( 172 ) 



snow, which perhaps may be attributable to our enquiries on this 

 subject not being sufficiently intelligible to them. The next day, 

 I arranged to take a trip into the interior, at which they seemed 

 delighted, and promised me guides and coolies ; however, as I pur- 

 posed meeting my boats again, by evening, there was no necessity 

 for the latter. It was reported that two men had been killed yes- 

 terday, when after a tiger, and that there was every probability of 

 my getting a shot at more than one to-morrow; this conclusion was, 

 no doubt, arrived at from the havoc committed by these beasts. 



294. Thursday, 5th February 1874. — We were enveloped in fog up 

 to 8 a.m., when the mist gradually cleared off; thermometer 44° at 6 

 a.m. I was anxious to watch the result of my boats shooting 

 the most dangerous part of the rapids, and arranged to meet the 

 Lapses at Minenah. The contrivance my boatmen adopted to pre- 

 vent the boats descending with too great velocity was novel, but effec- 

 tual. Midships, either side, they fastened long ropes to the boat 

 with heavy boulders attached ; these acted as a drag, and two men 

 at the stern and two at the bow with bamboo poles regulated the 

 course ; but, although this ingenious precaution materially 

 slackened the speed, yet we accomplished in fifteen minutes what 

 took us yesterday over seven hours to perforin against stream. I 

 had to wait some little time at Minenah for my guides, but even- 

 tually they turned up, and I started on my inland excursion at 10*30 

 a.m. We proceeded in a southerly direction, until abreast of Wine- 

 mew, then struck due west for that village, where I had arranged 

 to meet my boats. There was no beaten track, but we continued 

 in a zigzag manner over hills and valleys ; the climbing in places was 

 most difficult and fatiguing, and in many places we had to cut our 

 way through the cane thickets. The vegetation remained un- 

 changed ; but, in addition to previous collections, I added many 

 other specimens unknown to me. Here, also, I came across a 

 quantity of the bamboo spoken of at page 14 as the Prince of 

 Wales' feather*. My guides told me this variety extends high 

 up in the hills to the east, and seemed curious to know why I was 

 collecting some of the leaves and stems of such a common thing. 

 At about one o'clock, as we were silently ascending the side of a 

 hill, I felt a smart pull at my coat, and my attention was directed to 

 a clump of bamboos on a small ridge some forty yards to our left : 

 not a word was spoken,. but my guide, in a bent attitude, pointed to 

 the spot, where I saw just the head of a magnificent tiger resting 

 on his fore-paws, steadily looking down on us. I took a shot, and 

 the thud, and deep growl of the beast told me he was wounded, 



* This bamboo, from my description, has been identified by Dr. Brandis as Bamboosa regia, 

 from wbich all royal umbrella-bandies are made. 



