ch. v.] Rice Fields. 95 



which we purchased, giving him a Chinese looking-glass 

 in exchange. 



" At length, crossing the river for the last time, we 

 rested in the shade of a huge sandstone rock for a 

 luncheon of cold rice and fruit. Our path then lay to 

 the left through low jungle, and on one or two of the old 

 remaining trees Ave noticed masses of Grammatophyllum 

 speciosum with stems eight feet in length — each plant a 

 good cartload, and evidently in the most luxuriant health, 

 with foliage fresh and green, although fully exposed to 

 the hot sun. Coelogynes were plentiful on the lower trees 

 and rocks by the river. One sandstone boulder was 

 entirely covered with Davallia ciliata, and some fine tali 

 grasses grew among the pebbles of the old river bed. 

 The rocks bordering the river are of sandstone, and yet 

 at Koung and along our route to-day we continually met 

 with boulders of granite sometimes in the present river 

 bed, sometimes on the old dry bed, and sometimes, as on 

 the green Koung, immense pieces, a hundred tons weight, 

 lie isolated on the plain. Half an hour's walk from our 

 resting-place by the river brought us to the clearings and 

 the hill or dry rice-fields of the Kiau villagers. The 

 crop was ripening fast, and the whole hill- side, as well 

 as the one opposite beyond the river, looked very flour- 

 ishing. Here and there were green patches of kaladi, 

 and around the field-huts of bamboo, cucumbers clustered, 

 and sweet potatoes, maize, and occasionally bananas, 

 looked prosperous. We followed a narrow footpath 

 through the rice, which was kept from injury b} r a little 

 fence of bamboo, and in places the earth was prevented 

 from washing down by a few large stones laid in line. 

 We reached the village about two o'clock, the journey 

 from Koung having taken us about five hours. The 

 people here did seem to feel more interest than ordinary, 



