the malay archipelago-1-第42章
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Among the shrubs and trees that are not prickly the Apocynaceae were most abundant； their bilobed fruits of varied form and colour and often of most tempting appearance； hanging everywhere by the waysides as if to invite to destruction the weary traveller who may be unaware of their poisonous properties。 One in particular with a smooth shining skin of a golden orange colour rivals in appearance the golden apples of the Hesperides； and has great attractions for many birds； from the white cockatoos to the little yellow Zosterops； who feast on the crimson seeds which are displayed when the fruit bursts open。 The great palm called 〃Gubbong〃 by the natives； a species of Corypha； is the most striking feature of the plains； where it grows by thousands and appears in three different statesin leaf； in flower and fruit； or dead。 It has a lofty cylindrical stem about a hundred feet high and two to three feet in diameter； the leaves are large and fan…shaped； and fall off when the tree flowers； which it does only once in its life in a huge terminal spike； upon which are produced masses of a smooth round fruit of a green colour rind about an inch in diameter。 When those ripen and fall the tree dies； and remains standing a year or two before it falls。 Trees in leaf only are by far the most numerous； then those in flower and fruit； while dead trees are scattered here and there among them。 The trees in fruit are the resort of the great green fruit pigeons； which have been already mentioned。 Troops of monkeys （Macacus cynoraolgus） may often be seen occupying a tree； showering down the fruit in great profusion； chattering when disturbed and making an enormous rustling as they scamper off among the dead palm leaves； while the pigeons have a loud booming voice more like the roar of a wild beast than the note of a bird。
My collecting operations here were carried on under more than usual difficulties。 One small room had to serve for eating； sleeping and working；and one for storehouse and dissecting…room； in it were no shelves； cupboards； chairs or tables； ants swarmed in every part of it； and dogs； cats and fowls entered it at pleasure。 Besides this it was the parlour and reception…room of my host； and I was obliged to consult his convenience and that of the numerous guests who visited us。 My principal piece of furniture was a box； which served me as a dining table； a seat while skinning birds； and as the receptacle of the birds when skinned and dried。 To keep them free from ants we borrowed； with somedifficulty； an old bench； the four legs of which being placed in cocoa…nut shells filled with water kept us tolerably free from these pests。 The box and the bench were； however； literally the only places where anything could be put away； and they were generally well occupied by two insect boxes and about a hundred birds' skins in process of drying。 It may therefore be easily conceived that when anything bulky or out of the common way was collected； the question 〃Where is it to be put？〃 was rather a difficult one to answer。 All animal substances moreover require some time to dry thoroughly； emit a very disagreeable odour while doing so； and are particularly attractive to ants； flies； dogs； rats； cats； and other vermin； calling for special cautions and constant supervision； which under the circumstances above described were impossible。
My readers may now partially understand why a travelling naturalist of limited means； like myself； does so much less than is expected or than he would himself wish to do。 It would be interesting to preserve skeletons of many birds and animals； reptiles and fishes in spirits； skins of the larger animals； remarkable fruits and woods and the most curious articles of manufacture and commerce； but it will be seen that under the circumstances I have just described； it would have been impossible to add these to the collections which were my own more especial favourites。 When travelling by boat the difficulties are as great or greater； and they are not diminished when the journey is by land。 It was absolutely necessary therefore to limit my collections to certain groups to which I could devote constant personal attention； and thus secure from destruction or decay what had been often obtained by much labour and pains。
While Manuel sat skinning his birds of an afternoon； generally surrounded by a little crowd of Malays and Sassaks （as the indigenes of Lombock are termed）； he often held forth to them with the air of a teacher； and was listened to with profound attention。 He was very fond of discoursing on the 〃special providences〃 of which he believed he was daily the subject。 〃Allah has been merciful today；〃 he would sayfor although a Christian he adopted the Mahometan mode of speech… 〃and has given us some very fine birds； we can do nothing without him。〃 Then one of the Malays would reply； 〃To be sure； birds are like mankind； they have their appointed time to die； when that time comes nothing can save them； and if it has not come you cannot kill them。〃 A murmur of assent follow； until sentiments and cries of 〃Butul！ Butul！〃 （Right； right。） Then Manuel would tell a long story of one of his unsuccessful huntshow he saw some fine bird and followed it a long way； and then missed it； and again found it； and shot two or three times at it； but could never hit it； 〃Ah！〃 says an old Malay； 〃its time was not come； and so it was impossible for you to kill it。〃 A doctrine is this which is very consoling to the bad marksman； and which quite accounts for the facts； but which is yet somehow not altogether satisfactory。
It is universally believed in Lombock that some men have the power to turn themselves into crocodiles； which they do for the sake of devouring their enemies； and many strange tales are told of such transformations。 I was therefore rather surprised one evening to hear the following curious fact stated； and as it was not contradicted by any of the persons present； I am inclined to accept it provisionally as a contribution to the Natural History of the island。 A Bornean Malay who had been for many years resident here said to Manuel； 〃One thing is strange in this countrythe scarcity of ghosts。〃 〃How so？ 〃asked Manuel。 〃Why； you know；〃 said the Malay； 〃that in our countries to the westward； if a man dies or is killed； we dare not pass near the place at night； for all sorts of noises are heard which show that ghosts are about。 But here there are numbers of men killed； and their bodies lie unburied in the fields and by the roadside； and yet you can walk by them at night and never hear or see anything at all； which is not the case in our country； as you know very well。〃 〃Certainly I do；〃 said Manuel； and so it was settled that ghosts were very scarce； if not altogether unknown in Lombock。 I would observe； however； that as the evidence is purely negative we should be wanting in scientific caution if we accepted this fact as sufficiently well established。
One evening I heard Manuel； Ali； and a Malay man whispering earnestly together outside the door； and could distinguish various allusions to 〃krisses；〃 throat…cutting； heads； etc。 etc。 At length Manuel came in； looking very solemn and frightened； and said to me in English； 〃Sirmust take care；no safe here；want cut throat。〃 On further inquiry； I found that the Malay had been telling them that the Rajah had just sent down an order to the village； that they were to get a certain number of heads for an offering in the temples to secure a good crop of rice。 Two or three other Malays and Bugis； as well as the Amboyna man in whose house we lived； confirmed this account； and declared that it was a regular thing every year； and that it was necessary to keep a good watch and never go out alone。 I laughed at the whole thing； and tried to persuade them that it was a mere tale； but to no effect。 They were all firmly persuaded that their lives were in danger。 Manuel would not go out shooting alone； and I was obliged to accompany him every morning； but I soon gave him the slip in the jungle。 Ali was afraid to go and look for firewood without a companion； and would not even fetch water from the well a few yards behind the house unless armed with an enormous spear。 I was quite sure all the time that
