Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
think it would resist any ordinary bullet. About the middle there was an arm-hole with a
shutter or flap over it. This enables the arm to be put through and the bow drawn, while the
body and face, up to the eyes, remain protected, which cannot be done if the shield is carried
on the arm by loops attached at the back in the ordinary way. A few of the young men from
our house went to help their friends, but I could not hear that any of them were hurt, or that
there was much hard fighting.
May
8
th
.—I had now been six weeks at Wanumbai, but for more than half the time was
laid up in the house with ulcerated feet. My stores being nearly exhausted, and my bird and
insect boxes full, and having no immediate prospect of getting the use of my legs again, I
determined on returning to Dobbo. Birds had lately become rather scarce, and the Paradise
birds had not yet become as plentiful as the natives assured me they would be in another
month. The Wanumbai people seemed very sorry at my departure; and well they might be,
for the shells and insects they picked up on the way to and from their plantations, and the
birds the little boys shot with their bows and arrows, kept them all well supplied with to-
bacco and gambir, besides enabling them to accumulate a stock of beads and coppers for fu-
ture expenses. The owner of the house was supplied gratis with a little rice, fish, or salt,
whenever he asked for it, which I must say was not very often. On parting, I distributed
among them my remnant stock of salt and tobacco, and gave my host a flask of arrack, and
believe that on the whole my stay with these simple and good-natured people was product-
ive of pleasure and profit to both parties. I fully intended to come back; and had I known
that circumstances would have prevented my doing so, should have felt some sorrow in
leaving a place where I had first seen so many rare and beautiful living things, and had so
fully enjoyed the pleasure which fills the heart of the naturalist when he is so fortunate as to
discover a district hitherto unexplored, and where every day brings forth new and unexpec-
ted treasures. We loaded our boat in the afternoon, and, starting before daybreak, by the help
of a fair wind reached Dobbo late the same evening.
