The inhabitants of Celebes are supposed to he two or three millions in number. Yet, though it be certain that the island is extremely fertile and populous, we conceive that the calculation is exaggerated. They are of a copper colour, or reddish yellow, rather of a squat figure, and ungraceful demeanour. Neverthe less some of the women have regular features and pleasing countenances, and are nearly as fair as Euro peans. In general, the natives arc suspicious, cruel, and ferocious, the common character of mankind in the same latitudes ; but they are ingenious, high-spirited, and brave. The men arc capable of great fatigue, and can patiently endure protracted abstinence ; they are tempe rate in living, and hence longevity is frequently met with. The women are greatly addicted to sensuality, susceptible of warm attachments, and their jealousy is unbounded.
The heat of the climate is so favourable to vegeta tion, that agricultural operations are attended with little care or anxiety. Rice, cotton, and the sugar cane, are its chief objects. The fields for cultivating the first of these vegetables are divided by fences, which slims that the natives have an accurate notion of the distinction of property, and the disposition of the surface is accommo dated to essential circumstances. Some of the grounds for producing rice are on declivities, where little canals about twenty yards asunder are formed for the irrigation of the land. The fields are overflowed to the depth of six or eight inches during sixteen days, and being then in a very humid state, about 20 bullocks trained to the work are inclosed, and driven round and round until the ground is completely poached. Water is again admit ted to overflow the surface, and the land is afterwards considered in a fit state to produce the crop. Rice plants are next stuck into the mud eight inches asunder, and, until half grown, the ground is constantly watered ; but at that period the shade of the plants keeps it moist, which obviates the necessity of continuing to overflow it. Being cut and put up in small bunches when ripe, the rice is built into stacks, and after remaining thus about fourteen days is carried home. To preserve it from the weevil, it is not cleaned from the stalk, and, by occasional airing, it may be kept fit for use during two years. \Vith similar precautions, Indian corn may he preserved six months. Abundance of sago is obtain ed, and may be called a substitute for bread among the numerous inhabitants of Celebes. It is a preparation from the soft pith of a tree, which is described as re sembling the cocoa tree, but with a larger leaf, and about two feet in diameter. Being felled, the trunk is divided into pieces of about ten feet long, which are split up by means of wedges. The pith is taken out, pounded with a mallet, and washed in a river, after which the sago is separated from the bran, and carried home in utensils made of leaves. It is dressed or baked without water ; if put aside in a pot, the sago soon becomes moist and forms into a cake, in which state it will keep several days ; if not required for immediate consumption, it is laid in a stream, where it may be preserved six or eight months. The sugar cane is cut into joints, from which
the outer skin is peeled, and the joints pounded to soft ness in large mortars. In the next place the substance is pressed, and the liquor boiled until it attains a certain consistence, when it is taken off the fire and cooked. This is kept for making sweetmeats, the only use to which it is applied.
Thus the natives of Celebes appear imperfectly skilled in agriculture ; but profiting by the soil and cli mate, they obtain abundant crops, part of which are ex ported.
Great confusion prevails in any accounts that can be procured of the civil divisions of territory in this island. It is evident, however, that they are numerous, and that the inhabitants of each have a certain peculiarity of man ners which distinguishes them from those of the rest. Six or seven principal divisions have been named, which seem independent of each other. Goa or Goach, Bony or Pony, \Vajoo or Tuadjoo, Sopin, Selindrim, and Mandhal. Besides these, arc 'fello, Sandrabony, and various territories, which may partly be synonymous with the former. Dispersed throughout these divisions are different tribes, called by some Barreo, Tobogces, Tremany, and Uncuila, who inhabit towns and villages chiefly towards the coast. The British are best acquaint ed with the town of i\Iacassar, from a Dutch settlement being established there. It was lately calculated to have contained about 10,000 native inhabitants, of whom 2000 were capable of bearing arms. Two towns, Parlow and Dungally, are situated in Parlow Bay. The former is of considerable size, consisting of about 500 houses, and is the capital of a fertile district called Kvly, or Uncuiia. It is a place of considerable trade, and the residence of many wealthy native merchants. The latter is towards twelve miles distant, and independent of its government. It stands on a point of land, and is defended by a fort or block-house situated on a hill, in which are about 15 swivels, 30 blunderbusses, and 200 small arms. Consi derable trade is carried on from both these towns, and numerous artificers inhabit both. The town of Tomboo stands at a little distance from the sea, on the banks of a river flowing into a fine bay of the same name. It is less compact than the others, and contains about 700 inhabitants, who have only a few small arms for their defence. They are a warlike race, but seem possessed of very little prudence ; for though abundantly stored with provisions, they dispose of them so regardlessly, that they are not only often obliged to purchase a sup ply from other places, but sometimes reduced to want. Besides these towns, there are many more along the western coast, and towards the south parts of the island, which have been more frequented by Europeans than the others.