had been fully explained to them； with a long talk and discussion between every sentence； I could see that I had made a favourable impression； and that very afternoon； as if to test my promise to buy even miserable little snail…shells； a dozen children came one after another； bringing me a few specimens each of a small Helix； for which they duly received 〃coppers；〃 and went away amazed but rejoicing。
A few days' exploration made me well acquainted with the surrounding country。 I was a long way from the road in the forest which I had first visited； and for some distance around my house were old clearings and cottages。 I found a few good butterflies； but beetles were very scarce； and even rotten timber and newly… felled trees （generally so productive） here produced scarcely anything。 This convinced me that there was not a sufficient extent of forest in the neighbourhood to make the place worth staying at long； but it was too late now to think of going further； as in about a month the wet season would begin； so I resolved to stay here and get what was to be had。 Unfortunately； after a few days I became ill with a low fever which produced excessive lassitude and disinclination to all exertion。 In vain I endeavoured to shake it off； all I could do was to stroll quietly each day for an hour about the gardens near； and to the well； where some good insects were occasionally to be found； and the rest of the day to wait quietly at home； and receive what beetles and shells my little corps of collectors brought me daily。 I imputed my illness chiefly to the water； which was procured from shallow wells； around which there was almost always a stagnant puddle in which the buffaloes wallowed。 Close to my house was an enclosed mudhole where three buffaloes were shut up every night； and the effluvia from which freely entered through the open bamboo floor。 My Malay boy Ali was affected with the same illness； and as he was my chief bird…skinner I got on but slowly with my collections。
The occupations and mode of life of the villagers differed but little from those of all other Malay races。 The time of the women was almost wholly occupied in pounding and cleaning rice for daily use； in bringing home firewood and water； and in cleaning； dyeing； spinning； and weaving the native cotton into sarongs。 The weaving is done in the simplest kind of frame stretched on the floor； and is a very slow and tedious process。 To form the checked pattern in common use； each patch of coloured threads has to be pulled up separately by hand and the shuttle passed between them； so that about an inch a day is the usual progress in stuff a yard and a half wide。 The men cultivate a little sirih （the pungent pepper leaf used for chewing with betel…nut） and a few vegetables； and once a year rudely plough a small patch of ground with their buffaloes and plant rice； which then requires little attention until harvest time。 Now and then they have to see to the repairs of their houses； and make mats； baskets； or other domestic utensils； but a large part of their time is passed in idleness。
Not a single person in the village could speak more than a few words of Malay； and hardly any of the people appeared to have seen a European before。 One most disagreeable result of this was that I excited terror alike in man and beast。 Wherever I went； dogs barked； children screamed； women ran away； and men stared as though I were some strange and terrible cannibal or monster。 Even the pack…horses on the roads and paths would start aside when I appeared and rush into the jungle； and as to those horrid； ugly brutes； the buffaloes； they could never be approached by me； not for fear of my own but of others' safety。 They would first stick out their necks and stare at me； and then on a nearer view break loose from their halters or tethers； and rush away helter…skelter as if a demon were after them； without any regard for what might be in their way。 Whenever I met buffaloes carrying packs along a pathway； or being driven home to the village； I had to turn aside into the jungle and hide myself until they had passed； to avoid a catastrophe which would increase the dislike with which I was already regarded。 Everyday about noon the buffaloes were brought into the villa； and were tethered in the shade around the houses； and then I had to creep about like a thief by backways； for no one could tell what mischief they might do to children and houses were I to walk among them。 If I came suddenly upon a well where women were drawing water or children bathing； a sudden flight was the certain result； which things occurring day after day； were very unpleasant to a person who does not like to be disliked； and who had never been accustomed to be treated as an ogre。
About the middle of November； finding my health no better； and insects； birds； and shells all very scarce； I determined to return to Mamajam； and pack up my collections before the heavy rains commenced。 The wind bad already begun to blow from the west； and many signs indicated that the rainy season might set in earlier than usual； and then everything becomes very damp； and it is almost impossible to dry collections properly。 My kind friend Mr。 Mesman again lent me his pack…horses； and with the assistance of a few men to carry my birds and insects； which I did not like to trust on horses' backs； we got everything home safe。 Few can imagine the luxury it was to stretch myself on a sofa； and to take my supper comfortably at table seated in my easy bamboo chair； after having for five weeks taken all my meals uncomfortably on the floor。 Such things are trifles in health； but when the body is weakened by disease the habits of a lifetime cannot be so easily set aside。
My house； like all bamboo structures in this country； was a leaning one； the strong westerly winds of the wet season having set all its posts out of the perpendicular to such a degree as to make me think it might someday possibly go over altogether。 It is a remarkable thing that the natives of Celebes have not discovered the use of diagonal struts in strengthening buildings。 I doubt if there is a native house in the country two years old and at all exposed to the wind； which stands upright； and no wonder； as they merely consist of posts and joists all placed upright or horizontal； and fastened rudely together with rattans。 They may be seen in every stage of the process of tumbling down； from the first slight inclination； to such a dangerous slope that it becomes a notice to quit to the occupiers。
The mechanical geniuses of the country have only discovered two ways of remedying the evil。 One is； after it has commenced； to tie the house to a post in the ground on the windward side by a rattan or bamboo cable。 The other is a preventive； but how they ever found it out and did not discover the true way is a mystery。 This plan is； to build the house in the usual way； but instead of having all the principal supports of straight posts； to have two or three of them chosen as crooked as possible。 I had often noticed these crooked posts in houses； but imputed it to the scarcity of good； straight timber； until one day I met some men carrying home a post shaped something like a dog's hind leg； and inquired of my native boy what they were going to do with such a piece of wood。 〃To make a post for a house；〃 said he。 〃But why don't they get a straight one； there are plenty here？〃 said I。 〃Oh；〃 replied he； 〃they prefer some like that in a house； because then it won't fall；〃 evidently imputing the effect to some occult property of crooked timber。 A little consideration and a diagram。 will； however； show； that the effect imputed to the crooked post may be really produced by it。 A true square changes its figure readily into a rhomboid or oblique figure； but when one or two of the uprights are bent or sloping； and placed so as to oppose each other； the effect of a strut is produced； though in a rude and clumsy manner。
Just before I had left Mamajam the people had sown a considerable quantity of maize； which appears above ground in two or three days； and in favourable seasons ripens in less than two months。 Owing to a week's premature rains the ground was all flooded when I returned； and the plants just coming into ear were yellow and dead。 Not a grain would be obtained by the whole village； but luckily it is only a luxury； not a necessity of life。 The rain was the signal for ploughing to begin； in order to sow rice on all the flat lands between us and the town。 The plough used is a rude wooden instrument with a very short single handle； a tolerably well…shaped coulter； and the point formed of a piece of hard palm…wood fastened in with wedges。 One or two buffaloes draw it at a very slow pace。 The seed is sown broadcast； and a rude wooden harrow is used to smooth the surface。
By the beginning of December the regular wet season had set in。 Westerly winds and driving rains sometimes continued for days together； the fields for miles around were under water； and the ducks and buffaloes enjoyed themselves amazingly。 All along the road to Macassar； ploughing was daily going on in the mud and water； through which the wooden plough easily makes its way； the ploughman holding the plough…handle with one hand while a long bamboo in the other serves to guide the buffaloes。 These animals require an immense deal of driving to get them on at all； a continual shower of exclamations is kept up at them； and 〃Oh！ ah！ Gee！ ugh！〃 are to be heard in various keys and in an uninterrupted succession all day long。 At night we were favoured with a different kind of concert。 The dry ground around my house had become a marsh tenanted by frogs； who kept up a most incredible noise from dusk to dawn。 They were somewhat musical too； having a deep vibrating note which at times closely resembles the tuning of two or three bass…viols in an orchestra。 In Malacca and Borneo I had heard no such sounds as these； which indicates that the frogs； like most of the animals of Celebes； are of species peculiar to it。
My kind friend and landlord； Mr。 Mesman； was a good specimen of the Macassar…born Dutchman。 He was about thirty…five years of age； had a large family； and lived in a spacious house near the town； situated in the midst of a grove of fruit trees