ch. in.] A Resting-place. 39 



soon plunged clown the slope, and reached them, but 

 were rather disappointed, as all the water visible was a 

 brook rushing down a rocky gully, and falling a distance 

 of five or six feet over into a water-worn basin below. 

 The water was clear and cool, and we took advantage 

 of it to secure a bath in the shade of the tall trees over- 

 head. The rocks were beautifully draped with ferns 

 and mosses ; and a small species of anrectochilus grew 

 here and there on the mossy rocks. Its leaves were 

 of a rich velvety-green colour, netted with golden 

 veins. 



We sat here, and rested awhile, the cool splash of 

 the water sounding pleasantly as it fell into the spread- 

 ing limpid pool at our feet. Here, for the first time, 

 I made the acquaintance of the jungle leech, a most 

 energetic thing, which neglects no opportunity of taking 

 its sanguinary toll from the passing traveller. Several 

 of them fixed themselves on our legs, the first notice of 

 their unwelcome presence being the oozing of our blood 

 through our white trowsers. Their first bite is rarely 

 felt ; and very often, as I afterwards found, it is only by 

 their gorged bodies feeling cold to the skin, that their 

 presence becomes known. 



The road from the falls to the summit is in places very 

 steep, and the muscles of one's legs feel it ere the end of 

 the journey is reached. Many of those who read of 

 jungle travel at home will be sure to imagine it very 

 pleasant to explore a tropical forest, accompanied by a 

 posse of native guides and carriers — with gun on shoulder, 

 and luxuriant vegetation on all sides, and an occasional 

 shot at a big monkey or a beautiful bird overhead. So of 

 a truth it is, but in common with all other pleasures it has 

 its drawbacks. After three or four hours hard walking, 

 varied by a rest now and then, and a few stumbles, we 



