique,andthereisnofortressinalltheIndies,afterthoseofMozambiqueandOrmuz,wherethecaptainsperformtheirdutybetterthaninthisone。ThisplaceisthemarketofallIndia,ofChina,oftheMoluccas,andofotherislandsaroundabout——fromallwhichplaces,aswellasfromBanda,Java,Sumatra,Siam,Pegu,Bengal,Coromandel,andIndia——arriveshipswhichcomeandgoincessantly,chargedwithaninfinityofmerchandises。TherewouldbeinthisplaceamuchgreaternumberofPortugueseifitwerenotfortheinconvenience,andunhealthinessoftheair,whichishurtfulnotonlytostrangers,butalsotonativesofthecountry。Thenceitisthatallwholiveinthecountrypaytributeoftheirhealth,sufferingfromacertaindisease,whichmakesthemloseeithertheirskinortheirhair。Andthosewhoescapeconsideritamiracle,whichoccasionsmanytoleavethecountry,whiletheardentdesireofgaininducesotherstorisktheirhealth,andendeavourtoenduresuchanatmosphere。Theoriginofthistown,asthenativessay,wasverysmall,onlyhavingatthebeginning,byreasonoftheunhealthinessoftheair,butsixorsevenfishermenwhoinhabitedit。ButthenumberwasincreasedbythemeetingoffishermenfromSiam,Pegu,andBengal,whocameandbuiltacity,andestablishedapeculiarlanguage,drawnfromthemostelegantnodesofspeakingofothernations,sothatinfactthe,languageoftheMalaysisatpresentthemostrefined,exact,andcelebratedofalltheEast。ThenameofMalaccawasgiventothistown,which,bytheconvenienceofitssituation,inashorttimegrewtosuchwealth,thatitdoesnotyieldtothemostpowerfultownsandregionsaroundabout。Thenatives,bothmenandwomen,areverycourteousandarereckonedthemostskillfulintheworldincompliments,andstudymuchtocomposeandrepeatversesandlove-songs。TheirlanguageisinvoguethroughtheIndies,astheFrenchishere。
  Atpresent,avesseloverahundredtonshardlyeverentersitsport,andthetradeisentirelyconfinedtoafewpettyproductsoftheforests,andtothefruit,whichthetrees,plantedbytheoldPortuguese,nowproducefortheenjoymentoftheinhabitantsofSingapore。Althoughrathersubjecttofevers,itisnotatpresentconsideredveryunhealthy。
  ThepopulationofMalaccaconsistsofseveralraces。TheubiquitousChineseareperhapsthemostnumerous,keepinguptheirmanners,customs,andlanguage;theindigenousMalaysarenextinpointofnumbers,andtheirlanguageistheLingua-francaoftheplace。NextcomethedescendantsofthePortuguese——amixed,degraded,anddegeneraterace,butwhostillkeepuptheuseoftheirmothertongue,thoughruefullymutilatedingrammar;
  andthentherearetheEnglishrulers,andthedescendantsoftheDutch,whoallspeakEnglish。ThePortuguesespokenatMalaccaisausefulphilologicalphenomenon。Theverbshavemostlylosttheirinflections,andoneformdoesforallmoods,tenses,numbers,andpersons。Euvai,servesfor"Igo,""Iwent,"or,"I
  willgo。"Adjectives,too,havebeendeprivedoftheirfeminineandpluralterminations,sothatthelanguageisreducedtoamarvelloussimplicity,and,withtheadmixtureofafewMalaywords,becomesratherpuzzlingtoonewhohasheardonlythepureLusitanian。
  Incostumetheseseveralpeoplesareasvariedasintheirspeech。TheEnglishpreservethetight-fittingcoat,waistcoat,andtrousers,andtheabominablehatandcravat;thePortuguesepatronisealightjacket,or,morefrequently,shirtandtrousersonly;theMalaysweartheirnationaljacketandsarongakindofkilt,withloosedrawers;whiletheChineseneverdepartintheleastfromtheirnationaldress,which,indeed,itisimpossibletoimproveforatropicalclimate,whetherasregardscomfortorappearance。Theloosely-hangingtrousers,andneatwhitehalf-
  shirthalfjacket,areexactlywhatadressshouldbeinthislowlatitude。
  IengagedtwoPortuguesetoaccompanymeintotheinterior;oneasacook,theothertoshootandskinbirds,whichisquiteatradeinMalacca。IfirststayedafortnightatavillagecalledGading,whereIwasaccommodatedinthehouseofsomeChineseconverts,towhomIwasrecommendedbytheJesuitmissionaries。
  Thehousewasamereshed,butitwaskeptclean,andImademyselfsufficientlycomfortable。Myhostswereformingapepperandgambirplantation,andintheimmediateneighbourhoodwereextensivetin-washings,employingoverathousandChinese。Thetinisobtainedintheformofblackgrainsfrombedsofquartzosesand,andismeltedintoingotsinrudeclayfurnaces。
  Thesoilseemedpoor,andtheforestwasverydensewithundergrowth,andnotatallproductiveofinsects;but,ontheotherhand,birdswereabundant,andIwasatonceintroducedtotherichornithologicaltreasuresoftheMalayanregion。
  TheveryfirsttimeIfiredmygunIbroughtdownoneofthemostcuriousandbeautifuloftheMalaccabirds,theblue-billedgaperCymbirhynchusmacrorhynchus,calledbytheMalaysthe"Rainbird。"Itisaboutthesizeofastarling,blackandrichclaretcolourwithwhiteshoulderstripes,andaverylargeandbroadbillofthemostpurecobaltblueaboveandorangebelow,whiletheirisisemeraldgreen。Astheskinsdrythebillturnsdullblack,buteventhenthebirdishandsome。Whenfreshkilled,thecontrastofthevividbluewiththerichcoloursoftheplumageisremarkablystrikingandbeautiful。ThelovelyEasterntrogons,withtheirrich-brownbacks,beautifullypencilledwings,andcrimsonbreasts,werealsosoonobtained,aswellasthelargegreenbarbetsMegalaemaversicolor——fruit-
  eatingbirds,somethinglikesmalltoucans,withashort,straightbristlybill,andwhoseheadandneckarevariegatedwithpatchesofthemostvividblueandcrimson。Adayortwoafter,myhunterbroughtmeaspecimenofthegreengaperCalyptomenaviridis,whichislikeasmallcock-of-the-rock,butentirelyofthemostvividgreen,delicatelymarkedonthewingswithblackbars。Handsomewoodpeckersandgaykingfishers,greenandbrowncuckooswithvelvetyredfacesandgreenbeaks,red-breasteddovesandmetallichoneysuckers,werebroughtindayafterday,andkeptmeinacontinualstateofpleasurableexcitement。Afterafortnightoneofmyservantswasseizedwithfever,andonreturningtoMalacca,thesamedisease,attackedtheotheraswellasmyself。Byaliberaluseofquinine,Isoonrecovered,andobtainingothermen,wenttostayattheGovernmentbungalowofAyer-panas,accompaniedbyayounggentleman,anativeoftheplace,whohadatastefornaturalhistory。
  AtAyer-panaswehadacomfortablehousetostayin,andplentyofroomtodryandpreserveourspecimens;but,owingtotherebeingnoindustriousChinesetocutdowntimber,insectswerecomparativelyscarce,withtheexceptionofbutterflies,ofwhichIformedaveryfinecollection。ThemannerinwhichIobtainedonefineinsectwascurious,andindicatesbowfragmentaryandimperfectatraveller'scollectionmustnecessarilybe。Iwasoneafternoonwalkingalongafavouriteroadthroughtheforest,withmygun,whenIsawabutterflyontheground。Itwaslarge,handsome,andquitenewtome,andIgotclosetoitbeforeitflewaway。Ithenobservedthatithadbeensettlingonthedungofsomecarnivorousanimal。Thinkingitmightreturntothesamespot,Inextdayafterbreakfasttookmynet,andasIapproachedtheplacewasdelightedtoseethesamebutterflysittingonthesamepieceofdung,andsucceededincapturingit。Itwasanentirelynewspeciesofgreatbeauty,andhasbeennamedbyMr。
  Hewitson——Nymphaliscalydona。Ineversawanotherspecimenofit,anditwasonlyaftertwelveyearshadelapsedthatasecondindividualreachedthiscountryfromthenorthwesternpartofBorneo。