the malay archipelago-2-第70章
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； hatchets； and beads he was willing to give to those who accompanied him； peace was restored； and the next day； travelling over a frightfully rugged country； they reached the villages of the mountaineers。 Here Mr。 Allen remained a month without any interpreter through whom he could understand a word or communicate a want。 However； by signs and presents and a pretty liberal barter； he got on very well； some of them accompanying him every day in the forest to shoot； and receiving a small present when he was successful。
In the grand matter of the Paradise Birds； however； little was done。 Only one additional species was found； the Seleucides alba； of which be had already obtained a specimen in Salwatty； but he learnt that the other kinds' of which be showed them drawings； were found two or three days' journey farther in the interior。 When I sent my men from Dorey to Amberbaki； they heard exactly the same storythat the rarer sorts were only found several days' journey in the interior； among rugged mountains； and that the skins were prepared by savage tribes who had never even been seen by any of the coast people。
It seems as if Nature had taken precautions that these her choicest treasures should not be made too common； and thus be undervalued。 This northern coast of New Guinea is exposed to the full swell of the Pacific Ocean； and is rugged and harbourless。 The country is all rocky and mountainous； covered everywhere with dense forests； offering in its swamps and precipices and serrated ridges an almost impassable barrier to the unknown interior； and the people are dangerous savages； in the very lowest stage of barbarism。 In such a country； and among such a people； are found these wonderful productions of Nature； the Birds of Paradise； whose exquisite beauty of form and colour and strange developments of plumage are calculated to excite the wonder and admiration of the most civilized and the most intellectual of mankind； and to furnish inexhaustible materials for study to the naturalist； and for speculation to the philosopher。
Thus ended my search after these beautiful birds。 Five voyages to different parts of the district they inhabit； each occupying in its preparation and execution the larger part of a year； produced me only five species out of the fourteen known to exist in the New Guinea district。 The kinds obtained are those that inhabit the coasts of New Guinea and its islands； the remainder seeming to be strictly confined to the central mountain…ranges of the northern peninsula； and our researches at Dorey and Amberbaki； near one end of this peninsula； and at Salwatty and Sorong； near the other； enable me to decide with some certainty on the native country of these rare and lovely birds； good specimens of which have never yet been seen in Europe。
It must be considered as somewhat extraordinary that； during five years' residence and travel in Celebes； the Moluccas； and New Guinea； I should never have been able to purchase skins of half the species which Lesson； forty years ago； obtained during a few weeks in the same countries。 I believe that all； except the common species of commerce； are now much more difficult to obtain than they were even twenty years ago； and I impute it principally to their having been sought after by the Dutch officials through the Sultan of Tidore。 The chiefs of the annual expeditions to collect tribute have had orders to get all the rare sorts of Paradise Birds； and as they pay little or nothing for them （it being sufficient to say they are for the Sultan）； the head men of the coast villages would for the future refuse to purchase them from the mountaineers； and confine themselves instead to the commoner species； which are less sought after by amateurs； but are a more profitable merchandise。 The same causes frequently lead the inhabitants of uncivilized countries to conceal minerals or other natural products with which they may become acquainted； from the fear of being obliged to pay increased tribute； or of bringing upon themselves a new and oppressive labour。
CHAPTER XXXIX。
THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PAPUAN ISLANDS。
NEW GUINEA； with the islands joined to it by a shallow sea； constitute the Papuan group； characterised by a very close resemblance in their peculiar forms of life。 Having already； in my chapters on the Aru Islands and on the Birds of Paradise； given some details of the natural history of this district； I shall here confine myself to a general sketch of its animal productions； and of their relations to those of the rest of the world。
New Guinea is perhaps the largest island on the globe； being a little larger than Borneo。 It is nearly fourteen hundred miles long； and in the widest part four hundred broad； and seems to be everywhere covered with luxuriant forests。 Almost everything that is yet known of its natural productions comes from the north… western peninsula； and a few islands grouped around it。 These do not constitute a tenth part of the area of the whole island； and are so cut off from it； that their fauna may well he somewhat different； yet they have produced us （with a very partial exploration） no less than two hundred and fifty species of land birds； almost all unknown elsewhere； and comprising some of the most curious and most beautiful of the feathered tribes。 It is needless to say how much interest attaches to the far larger unknown portion of this great island； the greatest terra incognita that still remains for the naturalist to explore； and the only region where altogether new and unimagined forms of life may perhaps be found。 There is now； I am happy to say； some chance that this great country will no longer remain absolutely unknown to us。 The Dutch Government have granted well…equipped steamer to carry a naturalist （Mr。 Rosenberg； already mentioned in this work） and assistants to New Guinea； where they are to spend some years in circumnavigating the island； ascending its large rivers a《 far as possible into the interior； and making extensive collections of its natural productions。
The Mammalia of New Guinea and the adjacent islands； yet discovered； are only seventeen in number。 Two of these are bats； one is a pig of a peculiar species （Sus papuensis）； and the rest are all marsupials。 The bats are； no doubt； much more numerous； but there is every reason to believe that whatever new land Mammalia man be discovered will belong to the marsupial order。 One of these is a true kangaroo； very similar to some of middle… sized kangaroos of Australia； and it is remarkable as being the first animal of the kind ever seen by Europeans。 It inhabits Mysol and the Aru Islands （an allied species being found in New Guinea）； and was seen and described by Le Brun in 1714； from living specimens at Batavia。 A much more extraordinary creature is the tree…kangaroo； two species of which are known from New Guinea。 These animals do not differ very strikingly in form from the terrestrial kangaroos； and appear to be but imperfectly adapted to an arboreal life； as they move rather slowly； and do not seem to have a very secure footing on the limb of a tree。 The leaping power of the muscular tail is lost； and powerful claws have been acquired to assist in climbing； but in other respects the animal seems better adapted to walls on terra firma。 This imperfect adaptation may be due to the fact of there being no carnivore in New Guinea； and no enemies of any kind from which these animals have to escape by rapid climbing。 Four species of Cuscus； and the small flying opossum； also inhabit New Guinea； and there are five other smaller marsupials； one of which is the size of a rat； and takes its place by entering houses and devouring provisions。
The birds of New Guinea offer the greatest possible contrast to the Mammalia； since they are more numerous； more beautiful； and afford more new； curious； and elegant forms than those of any other island on the globe。 Besides the Birds of Paradise； which we have already sufficiently considered； it possesses a number of other curious birds； which in the eyes of the ornithologist almost serves to distinguish it as one of the primary divisions of the earth。 Among its thirty species of parrots are the Great Pluck Cockatoo； and the little rigid…taile
