SEPARATED by swift, narrow straits, the small string of islands that make up the Solor and Alor archipelagos lie off the east coast of Flores. The Solorese share strong cultural traits, speak the same language, and have experienced much of the same history as the people of Flores. A mixture of Malay and Melanesian, a portion of the population have Portuguese features, while others are unmistakably Papuan.

With a sword in one hand and a bible in th