[Footnote 27: This term, together with those previously given as in use among the Arafuras, are all pure Malay, whence we may conclude that that language, if not their own, is at least familiar to them.--_Ed._] CHAPTER XI. THE ARRU ISLANDS. Trade of the Arru Islands.--Chief Productions.--Trepang.--The Island Vorkay.--The Pearl Fishery.--The Arafuras of Kobroor and Kobiwatu.--Duryella, the capital of Wama.--The Schoolmaster.--Homage paid by the Natives to M. Kam. For many years since the inhabitants of the Arru Islands have been uncontrolled by Europeans, and have been without Christian instructors, so that they have advanced but little in civilization. They have also been considerable sufferers from not having the protection of the Dutch authorities, as the Bughis and Macassars, who come here to trade, are great extortioners, and appeared more in the light of plunderers than of friendly traders; which, indeed, is the case with all the people of India when they are the strongest, and are not controlled by our Government. The Arru Islands have, however, always been much visited by native merchants, chiefly on account of the trepang, tortoise-shell, edible birds'-nests and pearls which they afford. It will be useful here to give rather a full account of the first of these products, since it is from this that the natives derive the greater part of their riches. The trepang, which is a species of _holothurie_, is found chiefly on banks composed of clay mixed with fine sand, and covered with slimy sea-weed, which, at low water, appears above the surface of the sea. Those engaged in the trade are acquainted with no less than twenty different sorts, besides which there are several others which are not eatable, having a very bitter taste. The different sorts are arranged in the following order:-- 1. _Trepang Passir_, or sand trepang, which is found on banks composed chiefly of sand, is considered the best, being much in demand at Kouding, Aring, and Macassar. The price it usually fetches is one hundred and sixty guilders the picul. The different sorts which follow decrease in value from this, until the lowest is thirty guilders the picul. 2. _Trepang batu._ These have a bluish tinge, and it is necessary to cut them through the thickest part, or they cannot be properly dried. 3. _Trepang corro._ This is also cut open, and the entrails removed. 4. _Trepang pandang._ 5. _Trepang nanas_, or pine-apple trepang, is covered over with spines like the fruit whose name it bears. 6. _Trepang itam_, or black trepang. 7. _Trepang kossong_, white with black speckles. 8. _Trepang buang kulit_, from which it is necessary to strip off two thin skins which cover it. 9. _Trepang kay Java._ 10. _Trepang Marigi._ This is obtained on the coast of New Holland, and is boiled up with the bark of the _kayu bankudu_, which imparts to the animal a red colour, and preserves it dry for a long period. 11. _Trepang donga._ 12. _Trepang kunyit._