FROM MR. WALLACE, 207 
a slender stalk six to eight feet long, and is most elegantly shaped, 
forming a drooping crown of foliage. Here also grew a beautiful Cy- 
pripedium, probably C. barbatum, and a little higher up a handsome 
Dendrobium. 
After ascending about 800 feet higher we found ourselves on a peak 
called ** Gunong tundok” (the hanging mountain), and close opposite 
to us was Mount Ophir itself, with lower peaks on each side of it. The 
prospect of another descent, and an apparently almost vertical precipice 
between us and the summit, was now too much for our coolies, and 
three of them declared they could go no further; we accordingly left 
our guns and most of our bedding; and with the old man and our 
guide (and each of us carrying a bundle), we went on, leaving a portion 
of rice for those that remained. There were plenty of pitcher-plants 
about, so they did not want for water. The descent and succeeding 
ascent were very precipitous. Often we had to climb up by roots and 
creepers, but the distance was comparatively small, and we soon reached 
our resting-place, a huge overhanging rock, which forms the summit 
of the mountain. It is about 150 feet high, and under it is a little 
hollow full of water, which trickles imperceptibly. A winding craggy 
path leads to the summit, which is tolerably flat, but not more than 
thirty or forty yards in diameter, and covered with Dacrydiums, and 
With a shrubby vegetation of Eleocarpus, Vaccinium, Rhododendron, —— 
Eugenia, etc.; few however were in flower. We had occasional glimpses 
of a magnificent view, but masses of cloud continually rolling below us 
prevented any satisfactory panorama. 
Returning to our rock we found the rice cooked, and after dinner I — 
took an observation for the altitude, and then searched for shells and 
insects till dusk, with however but little success. The rest of our party 
had thought better of it, and had come after us; the evening was still — 
and cloudy, and, lying on a bed of bushes and ferns, with a blanket 
Over us, we were quite warm. During the night the thermometer did 
not fall below 66°, 2n 
In the morning we again went to the summit, and searched diligently 
for insects, ete. We were rewarded by finding a few rare Coleoptera 
and Hemiptera; and as the sun came out, some fine butterflies, of the — 
genus Pieris, handsomely marked with red and yellow, began to appo: 
flying round and round about the summit. I succeeded in obtaining 
two or three fine specimens. Of birds we saw only some — 
