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e out of an old leather game…bag； besides devouring a portion of my mosquito curtain！
April 28th。Last evening we had a grand consultation； which had evidently been arranged and discussed beforehand。 A number of the natives gathered round me； and said they wanted to talk。 Two of the best Malay scholars helped each other； the rest putting in hints and ideas in their own language。 They told me a long rambling story； but； partly owing to their imperfect knowledge of Malay； partly through my ignorance of local terms； and partly through the incoherence of their narrative； I could not make it out very clearly。 It was； however； a tradition； and I was glad to find they had anything of the kind。 A long time ago； they said； some strangers came to Aru； and came here to Wanumbai； and the chief of the Wanumbai people did not like them； and wanted them to go away； but they would not go； and so it came to fighting； and many Aru men were killed； and some； along with the chief； were taken prisoners； and carried away by the strangers。 Some of the speakers； however； said that he was not carried away； but went away in his own boat to escape from the foreigners； and went to the sea and never came back again。 But they all believe that the chief and the people that went with him still live in some foreign country； and if they could but find out where； they would send for them to come back again。 Now having some vague idea that white men must know every country beyond the sea； they wanted to know if I had met their people in my country or in the sea。 They thought they must be there； for they could not imagine where else they could be。 They had sought for them everywhere； they saidon the land and in the sea； in the forest and on the mountains； in the air and in the sky； and could not find them； therefore； they must be in my country； and they begged me to tell them； for I must surely know； as I came from across the great sea。 I tried to explain to them that their friends could not have reached my country in small boats； and that there were plenty of islands like Aru all about the sea； which they would be sure to find。 Besides； as it was so long ago； the chief and all the people must be dead。 But they quite laughed at this idea； and said they were sure they were alive； for they had proof of it。 And then they told me that a good many years ago； when the speakers were boys； some Wokan men who were out fishing met these lost people in the sea； and spoke to them； and the chief gave the Wokan men a hundred fathoms of cloth to bring to the men of Wanumbai； to show that they were alive and would soon come back to them； but the Wokan men were thieves； and kept the cloth； and they only heard of it afterwards； and when they spoke about it； the Wokan men denied it； and pretended they had not received the cloth；so they were quite sure their friends were at that time alive and somewhere in the sea。 And again； not many years ago； a report came to them that some Bu0gis traders had brought some children of their lost people； so they went to Dobbo to see about it； and the owner of the house； who was now speaking to me； was one who went； but the Bugis roan would not let them see the children； and threatened to kill them if they came into his house。 He kept the children shut up in a large box； and when he went away he took them with him。 And at the end of each of these stories； they begged me in an imploring tone to tell them if I knew where their chief and their people now were。
By dint of questioning； I got some account of the strangers who had taken away their people。 They said they were wonderfully strong； and each one could kill a great many Aru men； and when they were wounded； however badly； they spit upon the place； and it immediately became well。 And they made a great net of rattans； and entangled their prisoners in it； and sunk them in the water； and the next day； when they pulled the net up on shore； they made the drowned men come to life again； and carried them away。
Much more of the same kind was told me； but in so confused and rambling a manner that I could make nothing out of it； till I inquired how long ago it was that all this happened； when they told me that after their people were taken away the Bugis came in their praus to trade in Aru； and to buy tripang and birds' nests。 It is not impossible that something similar to what they related to me really happened when the early Portuguese discoverers first carne to Aru； and has formed the foundation for a continually increasing accumulation of legend and fable。 I have no doubt that to the next generation； or even before； I myself shall be transformed into a magician or a demigod； a worker of miracles； and a being of supernatural knowledge。 They already believe that all the animals I preserve will come to life again； and to their children it will be related that they actually did so。 An unusual spell of fine weather setting in just at my arrival has made them believe I can control the seasons； and the simple circumstance of my always walking alone in the forest is a wonder and a mystery to them； as well as my asking them about birds and animals I have not yet seen； and showing an acquaintance with their form； colours； and habits。 These facts are brought against me when I disclaim knowledge of what they wish me to tell them。 〃You must know；〃 say they； 〃you know everything： you make the fine weather for your men to shoot； and you know all about our birds and our animals as well as we do； and you go alone into the forest and are not afraid。〃 Therefore every confession of ignorance on my part is thought to be a blind； a mere excuse to avoid telling them too much。 My very writing materials and books are to them weird things； and were I to choose to mystify them by a few simple experiments with lens and magnet； miracles without end would in a few years cluster about me； and future travellers； penetrating to Wanumbai； world h hardly believe that a poor English naturalist； who had resided a few months among them； could have been the original of the supernatural being to whom so many marvels were attributed。
Far some days I had noticed a good deal of excitement； and many strangers came and went armed with spears and cutlasses； bows and shields。 I now found there was war near ustwo neighbouring villages having a quarrel about some matter of local politics that I could not understand。 They told me it was quite a common thing； and that they are rarely without fighting somewhere near。 Individual quarrels are taken up by villages and tribes； and the nonpayment of the stipulated price for a wife is one of the most frequent causes of bitterness and bloodshed。 One of the war shields was brought me to look at。 It was made of rattans and covered with cotton twist； so as to be both light； strong； and very tough。 I should think it would resist any ordinary bullet。 Abort the middle there was au 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