Macassar, at the south-west end of Celebes, had been visited; a Dutch
town, very neat and clean, having covered drains down the streets which
carry away all impurities. On one side along the shore, forming a
straight street a mile in length, are a number of shops, warehouses, and
native bazaars; on the other, two shorter streets form the old Dutch
town, with most of the private houses of the Europeans. It is enclosed
by gates, with a fort at the southern end. Round the town extend
rice-fields, in the rainy season presenting a mass of the most vivid
green. Beyond, are numerous native villages embosomed in fruit-trees.
We were occasionally on shore, and saw many objects of interest, but Mr
Hooker made a long excursion into the interior, of which he gave us an
account on his return. We caught sight of two of the animals peculiar
to Celebes. One of them was a curious baboon-like monkey, about the
size of a spaniel, and of a jet-black colour. It had the projecting
dog-like muzzle and overhanging brows of a baboon, with red callosities,
and a scarcely visible fleshy tail, about an inch long. A large band of
them visited the garden of the merchant at whose house we were stopping,
and were busily employed in carrying off the fruit, when they were
disturbed by the servants, who rushed out with guns and sticks to drive
them off.
Next day we started with our friend into the neighbouring forest, in
chase of the _babirusa_ or pig-deer. After a long search, we came up
with one, to which, the dogs gave chase; and it being brought to bay,
was killed. It resembled a pig in general appearance, but had long
slender legs and curved tusks like horns. Those of the lower jaw are
very long and sharp, but the upper ones, instead of growing downwards as
those of a boar generally do, curve upwards out of bony sockets through
the skin on each side of the snout till they meet the eyes. Those of
the creature we killed, which was an old one, were nearly ten inches in
length. Our Dutch friend stated that they were so formed to guard its
eyes from the thorns and spines which it meets with whilst searching for
fallen fruits among the thickets of ratan and other spiny plants. Mr
Hooker, however, said he thought they had once been of use to the animal
in digging, but its mode of life having been somewhat changed, they had
grown up into their present curious form. Instead of digging for food
with its snout as other pigs do, it feeds on fallen fruits from various
trees. We saw also a number of butterflies, which Mr Hooker said were
peculiar to Celebes. Besides the babirusa, herds of wild pigs of large
size abound in the northern forests, and numerous jungle-fowl,
hornbills, and great fruit-pigeons. Buffaloes are generally employed on
the farms, and we drank buffalo milk, which was brought into the house
in bamboo buckets. It was as thick as cream and in order to keep it
fluid during the day it was diluted with water.
Among the many curious trees we saw, was the sugar-palm, from which the
usual beverage of the country is made--called sagueir. It is as strong
as ordinary beer. The sugar makes a very nice sweetmeat, and Mr Hooker
said it put him very much in mind of the North American maple sugar.
We were introduced also to a very curious animal, somewhat smaller than
a Shetland cow, called the sapi-utan. It has long straight horns, which
are ringed at the base and slope backwards over the neck. We were told
that it inhabits the mountains, and is never found where deer exist.
There seems a doubt whether it should be classed with the ox, buffalo,
or antelope. The head is black, with a white mark over each eye, one on
the cheek, and another on the throat. We saw also a couple of maleos, a
species of brush-turkey, allied to the _megapodi_ or mound-making birds
which we had met with in our island. They live also in the northern
part of Celebes, and come down to the shore in order to lay their eggs
in the black, hot, volcanic sand. It is a handsome bird, the plumage
glossy black and rosy white, with a helmeted head, and elevated tail.
Its walk is peculiarly stately. The sexes are very much alike. Two or
more birds will come down, and the female deposits a single egg in a
hole which the male assists her in making, about a foot deep in the
sand, and having covered it up, returns to the forest. At the end of
ten days or so she comes to the same spot and lays another egg. Each
can lay, it is said, six or eight eggs during the season. Frequently
two or three hens deposit their eggs in the same hole. The colour of
the shell is a pale brick-red. The eggs being thus deposited, the
parents take no further care of their offspring. The young birds, after
breaking their shell, work their way up through the sand, just as the
young megapodi do, and run off at once to the forest. A friend of Mr
Hooker's presented him with some, which had been carefully covered up,
and had just arrived. We took them on board the brig. The next
morning, when far out of sight of land, we heard a strange noise in the
cabin, and looking in, great was our surprise to see a covey of little
birds flying right across it. They had been hatched during the night,
and following the instincts of their nature, were making their way, as
they supposed, to their future forest home. We fed them on little bits
of chopped fruit, and such things as Mr Hooker thought would suit their
appetites.
"But what can induce the parents thus to leave their eggs?" asked Emily.
"I thought it was the nature of creatures to look after their young."
"If it was for their benefit, so it would have been," he answered; "but
I suspect that these large birds, requiring a considerable amount of
food, which consists entirely of fallen fruits, could only find it by
roaming over a wide extent of country. If, therefore, a large number
came down to this particular beach, which seems the only one fit for
hatching them during the breeding season, they would perish for want of
food. Providence, therefore, has so arranged that they should return to
the districts where they can find their food; whilst the young ones, not
requiring so much, are able to make their way as their strength will
allow in the same direction."
We had a full-grown stuffed maleo on board. Its claws were sharp and
straight, and very different from those of the megapodi. The toes,
however, were strongly webbed at the base; the leg rather long, forming
a powerful instrument for scratching away the loose sand, which those
who have watched them say they throw up in a complete shower when
digging their holes.
We had been standing on for some time to the west, a cast of the lead
showing us that we were in fifty fathoms--the shallow sea which
separates Borneo from Java and Sumatra. Our compass had never been very
trustworthy. An injury it had received had still further put it out of
order, while thick cloudy weather had prevented us from taking an
observation. Mr Hooker had also for some days been unwell. He had
caught a fever while we were at Macassar, the effects of which he began
to feel directly he came on board, and we were now very anxious about
him. Several of the men also had been ill for some time before we
reached Macassar. Two of them died. I will not stop to describe the
particulars of their funeral. We felt very sad as we committed them to
their ocean grave. Mr Hooker, who had studied medicine, was too ill to
visit the rest. He, however, got Mr Thudicumb and I to describe their
symptoms as far as we were able, and sent the medicine accordingly. As
soon as he was able to move he insisted upon being carried forward to
see the men, when, somewhat altering his treatment of them, they
appeared to be getting better.
I was on deck one day, and Roger Trew was aloft, when he shouted out,
"Land ahead!" Not knowing exactly our position, we were glad that it
had been seen during the day. I ran aloft, and after a time I could
distinguish the land stretching away to the north and south, where it
seemed to terminate. We therefore concluded that it was an island.
This became a certainty as we stood on, as no land could be
distinguished beyond the two distant points we had discovered. We were
rather nearest the north end, and Mr Thudicumb determined therefore to
go round it. It was a land of dense forest, with here and there
mountainous points; high bold capes standing out into the ocean,
affording every possible variety of scenery.
"Why, there must be a fort somewhere thereabouts," observed Mr
Thudicumb, who had been examining it through his glass. "I see a flag
flying!"
There, sure enough, as we drew nearer, we discovered on the summit of a
bold rock, standing out into the sea, a flagstaff with a large flag
flying from it. What the flag was, we could not well make out, from its
somewhat battered condition. As we stood on, a bay opened out, the
headland I have spoken of forming the westernmost point. Mr Thudicumb
considered that it would afford sufficient shelter to us should we bring
up. He was anxious to do this, that we might go ashore and ascertain
whether any Europeans were living there.
"Perhaps some people have been cast away," he observed, "and have
hoisted the flag as a signal to any passers-by."
Mr Hooker was still too weak to go ashore without inconvenience. Mr
Thudicumb therefore ordered Dick Tarbox, myself, Roger Trew, and three
others, to go in the boat, well armed with muskets and pistols, and to
ascertain the state of the case.
"Now, take care," said Mr Thudicumb, "that you are not led into an
ambush. Some of these islands are the dens of pirates, or savages, who
are no better, and still more treacherous. Keep a bright look-out on
either side as you advance, and see that you are able to get back to the
boat without any difficulty. If there is an European there, he is sure
to come down when he sees the boat pull in; so if you find no one at
first, you must be doubly careful not to be caught in a trap."
Emily and Grace stood at the gangway as we pulled off.
"Oh, do take care, Walter, that those horrid savages do not get hold of
you again!" exclaimed Emily.
"Pray, do! pray, do!" added Grace.
"Yes, Mynheer Walter, take care dat de savages don't eat you up; you now
grow so fat and big, you fine large morsel," exclaimed Frau Ursula, who
had no fear whatever of savages or pirates, being in most instances a
very dauntless and fearless person.
I was glad she said this, as it assisted to quell the anxiety of Emily
and Grace. The brig lay about a quarter of a mile from the beach, Mr
Thudicumb being afraid to stand in nearer because of the reefs, of which
there appeared to be several under water, their dark heads projecting
here and there from the shore. I waved my cap and held up my musket as
we pulled in, to show them that we were in good spirits, and prepared to
make a bold fight, if it was necessary; though I must say I had no
expectations of meeting either savages or pirates.
The flag, though tattered and patched, looked very like an English
ensign with the jack torn out of it.
"Depend upon it, some Englishman is there," observed Tarbox. "What
object could any pirates or savages have in flying a flag from that
point?"
We found the shore lined with black volcanic rocks, among which there
was some difficulty in landing. However, at length we discovered a
place between two ledges, into which we ran the boat. One of the men
remained to take charge of her, while the rest of us, landing, walked up
the beach. We soon came to the thick jungle, in which we could find no
opening. We therefore continued along the shore towards the point where
the flag was flying. Having gone some way, we found an opening on our
right. The underwood and branches had evidently been cut away by an
axe, and seemed to lead from the flagstaff rock towards some place in
the interior. Dick Tarbox leading the way, we advanced along the path,
keeping a look-out among the trunks of the trees on every side, lest any
treacherous enemies might be lurking there. The ground rose somewhat.
At length we emerged into the open space, where there were signs of rude
cultivation; and further on appeared a cottage raised on poles about
three feet from the ground, very similar to the building we had put up
in our island, but considerably larger. This, we concluded, must be the
habitation of the people who had erected the flagstaff. As we got
nearer to it, we were saluted by the loud voices of birds--a number of
the numerous tribes found in these regions. Such screeching, crying,
cooing, shrieking, and chattering, I had never before heard; while from
wooden cages on every side, or from under small huts of curious
construction, came forth the cries of all sorts of animals. Still, no
one appeared. Presently we heard a shot at a little distance, and
discovered a path leading to where it came from. Tarbox fired as a
signal, being sure, from what we saw in the cottage, that its occupant
was not likely to be evilly disposed towards us. As we went on, we saw,
coming through the open glade before us, a tall figure, with a gun in
his hand, followed by another carrying a basket, and several birds slung
over his shoulders.
"A veritable Robinson Crusoe!" I exclaimed.
The figure answered, indeed, in every respect, the description I had
seen of that far-famed adventurer. There was the pointed, palm-leaf
hat; the rough skin leggings; a belt round the waist, with hunting-knife
and all sorts of things stuck in it; boots of skin; and a gun in his
hand (though, I suspect, Robinson Crusoe must have used a bow and
arrow--at all events, he must have done so when his powder was
expended). The man behind him, too, was in all respects like his man
Friday; fully as dark-skinned, though perhaps with rather more clothing
than Friday was accustomed to wear, as his dress was similar to that of
the leading figure.
"Hilloa, my friends! where do you come from?" he exclaimed, in a loud,
cheery voice. "What! have you found me out at last?"
"Why, friend, we saw a flag flying from the point out there, and took it
for granted that somebody or other was here on shore wanting to be taken
off; and if you wish to come with us, we have directions to take you on
board our brig, which lies in the bay out there."
"Yes, indeed, I do; for I have been waiting here long enough almost to
have lost all account of time," answered the tall man. "I have a pretty
large family, however; and unless your brig is a good-sized one, I doubt
whether you can carry us all."
"What! have you got a wife and children living here?" asked Tarbox. "We
saw nothing of them as we came along."
"No, no, no!" answered the stranger; "I have no wife; and as for my
children, I cannot say that you would consider them as such. Probably,
however, you heard the voices of my family as you passed my house."
"Ho, ho! all those birds and beasts, you mean, friend!" said Tarbox.
"Well, as to that, as we have a gentleman on board, the owner of the
brig, who has a fancy that way, I do not think he will refuse to have as
many as the craft will hold. But it will take some little time, I
suspect, to build houses for them; for I suppose they are not tame
enough to be allowed to run at liberty about the decks?"
"Not exactly," answered the stranger. "Some of them have rather
quarrelsome dispositions, and they would be apt to fall out with each
other, and perhaps with the crew. However, a considerable number are
turned into mummies, though they fill somewhat large cages altogether;
and as I have spent so much of my time in collecting them, I have no
intention of leaving them behind. If you can take them, I will go with
you; but if not, I must get you to send another vessel to bring me off.
The craft which brought me here must either have been lost in a typhoon
or destroyed by pirates, for she did not return at the time appointed;
and after waiting month after month, and year after year, I almost gave
up all hopes of again seeing a civilised man. I have had visitors, to
be sure, on the island; but I did not like their looks, as I thought
they were more likely to stick their krisses into me than to carry me
away to a civilised place; and therefore I had to keep out of sight.
Still, at last I began to regret not being able to exhibit my treasures
to my fellow-men capable of appreciating them; and so I rigged that
flagstaff you saw, and hoisted a flag as a signal to any passing vessel
to put in here. However, most craft, I suppose, keep either along
further to the southward, or else to the north of this island; and
though I have seen a few passing in the horizon, none have come near
enough to distinguish my signal."
From the way the stranger spoke, I saw at once that he was a man of
superior education, in spite of his strange costume.
"Perhaps, sir," I said, "you would like to come on board and see the
owner, Mr Hooker. I am sure he would be delighted to do what he can to
assist you."
"Hooker!" he exclaimed. "Hooker, did you say, young man? Of course I
will. If he is the Hooker I know--and from what you say about him, I
have little doubt about the matter--I shall be delighted to see him; and
I am very sure he will do all he can to assist me.--Stay, however," he
said. "If you will wait a little while, I will accompany you. I must,
however, first feed my family, as I may be absent for some time, and
they are not accustomed to go without their provisions."
The noise as we passed the house had been considerable. As the stranger
approached it, however, the cries with which his feathered and
four-footed friends greeted him were almost deafening. I might have
added, no-footed friends, for he had huge pythons, and snakes of all
sorts;--tigers, and other wild beasts; and birds, from long-legged
storks down to the smallest of the feathered tribes. He and his man
Friday were occupied some time in feeding all these numerous creatures,
according to their respective wants. They all appeared to know him, and
acknowledge him as their master; and he must have employed considerable
time in taming many of them. I will describe them by-and-by.
At length the operation of feeding them was over, and he expressed
himself ready to accompany us to the boat. He addressed a few words to
his man, Tanda, he called him, adding, as he walked away,--"Don't fear,
my lad; I am not going to desert you.--He does not understand that, by
the by;" and, turning round again, he spoke to the man in a strange
language. He put up his hand to look at the brig. "Well," he said, as
he stepped into the boat, "I scarcely expected ever to see a European
vessel come near this island."
All hands able to appear on deck were collected at the gangway to gaze
at us as we approached. They certainly did regard our companion with
looks of astonishment as he stepped up the side.
"Mr Hooker is below, sir," I said. "I will let him know that you are
here."