We conversed in French, which all Dutch officials speak very well.
Finding it very inconvenient and expensive to stay in the town, I removed at the end of a week to a little bamboo house, kindly offered me by Mr.Mesman.It was situated about two miles away, on a small coffee plantation and farm, and about a mile beyond Mr.M.'s own country-house.
It consisted of two rooms raised about seven feet above the ground, the lower part being partly open (and serving excellently to skin birds in) and partly used as a granary for rice.

There was a kitchen and other outhouses, and several cottages nearby, occupied by men in Mr.M.'s employ.
After being settled a few days in my new house, I found that no collections could be made without going much further into the country.
The rice-fields for some miles around resembled English stubbles late in autumn, and were almost as unproductive of bird or insect life.

There were several native villages scattered about, so embosomed in fruit trees that at a distance they looked like clumps or patches of forest.
These were my only collecting places; but they produced a very limited number of species, and were soon exhausted.

Before I could move to any more promising district it was necessary to obtain permission from the Rajah of Goa, whose territories approach to within two miles of the town of Macassar.

I therefore presented myself at the Governor's office and requested a letter to the Rajah, to claim his protection, and permission to travel in his territories whenever I might wish to do so.