按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
made； and that to make them every village and every district must send a bundle of needlesa needle for every head in the village。 And when any grievous disease appeared in any village； one of the sacred krisses should be sent there； and if every house in that village had sent the right number of needles； the disease would immediately cease； but if the number of needles sent had not been exact； the kris would have no virtue。
So the princes and chiefs sent to all their villages and communicated the wonderful news； and all made haste to collect the needles with the greatest accuracy； for they feared that if but one were wanting； the whole village would suffer。 So one by one the head men of the villages brought in their bundles of needles； those who were near Mataram came first； and those who were far off came last； and the Rajah received them with his own hands and put them away carefully in an inner chamber； in a camphor…wood chest whose hinges and clasps were of silver； and on every bundle was marked the name of the village and the district from whence it came； so that it might be known that all had heard and obeyed the commands of the great spirit。
And when it was quite certain that every village had sent in its bundle； the Rajah divided the needles into twelve equal parts； and ordered the best steelworker in Mataram to bring his forge and his bellows and his hammers to the palace； and to make the twelve krisses under the Rajah's eye； and in the sight of all men who chose to see it。 And when they were finished； they were wrapped up in new silk and put away carefully until they might be wanted。
Now the journey to the mountain was in the time of the east wind when no rain falls in Lombock。 And soon after the krisses were made it was the time of the rice harvest； and the chiefs of districts and of villages brought their tax to the Rajah according to the number heads in their villages。 And to those that wanted but little of the full amount； the Rajah said nothing； but when those came who brought only half or a fourth part of what was strictly due； he said to them mildly； 〃The needles which you sent from your village were many more than came from such…a…one's village； yet your tribute is less than his； go back and see who it is that has not paid the tax。〃 And the next year the produce of the tax increased greatly； for they feared that the Rajah might justly kill those who a second time kept back the right tribute。 And so the Rajah became very rich； and increased the number of his soldiers； and gave golden jewels to his wives； and bought fine black horses from the white…skinned Hollanders； and made great feasts when his children were born or were married； and none of the Rajahs or Sultans among the Malays were so great or powerful as the Rajah of Lombock。
And the twelve sacred krisses had great virtue。 And； when any sickness appeared in a village one of them was sent for； and sometimes the sickness went away； and then the sacred kris was taken back again with great Honour； and the head men of the village came to tell the Rajah of its miraculous power； and to thank him。 And sometimes the sickness would not go away； and then everybody was convinced that there had been a mistake in the number of needles sent from that village； and therefore the sacred kris had no effect； and had to be taken back again by the head men with heavy hearts； but still； with all honourfor was not the fault their own？
CHAPTER XIII。
TIMOR。
（COUPANG； 1857…1869。 DELLI； 1861。）
THE island of Timor is about three hundred miles long and sixty wide； and seems to form the termination of the great range of volcanic islands which begins with Sumatra more than two thousand miles to the west。 It differs however very remarkably from all the other islands of the chain in not possessing any active volcanoes； with the one exception of Timor Peak near the centre of the island； which was formerly active； but was blown up during an eruption in 1638 and has since been quiescent。 In no other part of Timor do there appear to be any recent igneous rocks； so that it can hardly be classed as a volcanic island。 Indeed its position is just outside of the great volcanic belt； which extends from Flores through Ombay and Wetter to Banda。
I first visited Timor in 1857； staying a day at Coupang； the chief Dutch town at the west end of the island； and again in May 1859； when I stayed a fortnight in the same neighbourhood。 In the spring of 1861 I spent four months at Delli； the capital of the Portuguese possessions in the eastern part of the island。
The whole neighbourhood of Coupang appears to have been elevated at a recent epoch； consisting of a rugged surface of coral rock； which rises in a vertical wall between the beach and the town； whose low； white； red…tiled houses give it an appearance very similar to other Dutch settlements in the East。 The vegetation is everywhere scanty and scrubby。 Plants of the families Apocynaceae and Euphorbiacea； abound； but there is nothing that can be called a forest； and the whole country has a parched and desolate appearance； contrasting strongly with the lofty forest trees and perennial verdure of the Moluccas or of Singapore。 The most conspicuous feature of the vegetation was the abundance of fine fanleaved palms （Borassus flabelliformis）； from the leaves of which are constructed the strong and durable water…buckets in general use； and which are much superior to those formed from any other species of palm。 From the same tree； palm…wine and sugar are made； and the common thatch for houses formed of the leaves lasts six or seven years without removal。 Close to the town I noticed the foundation of a ruined house below high…water mark； indicating recent subsidence。 Earthquakes are not severe here； and are so infrequent and harmless that the chief houses are built of stone。
The inhabitants of Coupang consist of Malays； Chinese； and Dutch； besides the natives； so that there are many strange and complicated mixtures among the population。 There is one resident English merchant； and whalers as well as Australian ships often come here for stores and water。 The native Timorese preponderate； and a very little examination serves to show that they have nothing in common with Malays； but are much more closely allied to the true Papuans of the Aru Islands and New Guinea。 They are tall； have pronounced features； large somewhat aquiline noses； and frizzly hair； and are generally of a dusky brown colour。 The way in which the women talk to each other and to the men； their loud voices and laughter； and general character of self… assertion； would enable an experienced observer to decide； even without seeing them； that they were not Malays。
Mr。 Arndt； a German and the Government doctor； invited me to stay at his house while in Coupang； and I gladly accepted his offer； as I only intended making a short visit。 We at first began speaking French； but he got on so badly that we soon passed insensibly into Malay； and we afterwards held long discussions on literary； scientific； and philosophical questions in that semi…barbarous language； whose deficiencies we made up by the free use of French or Latin words。
After a few walks in the neighbourhood of