78 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



flowed a turbulent mountain torrent ; and as Fred 

 informed us that this was to be our temporary 

 head-quarters, we halted the coolies, and com- 

 menced to reconnoitre the ground, in order to 

 select a suitable place for our camp. 



Following up the course of the stream, which 

 came tumbling down the gorge, forming a succes- 

 sion of black and deep pools connected with each 

 other by foaming cascades and whirling eddies, we 

 fixed upon a small elevation by its banks for our 

 bivouac, and forthwith set our people to clear it 

 with their axes. Whilst so engaged my attention 

 was attracted by the shrieking of a troop of mon- 

 keys, at no great distance up the valley ; and leav- 

 ing Fred to superintend the domestic arrangements, 

 the Doctor and I, followed by Googooloo, carrying 

 a spare gun, started off to ascertain the cause of 

 the commotion amongst the sons of Haniman. 

 Guided by the screaming, which still continued, 

 we came to a patch of bamboo jungle, where we 

 found a desperate encounter taking place between 

 a tiger-cat and a huge black monkey. They 

 appeared to be exceedingly well matched, and at 



