ur hut, after our day's work was over, we
heard a noise inside. We approached noiselessly, with our bamboo spears
ready for use, thinking, probably, that wine animal had got inside.
Just as we were within ten yards of the entrance, out popped a large
black creature, which turned round chattering and grinning at us, and
then bolted off as fast as it could, with a lump of sago in its paws.
"Monkey! monkey!" cried Macco, giving chase with his spear. The
creature was, however, I saw, a baboon, from having no tail, or an
imperceptible tail if he had one, the part he turned towards us being
bare of hair, and of a ruddy hue. He was far too nimble, however, even
for Macco to overtake him, and up he sprang into a tree, going
chattering among the branches, dropping the sago, however, in his
flight. I recognised, as he turned round, the face I had seen watching
us when we were making the sago.

We agreed that we must secure our provisions, or he, having discovered
our store, would perhaps return with many companions to pilfer it. I
heard afterwards that only one species of baboon is found thus far east,
probably introduced by Malay seamen, who constantly carry baboons and
monkeys on board their vessels. We agreed, indeed, that it was now time
to begin a hut, in which we could sit more comfortably during the
evening, and which would shelter us from the rains, which I knew were
likely to occur before long. The rich vegetation which covered the
island would not, I knew, exist, unless frequently watered by heavy
showers.

We agreed to call our house Bamboo Villa. We first stuck into the
ground a number of stout bamboos, and then secured, at about six feet
from the ground, to the uprights, horizontally, some bamboos almost of
the same thickness. These formed the beams on which we rested our
floor. The floor was composed of the mid-ribs of the sago-palm, split
in two, and supported beneath by poles. The sides were of the same
material. Our work, the framework of which was of bamboo, was thatched
with the smaller mid-ribs, and with the leaves of the sago-palm foliage,
tied in bundles, side by side. These, however, being very thick, formed
a covering which kept out the heat of the sun as well as the rain, a
very important consideration in that climate. A ladder of bamboo
enabled us to reach the door of our house.

In this abode we hoped better to preserve our provisions, and to be free
also from insects or any reptiles wh