This country much resembles Australia in its physical features, and is very barren compared with most of the other islands....  It is very rugged and mountainous, having no true forests, but a scanty vegetation of gum trees with a few thickets in moist places.  It is consequently very poor in insects, and in fact will hardly pay my expenses; but having once come here I may as well give it a fair trial.  Birds are tolerably abundant, but with few exceptions very dull coloured.  I really believe the whole series of birds of the tropical island of Timor are less beautiful and bright-coloured than those of Great Britain.  In the mountains potatoes, cabbages and wheat are grown in abundance, and so we get excellent pure bread made by Chinamen in Delli.  Fowls, sheep, pigs and onions are also always to be had, so that it is the easiest country to live in I have yet met with, as in most other places one is always doubtful whether a dinner can be obtained.  I have been a trip to the hills and stayed ten days in the clouds, but it was very wet, being the wrong season....

Having now paid you off my literary debts, I trust you will give me credit again for some long letters on things in general.  Address now to care of Hamilton, Gray and Co., Singapore, and with love and remembrances to all friends, I remain, my dear Thomas, yours very faithfully,

ALFRED R. WALLACE.

P.S.—­ ...  Will you, next time you visit my mother, make me a little plan of her cottage, showing the rooms and their dimensions, so that I may see if there will be room enough for me on my return?  I shall want a good-sized room for my collections, and when I can decide exactly on my return it would be as well to get a little larger house beforehand if necessary.  Please do not forget this.—­Yours, A.R.W.

P.S.—­Write by next mail, as circumstances have occurred which make it possible I may return home this year.—­A.R.W.

P.S.—­You allude in your last letter to a subject I never touch upon because I know we cannot agree upon it.  However, I will now say a few words, that you may know my opinions, and if you wish to convert me to your way of thinking, take more vigorous measures to effect it.  You intimate that the happiness to be enjoyed in a future state will depend upon, and be a reward for, our belief in certain doctrines which you believe to constitute the essence of true religion.  You must think, therefore, that belief is voluntary and also that it is meritorious.  But I think that a little consideration will show you that belief is quite independent of our will, and our common expressions show it.  We say, “I wish I could believe him innocent, but the evidence is too clear “; or, “Whatever people may say, I can never believe he can do such a mean action.”  Now, suppose in any similar case the evidence on both sides leads you to a certain belief or disbelief, and then a reward is offered you for changing your opinion.