282 JUNGLE PEACE 



odor. Months of work in the open had sharp- 

 ened my nostrils so that on such a tramp as 

 this they were not much inferior to those of 

 Nupee. This sense gave me as keen pleasure as 

 eye or ear, and furnished quite as much infor- 

 mation. The odors of city and civilization 

 seemed very far away: gasolene, paint, smoke, 

 perfumery, leather all these could hardly be 

 recalled. And how absurd seemed society's un- 

 written taboo on discussion of this admirable, 

 but pitifully degenerate sense! Why may you 

 look at your friend's books, touch his collection 

 of netsukes, listen to his music, yet dare sniff 

 at naught but his blossoms! 



In the open spaces of the earth, and more 

 than anywhere in this conservatory of unblown 

 odors, we come more and more to appreciate 

 and to envy a dog's sensitive muzzle. Here we 

 sniffed as naturally as we turned ear, and were 

 able to recognize many of our nasal impressions, 

 and even to follow a particularly strong scent to 

 its source. Few yards of trail but had their dis- 

 tinguishable scent, whether violent, acrid smell 

 or delectable fragrance. Long after a crab- 

 jackal had passed, we noted the stinging, bitter 

 taint in the air, and now and then the pungent 



