DENDROBIUM SCHRODERIANUM 115 



wonderful to find an orchid on the first day's search when 

 once its habitat is known. Dendrobiums cover a great tract 

 of land. It is the nicety of calculation ten thousand miles 

 away which should be admired. 



There were no plants, however, just around the little 

 port. After some days spent in making arrangements, 

 Micholitz received an intimation that the chiefs were going 

 to a feast and he might accompany them ; there is no lack 

 of mterpreters on that coast, whence so many poor wretches 

 are enticed to English or French colonies— some of whom 

 return nowadays. The Captain could not go. In refusing 

 he looked at Micholitz with a quizzical, hesitating air, as 

 though inclined to make a revelation. 



' Is there any danger ? ' Micholitz asked. 

 ' Oh no .' not a bit ! — not a bit of danger ! I answer for 

 that. You'll be amused, I daresay. They're rum chaps.' 



The chance of making a trip beyond the narrow friendly 

 area in safety was welcome, and at daylight he started with 

 the chiefs. It was but a few hours' paddling — to the next 

 bay. The feast was given, as is usual, to celebrate the 

 launch of a war-prau. In martial panoply the guests 

 embarked, paint and feathers, spears and clubs. They were 

 met by their hosts in the same guise upon the beach. After 

 ceremonies probably— but I have no description — all squatted 

 down in a circle, and a personage, assumed to be the priest, 

 howled for a while. Then the warriors began to dance,' 

 two by two. It was very wearisome, and besides, very hot! 

 Micholitz asked at length whether he might leave. The 

 mterpreter said there was no objection. He walked towards 

 the forest, which stood some distance back, even as a wall, 

 skirting the snowy beach. The grey huts of the village 

 glimmered among palms and fruit-trees on one hand. 



A sunken way had been dug from the edge of the surf to 

 a long low building a hundred yards back ; within it lay the 



