My uncle and Mr Hooker are very, very kind; they do all they can to
keep up my spirits, though I see they are very anxious about Walter--
indeed, how could they be otherwise? Oliver was much better in the
morning, though he was still suffering from the effects of the
sun-stroke, which might have proved fatal; and Mr Sedgwick will not
allow him to leave the house, or in any way to exert himself. Some of
the party go down constantly to the rock and look out for Walter; but
when each comes back he gives the same answer, "No boat in sight." Both
the gentlemen do their best to interest me in other matters, so as to
take off my thoughts from Walter. My uncle reminded me that I had not
been for some time to the plantation, which is at a considerable
distance from the house. He took Grace and me there this afternoon.
"There, young ladies," he observed, pointing to some of the tall stalks
with beautiful leaves surrounding them. "A month ago these were little
yellow seeds of maize. See how rapidly the germ within them has been
developed. See! already there are some ears which we will carry home to
cook; and in another month's time they will be ripe, and fit for making
into bread."
There was a large plantation of them. We cut off a number of the heads
which grew on the side of the stalk, several on one. Each head
consisted of a long piece of pith, to which the grain was thickly
attached, the whole sheathed in broad oblong leaves, which protect them
from injury, till the seed is perfectly hard and ripe. Here also was a
plantation of sugar-cane. They also were tall, graceful, reed-like
plants, and were nearly ripe.
Tanda was working in the plantation--or garden, shall I call it? My
uncle told him to bring home a quantity of the canes, and he began
cutting them at once. He cut off the tops, and left them and the root
on the ground. I thought I could have carried a number, but I found a
single cane heavy, so loaded was it with juice.
In another part of the ground there was a plantation of rice. It was on
the lowest level, where it could be well irrigated by a stream which ran
near. The rice grew on the top of each blade, the head alone being cut
off. The rice, before the husk is taken off, is called paddy, and
rice-fields are therefore generally called paddy fields.
Among other productions of the garden are several bushes which produce
the red pepper. They are covered with fruit of all sizes. Some of them
are small and green, and some which are fully grown and ripe are of a
bright pink colour. These are now fit for gathering, and after being
dried are ready for use. It is called lombok by the Malays. They
always carry about a quantity of it, and use it at every meal. One
small plot was devoted to the cultivation of tobacco. That also was
almost ready for use, and my uncle said we should have a good supply for
the voyage. The leaves, as soon as they have grown to a sufficient
size, are plucked off, and the petiole and part of the midrib are cut
away. The leaves are then cut transversely into strips about
one-sixteenth of an inch wide. These are then hung up to dry in the
sun, and have very much the appearance of bunches of oakum. It is in
this state ready for smoking in pipes. When employed for making cigars,
the leaves are not cut, but dried more carefully in their whole state.
Neither tobacco nor maize are natives of this region, but were brought
from the New World two hundred years ago.
In the evening Tanda arrived with the bundles of sugar-cane.
Fortunately the machine which my uncle had invented for crushing them
was at some distance from the house, and had escaped destruction. It
was sufficient for the object, though rather roughly made. After the
juice had been pressed out it was boiled, and allowed to run into a
number of pots, where it was to cool and crystallise. It was then of a
dark brown colour. While so doing, a quantity of clay and water, of
about the consistency of cream, was poured over it. The effect of the
water filtering through was to purify the crystals and make them almost
white. My uncle told us that it was discovered that the clay would
produce this effect by a native, who observed that when birds stepped on
the brown sugar with their muddy feet, wherever their claws had been
placed it became curiously white. When the finer part of the juice had
been pressed out, the remainder, which is thick brown molasses, is
allowed to ferment with a little rice. Palm-wine is afterwards added,
and from this compound arrack, the common spirit of the East, is
distilled. My uncle manufactured it for the sake of preserving his
specimens; but he said he considered it one of the most destructive
stimulants which can be taken into the human body, especially in this
hot country.
We had all gone to bed last night, and I believe everybody was asleep,
when Grace and I were awoke by a curious sensation, as if our beds were
being rocked. We sat up and began talking to each other, both having
experienced the same feeling. Again the movement began, at first _very_
gently, and then rapidly increasing till the whole house seemed to be
moving up and down, like a ship at sea, while all the timbers creaked
and cracked as if it were about to fall to pieces.
"What is the matter? What is it?" cried Frau Ursula, starting up. "Oh
dear! oh dear! there's an earthquake!" and she sprang from her bed.
"Come! fly, girls, fly! The house will come down!" she screamed out.
Her voice awakened those in the other rooms who were still asleep.
"Don't be alarmed!" I heard my uncle saying. "A marble palace would be
thrown to the ground long before this house will be. We are as safe
here as anywhere."
Scarcely had he spoken, however, when several crashes were heard in
succession, and the house shook so much that I felt almost sea-sick. In
spite of my uncle's exhortation, the Frau hastily threw on her clothes,
and we, imitating her example, followed her down the steps, where we
were speedily joined by the rest of the inmates. There were strange
noises in the forest, and it seemed as if the trees were knocking
together, while the animals round us uttered unusual cries. My uncle
and Tanda were the only people who remained inside. He again cried to
us to come back, and at length the Frau was persuaded to return. He had
struck a light, and enabled us to see our way.
"There, go to bed again," he said; "a few bottles and cases only have
been tumbled down, and no harm has been done."
It was some time, however, after we had gone to our room, before we
could again go to sleep. It seemed to me that we had scarcely been
asleep many minutes before we felt another shock, very nearly as violent
as the first. We again started up, and my uncle's voice was once more
heard, urging us all to remain quiet, and not expose ourselves to the
damp night air. This time we obeyed him, though the Frau sitting up
wrung her hands, wishing herself in some region where earthquakes were
not experienced, and burning mountains were not to be seen. Neither
Grace nor I could sleep for the remainder of the night; and I found that
Oliver had been kept awake.
The next morning, when we met at breakfast, we looked somewhat pale, I
suspect. My uncle was inclined to banter us, and told us that we should
not mind such things, as he had felt several since he had been on the
island, and no harm had come from them. I saw him, however, soon after
that looking somewhat anxiously, I thought, up at the mountain, from
which wreaths of smoke were ascending somewhat thicker than usual; and I
heard him urging Mr Thudicumb to hasten on with the vessel. "Tanda and
I will prepare stores as fast as we can," he observed. The
ship-builders hurried off with their tools, but he and Tanda and Oliver
remained behind. They afterwards set off to what we call Cocoa-nut
Grove, as a large number of cocoa-nuts grow there. Tanda led one of the
buffaloes with huge panniers on his back. After a time they returned,
having procured a number of cocoa-nuts. They were very different from
the cocoa-nuts we had been some time before eating, far more like those
I had been accustomed to see in England. When the nut is young the
shell is soft, and of a pale green colour. It shortly afterwards, when
the shell is formed, turns to a light yellow, and on the other side is a
thin layer of so soft a consistency, that it can easily be cut with a
spoon. In this condition it is always eaten by the natives. When it
grows older, the outside assumes a wood colour. The husk becomes dry,
and the hard shell is surrounded within by a thick, tough oily
substance, and, indeed, just as we see it in England. The natives look
upon it in this condition as very indigestible, and seldom eat it. It
is of value, however, for the oil which it now contains. Such were the
nuts which Tanda brought to the house. We all set to work to break the
nuts and to scrape out the interior substance with knives. When this
was done, it was put into a large pan and boiled over the fire. After a
time the oil was separated from the pulp, and floated on the top. We
then, under my uncle's directions, skimmed it off, and poured it into
bowls and bottles. It was now fit for use--a very sweet, pure oil. As
our pan was not very large, it took some time to make a quantity. We
wanted some for present use, but the chief object was to have a supply
for our lamps on board the vessel. This oil, my uncle said, is
generally used throughout the archipelago for lamps; indeed, it is
almost the only substance used for lighting.
We were so busily employed during the day, that we almost forgot all
about the earthquake. There was one thing, however, we did not forget;
for, in spite of occupation, my thoughts were constantly recurring to
Walter. As soon as our work was over, we ran down to the beach,
accompanied by Oliver, who carried his gun for our defence, lest another
mias might appear. In vain we scanned the horizon. No sail appeared,
no object which we could even mistake for the boat, and with sad hearts
we returned to the house. The sun had just set. As we were coming
along the path to the house, we saw some large creatures moving about in
the air with a peculiar motion unlike birds. Going a little way we saw
two more, and then another couple appeared. Oliver raised his gun and
fired, when down fell a huge creature which looked like a quadruped with
wings. Though unable to fly, it began to defend itself bravely, and
Oliver had to give it several severe blows before he could venture to
touch it. "It will be a prize to Mr Sedgwick, whatever it is," he
observed, fastening a line round the animal's neck. He dragged it up to
the house, and when we brought it up to the light we found that it was a
huge bat. The Frau, when she saw it, declared that it was a flying-fox.
Mr Sedgwick, however, said it was really a bat, and when he measured
it he found that is was four feet six inches from tip to tip of its
wings. Oliver said it looked quite like an antediluvian animal. Mr
Hooker said he had often seen them; that one day he found one hanging to
the bough of a tree with its head downwards. He fired several shots
before the creature would release its crooked claws from the bough to
which it held. Tanda proposed skinning and cooking it, saying it was
good to eat. However, Grace and I begged that we might not be asked to
sup upon it, as the appearance of the animal was far from tempting. Mr
Hooker called the creature Oliver had shot a _Pteropus_.
Although, through the industry of my uncle and Tanda, we were well
supplied with vegetable food, we were greatly in want of meat. He
therefore invited Oliver to accompany him on an expedition to shoot wild
ducks on a lagoon at some distance. He advised us, during their
absence, to keep within sight of the house, or at all events not to go
far from it. Ursula begged that Merlin should remain with us.
"Yes, yes," said my uncle: "he might act as a retriever for us; at the
same time, I dare say, we can do without him, and he will serve as your
guard, and a very faithful one he seems to be."
I do not know why, but I felt rather anxious about my uncle and Oliver
when they set out. I could not help thinking of the serpents and wild
beasts they might encounter. They were going also to a district where
crocodiles abounded. I was more anxious because they despised the
crocodiles, and said they were stupid creatures, and would never hurt
any one who was on his guard; and that only animals when very thirsty
and drinking, or people incautiously bathing, were ever caught. As soon
as they were gone, we set to work with our various duties in the house.
I have not described them, but we had plenty to do, and wished to employ
ourselves usefully. After that, Grace and I agreed to go down to the
beach in the vain hope--I am almost compelled to acknowledge that it is
so--that Walter might be returning. I can now understand how those who
have lost some dear one at sea go to the shore day after day and month
after month, hoping against hope, that they might return. When I am
away from the beach, I am constantly wishing to return to it, and often
in the house I look down the pathway leading to the shore, fancying that
possibly I might see Walter coming up it. Oh, what joy it would be to
my heart! My dear, dear brother!--the only person in the world nearly
related to me, whom I know well and love thoroughly. Our uncle is very
kind, but I as yet do not know him well, and he is odd in some things.
Oliver truly acts the part of a brother, and I am sure loves me as a
sister, and I value his regard. Merlin seemed also to watch the horizon
as anxiously as we did. I am sure he knows that Walter is away, and is
also looking for him.
We watched and watched, till the sun, sinking low in the horizon, warned
us that we must go back and prepare supper for our friends. The
ship-builders would soon be coming back, and we hoped that my uncle and
Oliver would also be coming home. Again we cast one lingering look
towards the horizon, but there was no break in its clear, well-marked
line. We found the Frau somewhat anxious about us. "I do always think
of that horrid mias, for though Merlin would fight for you, yet the
creature would kill the dog with one grip of his big hands," she
observed. We had got the table spread, and the Frau was putting some
dishes on it, when Mr Hooker and the rest arrived from Hope Harbour.
They had seen nothing of my uncle and Oliver. Why had they not come
back? I remembered my forebodings in the morning, and again began to
fear that some accident had happened to them. Mr Hooker, however, said
he thought they would have been led, by their anxiety to obtain game,
further than they intended; and as all the party were very hungry, they
commenced supper without waiting for them. Grace and I sat down, but
could eat nothing. Oliver had scarcely recovered his strength, and I
was afraid that he might have been seized with the same sort of attack
as he was a short time ago. It grew darker and darker, and very rapidly
night came down upon us. Still no sign of the missing ones. Mr Tarbox
proposed going out to search for them with torches. Roger Trew and
Potto Jumbo agreed to accompany him. A supply of dammar torches was
soon manufactured, and each carrying a bundle on his back, with one in
one hand and a gun in the other, they sallied forth. As long as they
could find their way, there would be less danger moving through the
forest at night with torches than in the day-time, as savage beasts and
snakes avoid the light, and only harmless moths and bats fly against it.
In my eagerness I should have liked to have gone with them, but they
would not hear of it. Merlin, however, having performed his duty in
watching over us, when he saw them going out, quickly followed, and of
course he was likely to be of use in searching for the lost ones. Mr
Hooker and the mate were not so strong as they were before their
illness, and were therefore easily persuaded to stay behind. They tried
to keep up my spirits, and reminded me that my uncle was so well
acquainted with the country, that he was not likely to have got into any
danger himself, or to have allowed his companions to do so.
Often Grace and I ran out to the verandah to watch for them, hoping to
see the bright light of the torches re-appearing along the path. How my
heart bounded when at length I heard a shout and saw a gleam of light in
the distance! It grew brighter and brighter, and then I could make out
several people carrying torches. I tried to count them. I saw three,
and then a fourth figure. There ought to have been six. I could
distinguish my uncle from his tall figure and peculiar dress. Then it
seemed to me as if they were carrying something between them. In vain I
looked for Oliver, whom I should have known by his being shorter than
the rest. We ran down the steps to welcome them, and inquired what had
happened.
"Don't be alarmed, Miss Emily," I heard Roger Trew, who came first,
exclaim. "Your uncle is all right, but Oliver--" Oh, how my heart sank.
"Well, he has been somewhat hurt. He will come round, though; don't be
afraid, miss. Poor Tanda, it has been a bad job for him."
Before I could make any more inquiries, the rest of the party, who bore
Oliver among them, arrived, and he was carried up the steps. I ran to
his side. He could speak but faintly. My uncle seemed very much out of
spirits, as his faithful Tanda had lost his life.
"I do not know which of us may go next," he observed. "Oliver has had a
narrow escape, let me tell you; and he deserved to escape, for a very
bold thing he did. He is a brave lad. It would have been a pity to
lose him."
"But what has happened? What has happened?" exclaimed the Frau. "Why
Oliver again ill?"
"You shall hear all about it by-and-by, Frau. But here, give Oliver
some food, he requires it, for even I am almost faint for want of my
supper."
The Frau attended to Oliver's wants, and my uncle sat down to the
supper-table and began eating away without speaking further. He was not
a man of many words, and when anything had annoyed him, I observed that
he was more silent even than usual. As I did not think Oliver was in a
fit state to speak, I resolved to bridle my curiosity till the next day.
Food and a night's rest greatly restored Oliver, and he was up next
morning at the usual hour. He then gave me a short account of what had
happened:--
"Instead of taking our usual course across the bamboo bridge," he
observed, "we struck away to the right to explore a part of the country
Mr Sedgwick had not visited. We caught sight of several wild
creatures, and among others a mias which led us a long chase, and even
then managed to climb up into his nest in a tall tree where we could not
reach him. You see, Emily, these creatures build nests for themselves
and their young ones, and indeed, from what Tanda told Mr Sedgwick, I
believe they build one every night when they go to sleep in the boughs
of a large tree. Certainly this one seemed to have no inclination to
attack us, and I could easily believe that they would not generally do
so, unless alarmed and afraid of being attacked themselves. After a
little time we reached a most curious spot, all around destitute of
vegetation. The ground rose towards it, and in the centre was a
miniature conical hill, out of which there bubbled a stream of water
running down on one side of it. Mr Sedgwick hurried forward to examine
this curious spring, and on tasting the water, he took some grease out
of his wallet to wash his hands in the fountain. Immediately he
produced a thick lather, and shouted out to me to come near and wash my
hands if so disposed, as he had discovered a veritable soap-spring.
[Note. There is a soap-spring of this description in Timor, an island
our friends did not visit.] I proposed that as the spot was at no great
distance, we should mark it, so as to be able to repair there to wash
our clothes, preparatory to our voyage. Mr Sedgwick said he had no
doubt it contained a large quantity of alkali and iodine, which had been
the cause of the destruction of the surrounding vegetation. Not far off
were some beautiful clear springs, which possessed none of these
qualities. We drank the water from the latter, which tasted thoroughly
pure, and was beautifully clear. Above them rose several lofty
banyan-trees, their numberless stems forming cool arbours which tempted
us greatly to rest there, and I could not help wishing that you had
accompanied us thus far. I think, had Mr Sedgwick discovered it
before, he would have built his house in the neighbourhood. How
delighted Walter would have been with the picturesque beauty of the
scene. Going on for some way over a variety of hills, we descended to a
beautiful lake, where we soon discovered a flock of brown ducks. On
getting down, however, to the edge, we found a border so marshy that we
could not get a good shot at them. On the side where we were was a band
of dead trees. We proceeded along the lake, through the tall,
sharp-edged grass, till we got exactly opposite the spot where the flock
had settled. They could not see us, as we were thoroughly sheltered by
the grass and trunks of trees; at the same time it was difficult to
shoot them on account of the trees which intervened. We kept as close
as we could, expecting them every instant to take to flight, when Mr
Sedgwick sprang up, and I followed his example. We both fired at the
same time. Although a number of the ducks flew away, six or seven at
least remained floating on the water. Had Merlin been with us, we
thought we should soon have had them; but now, how to get them out was
the question. I proposed swimming off for them, but Mr Sedgwick said
that after my illness I ought not to make the attempt, and then Tanda
offered to go. `Very well,' said Mr Sedgwick; `you, Oliver, stay and
take care of the guns, and Tanda and I will go.' Accordingly, throwing
off his clothes, he and Tanda began to wade through the mud and reeds.
It appeared dangerous work, as the mud was very soft and the reeds very
tall, and often they were hid from sight. I had never felt so anxious
before. Presently I saw them emerge from the reeds and begin to swim
towards the ducks. Some of them not having been killed outright, had
floated to a distance from the others. Towards these Tanda made his
way, while Mr Sedgwick swam towards the four which were still floating.
He was already bringing them back, when, to my horror, I saw between
him and Tanda a huge snout appear above the surface. I knew it to be
that of a crocodile. I trembled for the fate of our kind friend.
Tanda, I thought, would be safe, as he was near the shore. Could I save
Mr Sedgwick? Whether Tanda saw the crocodile or not, I do not know;
but he had already seized the ducks, and had once more plunged into the
water, swimming towards his master. Mr Sedgwick struck out boldly. He
had caught sight of the creature, but it did not unnerve his arm, nor
would he let go his ducks. I heard his voice shouting. `Fire!' I
thought he said. Putting the other guns down, I immediately loaded with
ball, knowing that shot would be utterly useless. I approached the edge
of the lake, and fired at the monster's head, feeling that the lives of
my companions might depend on my aim. The ball struck the monster, but
I saw it bound off into the water. The creature sank, and I dreaded to
see it come up near our friend. The next instant, what was my horror to
observe it rise again, and with open jaws rush at Tanda. The brave
fellow shouted out and thrust the ducks forward, hoping, apparently, to
draw back in time to escape those terrible jaws; but the monster was a
large one and hungry, and so great was his impetus that it seemed almost
as if not an instant had passed before the upper part of the unfortunate
Tanda's body was seized and he was dragged to the bottom of the pond.
Not a shriek escaped him; not a sound was heard.
"Great as was my horror, I still had presence of mind again to load, to
be prepared to assist Mr Sedgwick, should it be necessary. I scarcely
think he saw what had occurred, and with powerful strokes he made his
way towards the bank. Even when he had reached the sedges, I knew that
he might not be safe, as those terrible monsters could easily follow
him. To assist him, however, I kept shouting at the top of my voice,
holding my gun ready to fire should one appear. At length he made his
way across the sedges, and landed on the bank, holding up the birds, and
exclaiming with a laugh, `We have done well! I hope Tanda has been
equally successful!' Sad was the change which came over his countenance
when I told him what had occurred. Not till then did I know how anxious
I had been. The sun all the time was burning down on my head, and a
sudden sickness overpowered me. I knew no more till I found myself in
the shade of the banyan-trees, near the cool fountain I have described.
Mr Sedgwick was sitting near me, and looking very sad. He felt greatly
the loss of Tanda, and, I believe, thought that I also was dying. The
cool air of evening, and the water with which Mr Sedgwick had liberally
bathed my head, had revived me. It had been a great exertion to him
carrying me thus far, and he seemed to doubt whether he could manage to
convey me to the house. However, he at length took me up, but he was
very nearly overcome, I suspect, when we were met by our friends."