About The Middle Of November, Finding My Health No Better, And
Insects, Birds, And Shells All Very Scarce, I Determined To
Return To Mamajam, And Pack Up My Collections Before The Heavy
Rains Commenced.
The wind bad already begun to blow from the
west, and many signs indicated that the rainy season might set in
earlier than usual; and then everything becomes very damp, and
it is almost impossible to dry collections properly.
My kind
friend Mr. Mesman again lent me his pack-horses, and with the
assistance of a few men to carry my birds and insects, which I
did not like to trust on horses' backs, we got everything home
safe. Few can imagine the luxury it was to stretch myself on a
sofa, and to take my supper comfortably at table seated in my
easy bamboo chair, after having for five weeks taken all my meals
uncomfortably on the floor. Such things are trifles in health,
but when the body is weakened by disease the habits of a lifetime
cannot be so easily set aside.
My house, like all bamboo structures in this country, was a
leaning one, the strong westerly winds of the wet season having
set all its posts out of the perpendicular to such a degree as
to make me think it might someday possibly go over altogether.
It is a remarkable thing that the natives of Celebes have not
discovered the use of diagonal struts in strengthening buildings.
I doubt if there is a native house in the country two years old
and at all exposed to the wind, which stands upright; and no
wonder, as they merely consist of posts and joists all placed
upright or horizontal, and fastened rudely together with rattans.
They may be seen in every stage of the process of tumbling down,
from the first slight inclination, to such a dangerous slope that
it becomes a notice to quit to the occupiers.
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