BY. J. Wy POTTS,’ ESQ: y 
Passing through this swampy country for some miles, we 
crossed another small range, which was succeeded by richly 
grassed country resembling our Apple-tree Flats. All this 
country was well watered and intersected by rivers which 
ran into a lake where water-fowl abounded and where also 
the natives reported alligators. Some native women from 
a neighbouring settlement were gathering, as we passed, 
the roots of some water-lily growing in the lake, for the pur- 
pose, as I surmise, of preparing a food substance from them ; 
but on our approach they made off in all haste to the scrub. 
Swamps such as we had been traversing are the very hot- 
bed of a fever, whichin New Guinea appears to attack both 
native and white with equal malignity. I accordingly se- 
lected rising ground near the lake for a camping ground, 
but, notwithstanding, found the weather very oppressive, 
the temperature ranging from go° to 100° Fahr. all the 
night through. Having “boiled the billy’ and picketed 
our horses, night set in, and by way of amusement the 
bearers held a “‘ couf-buy,” or native dance, in front of the 
large camp-fires, keeping up a steady time to the beating 
of billy-cans, spoons, can-lids, etc.—our substitute for a band. 
The reflection of the light from the fires on the dancers, 
decorated as they were with green boughs, and the due 
prominence given to their stout and _ well-proportioned 
bodies and white teeth by contrast with the background of 
rich dark scrub, afforded a wild and effective scene. After 
a while there was a general request that ‘‘ Britannia” also 
should dance, and to this demand I readily acceded by 
giving them what few steps I knew of the Highland fling, 
and which were received with roars of laughter. These 
steps I then taught to one of the boys, and, after a short 
rehearsal, the whole of his comrades picked them up from 
his tuition, and engaged in the dance like true Scotchmen, 
only to their own music. Early next morning we were on 
the move, travelling mainly north, and keeping along the 
bank of the Laloki River. This river takes its rise in the 
Owen-Stanley Range, and, gazing across its rich scrub- 
belted stream, we beheld in the early morning these moun- 
tains in their full glory, their several peaks standing out in 
different shades of blue, one behind the other, in great 
clearness, and attesting the extensive nature of the 
