ch. xin.] A New Gardenia. 249 



residence about 1.30 p.m., and found him and his people 

 tolerably well in health and spirits. He was surprised 

 and pleased at our unexpected visit, and promptly 

 ordered his men to kill a fine young bullock for our- 

 selves and men. After luncheon we crossed the river 

 and walked to the top of the adjacent coast-hills, from 

 whence a good view of the winding stream and surround- 

 ing country is obtainable. These bare grassy hills rise 

 out of the plain, which serves as pasturage for a few 

 buffaloes, and here and there patches are irrigated for 

 rice culture. I made a small collection of the herbaceous 

 plants, annuals, and grasses of the hill we ascended ; 

 and on the top we found a round-headed tree, which 

 bore edible fruits, remarkably like walnuts in form and 

 flavour. 



In descending, we came across plants of a very lovely 

 gardenia, forming bushes, varying from a foot to two 

 feet in height, and bearing large white flowers in the 

 axils of its glossy leaves. A gentle spring-like shower 

 was falling in the last rays of sunlight, and the perfume 

 of this dainty flower was most balmy and delicious, quite 

 unlike the odour of any other plant I ever saw. On my 

 return from the mountain I was careful to secure plants 

 of this species, and they reached London quite safely 

 three months afterwards. As it was now dusk we re- 

 turned to dinner, and spent a very pleasant evening, 

 talking over home news, and our plans for reaching Kina 

 Balu. 



August 6th. — We were up at sunrise and set to work 

 in packing our stores into suitable parcels for each man 

 to cany, and we hired two buffaloes so as to be able to 

 carry an extra supply of rice. These details took time, 

 and it was fully noon ere we bade our host farewell and 

 were fairly started on our journey. Our guide and buffalo 



