The weekly clarion., 1874-08-13
Among SOME Chinese IaIand..

My earliest cruise In the China Seas
had been among the almost continuous
chain of islands, the narrow passages,
reefs and shoals, that form the distin-
gushing features of the entire route from
New South Wales TO the island of For
Inosaby the northeastern course, bringing
successively to view the mountain peaks
of Australia, the dense forests of New
Guinea, the emerald verdure of Gillolo
and Morty, the abrupt cliffs of Mindanao,
and others of the lovely Philippine group.
The course of the Lady of Lyons was
| to the southwest of Borneo, along the
shores of distinct division of these tropic
islands chief among which are Sumatra,
Java, and Timor. These, with Floris,
Bally, Sumbawo, and a host of smaller
isles, mostly of volcanic origin, and many
of them uninhabited, form the natural
boundary between the Indo-China Sea
and the Pacific. After several days
cruising among the myriads of tiny islets
that render navigation in the Java Sea so
replete with danger, the Straits of Sunda
were passed, and then the narrow strait
that separates Timor from Ombay. For
the Latter we were fortunate in having a
full moon and strong westerly breeze,
enabling US to make the passage by night,
and thus obtaining such vision of ra-
dent beauty as comes but rarely even
heneath tropic skies. On our right were
distinctly visible the clear smooth out
lines of Timor, with its fringed verdure
reaching down to the very waters, while
on the LETT lowered in grandeur the vol
canic peaks of Floris, Panthar, and Om-
bay, seeming to rise out of the very bosom
Of the sea, their sides wreathed in heecy
vapor, and their lurid SUBMITS seeming
to pierce The blue ether
At daylight we anchored off the coast
of Timor, and spent the day in roaming
about in the vicinity of the Portuguese
settlement Of Baton Guidi, a miserably
dilapidated trading rancho, equally at
variance with the verdant tropical beau |
ty all around and the splendor OF the
conquests achieved in these seas by the
sword eff Albuquerque in old days.
With most genial climate, and a soil
of perennial verdure capable of producing
i'll abundance all the tropical fruits and |
grains, this island of Timor, as large as
that of Sicily, has a population of scarce
ly more than five hundred thousand; |
and, though fourishing depot of trade
in the early part of the seventeenth CEN
tury, it is now rapidly sinking into in
significance. The Portuguese have under
cultivation only narrow belt of soil on |
the seaboard in the immediate vicinity |
Of Baton Guidi, where, intermingled with |
forest trees, grow luxuriantly grapes,
bananas, guavas, and shaddocks. The |
Chinese have settlement on the north
ern coast, whence they export sandal
wood, wax, fruits, and fish to Java and
Singapore, driving a brisk trade and
growing rich by industry and frugality, |
as John Chinaman always does, settle
where he may. The aboriginal Malays /
still occupy some portions of the interior,
living in a condition SO little above that
If the brutes as to furnish the best apol-
)gy for DarUinism it has been my fortune
70 meet in any part Of the world. The
residue, comprising perhaps the major
portion of this lovely island, is the her
tage of monkeys, who gibe and chatter
rom tree to tree, and certainly seem to
hrive, multiply and increase" in this
of their race.
s The third day found us again under
Weigh, steering toward the Moluccas or
spice Islands, OF Wnlcn AmDOyna Is the
most noted, as well as the chief empori-
I'm of trade, and the residence of the
Dutch governor. To this group also
oelong Morty and Gillolo, north of the
inc, and Booro, Obi, Batchian, Mysole,
Naigou, the lies of Banda and Sallawatti
o the South-a vast territory of rich,
rable and forest lands, suggestive of
possibilities under better man
cement; but many of the islands are
wholly uncultivated, showing dense for
SITS, into which man has probably never
generated, though the timber is said to be {
f the finest quality. Amboyna is spec (
ally devoted to the culture of the Glove, {
nd the Hes of Banda to the nutmeg.