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cker…up to one of the combatants。 This man had succeeded； by assiduous cultivation； in raising a pair of moustaches which were a triumph of art； for they each contained about a dozen hairs more than three inches long； and which； being well greased and twisted； were distinctly visible （when not too far off） as a black thread hanging down on each side of his mouth。 But the beard to match was the difficulty； for nature had cruelly refused to give him a rudiment of hair on his chin； and the most talented gardener could not do much if he had nothing to cultivate。 But true genius triumphs over difficulties。 Although there was no hair proper on the chin； there happened to be； rather on one side of it； a small mole or freckle which contained （as such things frequently do） a few stray hairs。 These had been made the most of。 They had reached four or five inches in length； and formed another black thread dangling from the left angle of the chin。 The owner carried this as if it were something remarkable （as it certainly was）； he often felt it affectionately； passed it between his fingers； and was evidently extremely proud of his moustaches and beard！
One of the most surprising things connected with Aru was the excessive cheapness of all articles of European or native manufacture。 We were here two thousand miles beyond Singapore and Batavia； which are themselves emporiums of the 〃far east；〃 in a place unvisited by； and almost unknown to； European traders； everything reached us through at least two or three hands； often many more； yet English calicoes and American cotton cloths could be bought for 8s。 the piece； muskets for 15s。； common scissors and German knives at three…halfpence each； and other cutlery； cotton goods； and earthenware in the same proportion。 The natives of this out…of…the…way country can； in fact； buy all these things at about the same money price as our workmen at home； but in reality very much cheaper； for the produce of a few hours' labour enables the savage to purchase in abundance what are to him luxuries； while to the European they are necessaries of life。 The barbarian is no happier and no better off for this cheapness。 On the contrary； it has a most injurious effect on him。 He wants the stimulus of necessity to force him to labour； and if iron were as dear as silver； and calico as costly as satin； the effect would be beneficial to him。 As it is； he has more idle hours； gets a more constant supply of tobacco； and can intoxicate himself with arrack more frequently and more thoroughly； for your Aru man scorns to get half drunk…a tumbler full of arrack is but a slight stimulus； and nothing less than half a gallon of spirit will make him tipsy to his own satisfaction。
It is not agreeable to reflect on this state of things。 At least half of the vast multitudes of uncivilized peoples； on whom our gigantic manufacturing system； enormous capital； and intense competition force the produce of our looms and workshops； would be not a whit worse off physically； and would certainly be improved morally； if all the articles with which w e supply them were double or treble their present prices。 If at the same time the difference of cost； or a large portion of it； could find its way into the pockets of the manufacturing workmen； thousands would be raised from want to comfort； from starvation to health； and would be removed from one of the chief incentives to crime。 It is difficult for an Englishman to avoid contemplating with pride our gigantic and ever…increasing manufactures and commerce； and thinking everything good that renders their progress still more rapid； either by lowering the price at which the articles can be produced； or by discovering new markets to which they may be sent。 If； however； the question that is so frequently asked of the votaries of the less popular sciences were put here〃Cui bono？〃it would be found more difficult to answer than had been imagined。 The advantages； even to the few who reap them； would be seen to be mostly physical； while the wide…spread moral and intellectual evils resulting from unceasing labour； low wages； crowded dwellings； and monotonous occupations； to perhaps as large a number as those who gain any real advantage； might be held to show a balance of evil so great； as to lead the greatest admirers of our manufactures and commerce to doubt the advisability of their further development。 It will be said： 〃We cannot stop it； capital must be employed； our population must be kept at work； if we hesitate a moment； other nations now hard pressing us will get ahead； and national ruin will follow。〃 Some of this is true； some fallacious。 It is undoubtedly a difficult problem which we have to solve； and I am inclined to think it is this difficulty that makes men conclude that what seems a necessary and unalterable state of things must be good…that its benefits must he greater than its evils。 This was the feeling of the American advocates of slavery； they could not see an easy； comfortable way out of it。 In our own case； however； it is to be hoped； that if a fair consideration of the matter in all its hearings shows that a preponderance of evil arises from the immensity of our manufactures and commerce…evil which must go on increasing with their increase…there is enough both of political wisdom and true philanthropy in Englishmen； to induce them to turn their superabundant wealth into other channels。 The fact that has led to these remarks is surely a striking one： that in one of the most remote corners of the earth savages can buy clothing cheaper than the people of the country where it is made； that the weaver's child should shiver in the wintry wind； unable to purchase articles attainable by the wild natives of a tropical climate； where clothing is mere ornament or luxury； should make us pause ere we regard with unmixed admiration the system which has led to such a result； and cause us to look with some suspicion on the further extension of that system。 It must be remembered too that our commerce is not a purely natural growth。 It has been ever fostered by the legislature； and forced to an unnatural luxuriance by the protection of our fleets and armies。 The wisdom and the justice of this policy have been already doubted。 So soon； therefore； as it is seen that the further extension of our manufactures and commerce would be an evil； the remedy is not far to seek。
After six weeks' confinement to the house I was at length well； and could resume my daily walks in the forest。 I did not； however； find it so productive as when I had first arrived at Dobbo。 There was a damp stagnation about the paths； and insects were very scarce。 In some of my best collecting places I now found a mass of rotting wood； mingled with young shoots； and overgrown with climbers； yet I always managed to add something daily to my extensive collections。 I one day met with a curious example of failure of instinct； which； by showing it to be fallible； renders it very doubtful whether it is anything more than hereditary habit； dependent on delicate modifications of sensation。 Some sailors cut down a good…sized tree； and； as is always my practice； I visited it daily for some time in search of insects。 Among other beetles came swarm