212 Mr. C. B. Horsbrugh — Journey to British 



in the midst of a very steady downpour of rain and heavy 

 thunder overhead we paid off our carriers with a tomahawk 

 each for the three days^ march, with which they were quite 

 satisfied. A canoe then took us off to the whale-boat lying 

 outside the creek, and away we rowed for Yule Island. 

 During the passage everything got soaked, but the birds, 

 which had been well covered up with mackintosh-sheeting, 

 came across the sound without wetting a feather. Bowden 

 gi'ceted us from his verandah, and we were very sorry to find 

 him just recovering from an attack of fever. We again took 

 possession of his liouse, and he was astonished to see the 

 results of our labours, and gave us a most hospitable 

 reception. 



The s.s. ^Moresby ^ (Burns, Philp, & Co.) did not arrive 

 till the 21st, when we went early aboard to make arrange- 

 ments for the accommodation of the birds. I borrowed the 

 launch to take my luggage and cages from the island, and 

 about 1 P.M. bade farewell to Bowden and Stalker, much 

 to my regret. Reaching Cooktown on the third day I had 

 great trouble in trans-shipping my precious freiglit, as 

 regulations prohibiting the importation of birds, beasts, and 

 plants into Queensland were in force. I despatched an 

 urgent request to the Secretary for Agriculture at Brisbane 

 for permission to proceed, and received his sanction just in 

 time to catch the s.s. ' Wodonga,' of the A.U.S.N. line, to 

 Sydney. 



During the remainder of our fortnight's passage, Avhicli as 

 regards weather was very enjoyable, the vessel put into many 

 ports, and on May 4th landed me at Sydney. Here, in 

 accordance with arrangements previously made, I took the 

 whole of the collection off to the Zoological Gardens, where 

 the authorities most kindly placed some large aviaries at my 

 disposal, and the collection during its stay attracted many 

 visitors. I owe a great deal to Mr. H. E, Peir, a well-known 

 Aviculturist, for much excellent advice and assistance at 

 Sydney. He took charge of some of my more delicate 

 specimens, of the health of which I had some doubts. 

 Before leaving New Guinea I received two splendid Rifle- 



