DENDROBIUM SCHRODERIANUM 119 



had been so near. But there was no chance of regaining the 

 bay — a vessel might not sail thither for months or years. 

 The work must be begun again — the search renewed. And 

 in the rainy season, too ! 



But the good fellow did not even hesitate. Forthwith 

 he inquired for a ship trading with the island. There was 

 none, and he had no time to wait, for the rain grew heavier 

 daily. A mail steamer was leaving for the nearest settle- 

 ment. Trusting to the ' courtesy of nations,' Micholitz 

 claimed a passage as a shipwrecked man. It was flatly 

 refused, but at length the Dutch officials yielded to his 

 indignant appeal so far as to make a deduction of 30 per 

 cent. ' Well,' he wrote to St. Albans, ' there is no doubt 

 these are the meanest people on earth.' The Captain of the 

 Costa Rica whaling ship agrees with him. 



I have no space for the adventures of this second journey 

 now. The Dendrobe was found once more, which is not at 

 all surprising when its habitat had been discovered. At this 

 spot, however, it was growing, not on trees, but on rocks 

 of limestone — most epiphytal orchids love to cling on that 

 rough and porous surface. Especially was it abundant in 

 the graveyard of the clan, a stony waste where for genera- 

 tions they had left their dead — not unmourned, perhaps — 

 beneath the sky. The plants grew and flowered among 

 bones innumerable. To suggest the removal of them under 

 such circumstances was a nervous duty. But in the grave- 

 yard they were not only most plentiful, but by far most 

 vigorous. It had to be done, and with all precautions, after 

 displaying a sample of his ' trade,' looking-glasses and knives 

 and beads, and so forth, Micholitz did it. 



A clamour of indignation broke out. It was swelling 

 into passion when he produced a roll of brass wire ; at that 

 spectacle it suddenly calmed down. After debate among 

 themselves the warriors stipulated that two of their most 



