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in India was in much worse。 As long as we keep up a system of excise and customs on articles of daily use； which requires an elaborate array of officers and coastguards to carry into effect； and which creates a number of purely legal crimes； it is the height of absurdity for us to affect indignation at the conduct of the Dutch； who carried out a much more justifiable； less hurtful； and more profitable system in their Eastern possessions。
I challenge objectors to point out any physical or moral evils that have actually resulted from the action of the Dutch Government in this matter； whereas such evils are the admitted results of every one of our monopolies and restrictions。 The conditions of the two experiments are totally different。 The true 〃political economy〃 of a higher race； when governing a lower race； has never yet been worked out。 The application of our 〃political economy〃 to such cases invariably results in the extinction or degradation of the lower race； whence； we may consider it probable that one of the necessary conditions of its truth is the approximate mental and social unity of the society in which it is applied。 I shall again refer to this subject in my chapter on Ternate； one of the most celebrated of the old spice…islands。
The natives of Banda are very much mixed； and it is probable that at least three…fourths of the population are mongrels； in various degrees of Malay； Papuan； Arab； Portuguese； and Dutch。 The first two form the bases of the larger portion； and the dark skins； pronounced features； and more or less frizzly hair of the Papuans preponderates。 There seems little doubt that the aborigines of Banda were Papuans； and a portion of them still exists in the Ke islands； where they emigrated when the Portuguese first took possession of their native island。 It is such people as these that are often looked upon as transitional forms between two very distinct races； like the Malays and Papuans； whereas they are only examples of intermixture。
The animal productions of Banda； though very few； are interesting。 The islands have perhaps no truly indigenous Mammalia but bats。 The deer of the Moluccas and the pig have probably been introduced。 A species of Cuscus or Eastern opossum is also found at Banda； and this may be truly indigenous in the sense of not having been introduced by man。 Of birds； during my three visits of one or two days each； I collected eight kinds； and the Dutch collectors have added a few others。 The most remarkable is a fine and very handsome fruit…pigeon； Carpophaga concinna； which feeds upon the nutmegs； or rather on the mace； and whose loud booming note is to be continually heard。 This bird is found in the Ke and Matabello islands as well as Banda； but not in Ceram or any of the larger islands； which are inhabited by allied but very distinct species。 A beautiful small fruit…dove； Ptilonopus diadematus； is also peculiar to Banda。
CHAPTER XX。
AMBOYNA
（DECEMBER 1857； OCTOBER 1859； FEBRUARY 1860。）
TWENTY hours from Banda brought us to Amboyna； the capital of the Moluccas； and one of the oldest European settlements in the East。 The island consists of two peninsulas； so nearly divided by inlets of the sea； as to leave only a sandy isthmus about a mile wide near their eastern extremity。 The western inlet is several miles long and forms a fine harbour on the southern side of which is situated the town of Amboyna。 I had a letter of introduction to Dr。 Mohnike； the chief medical officer of the Moluccas； a German and a naturalist。 I found that he could write and read English； but could not speak it； being like myself a bad linguist； so we had to use French as a medium of communication。 He kindly offered me a room during my stay in Amboyna； and introduced me to his junior； Dr。 Doleschall； a Hungarian and also an entomolog？st。 He was an intelligent and most amiable young man but I was shocked to find that he was dying of consumption； though still able to perform the duties of his office。 In the evening my host took me to the residence of the Governor； Mr。 Goldmann； who received me in a most kind and cordial manner； and offered me every assistance。 The town of Amboyna consists of a few business streets； and a number of roads set out at right angles to each other； bordered by hedges of flowering shrubs； and enclosing country houses and huts embossed in palms and fruit trees。 Hills and mountains form the background in almost every direction； and there are few places more enjoyable for a morning or evening stroll than these sandy roads and shady lanes in the suburbs of the ancient city of Amboyna。
There are no active volcanoes in the island； nor is it now subject to frequent earthquakes； although very severe ones have occurred and may be expected again。 Mr。 William Funnell； in his voyage with Dampier to the South Seas in 1705； says： 〃Whilst we were here； （at Amboyna） we had a great earthquake； which continued two days； in which time it did a great deal of mischief； for the ground burst open in many places； and swallowed up several houses and whole families。 Several of the people were dug out again； but most of them dead； and many had their legs or arms broken by the fall of the houses。 The castle walls were rent asunder in several places； and we thought that it and all the houses would have fallen down。 The ground where we were swelled like a wave in the sea； but near us we had no hurt done。〃 There are also numerous records of eruptions of a volcano on the west side of the island。 In 1674 an eruption destroyed a village。 In 1694 there was another eruption。 In I797 much vapour and heat was emitted。 Other eruptions occurred in 1816 and 1820； and in 1824 a new crater is said to have been formed。 Yet so capricious is the action of these subterranean fires； that since the last…named epoch all eruptive symptoms have so completely ceased； that I was assured by many of the most intelligent European inhabitants of Amboyna； that they had never heard of any such thing as a volcano on the island。
During the few days that elapsed before I could make arrangements to visit the interior； I enjoyed myself much in the society of the two doctors； both amiable and well…educated men； and both enthusiastic entomologists； though obliged to increase their collections almost entirely by means of native collectors。 Dr。 Doleschall studied chiefly the flies and spiders； but also collected butterflies and moths； and in his boxes I saw grand specimens of the emerald Ornithoptera priamus and the azure Papilio Ulysses； with many more of the superb butterflies of this rich island。 Dr。 Mohnike confined himself chiefly to the beetles； and had formed a magnificent collection during many years residence in Java； Sumatra； Borneo； Japan； and Amboyna。 The Japanese collection was especially interesting； containing both the fine Carabi of northern countries； and the gorgeous Buprestidae and Longicorns of the tropics。 The doctor made the voyage to Jeddo by land from Nagasaki； and is well acquainted with the character； manners； and customs of the people of Japan； and with the geology； physical features； and natural history of the country。 He showed me collections of cheap woodcuts printed in colours； which are sold at less t