THE PI.ANT WORIvD 5 



sula of Orote, where there is a gradually-shelving beach and where a 

 landing can be effected at any time. 



Turning inward, we followed along the north shore of the Tarofofo 

 River. I asked where the road might be, and was directed to a seething 

 stream of liquid mud into which we plunged. Seeing the old lady, who 

 acted as our guide, floundering on ahead of me, I offered her my cow, but 

 she declined to mount it, saying that she was used to the road, and that 

 I would get my white duck uniform wet and muddy. So I remained 

 perched upon the animal's back, with my legs drawn up as high as possi- 

 ble. As we proceeded the water became more shallow. The old lady 

 informed me that in a few months the valley would be dry, and that she 





^V 



e-MT 



On the left, fruit and winged seeds of Casuarina eqiiisetifolia ; on the right, 

 above, seed of Entacla scandens ; on the right, below, seed of Afuciina 

 giga7iiea. These seeds will endure transportation long distances in salt 

 water. See text, p. 2. 



would then plant it in corn. We reached dry land at last and found 

 ourselves in a most beautiful valley. In the midst of a plantation of the 

 finest fruits which grow upon the island there was a large house, 

 raised on posts from the ground and thatched with Nipa leaves. A 

 number of little children ran out to meet us, crying: " O, little grand- 

 mother, what have you brought us ? " Then I saw the use to which the 

 tiny baskets of Terminalia goodies were destined — each little tot received 

 one from the grandmother, and when we entered the house they fairly 

 overwhelmed her. She sat down on the bamboo floor, and they climbed 

 about her, pulling down her thin gray hair and loving her with all their 

 might. Taking some young leaves of the coconut palm she began to 

 make them all sorts of toys, little stars and crosses, and little two-winged 

 birds which seemed to fly, suspended from a fibre of the leaf at the end 

 of a reed. 



