* * * * *
FRIEND JONES:—* * * I shall start back with nothing but full
colonies. I have seen two native races of bees here, and
the comb of a third; one race is stingless, but worthless;
the tiniest little fellows, three-sixteenths of an inch
long. Another race is _Apis indica_. The third race I do not
believe is valuable, since it is a very small bee—smaller
than _Apis indica_. _Apis dorsata_ is a wonderful bee,
whether it can be domesticated or not. It builds in the open
air, on branches, often making combs 6 feet long; and I have
good authority for saying that 30 natives have each taken
a load of honey from one tree. It was not until I reached
Colombo that I could find out anything about _Apis dorsata_.
I call it _Apis dorsata_, but do not know positively as
that is its name, for no one can tell here, and I have not
yet seen the bee, as it was too late when I learned where
to find it, to go to that part of the Island and reach this
French steamer. Everybody says, though, a large bee, from
which large quantities of honey are obtained, exists in
the interior of the Island. The natives all know it by the
name _Bombera_. I start for Singapore by the French steamer
“Yangste,” on January 31st.