A SPEAKING QUADRUPED. 37 



The lower part of tlie share is of iron, the other 

 j)arts of wood. It only scratches the ground to the 

 depth of six or eight inches — a strange contrast to 

 our deep subsoil ploughing. In these shallow fur- 

 rows are di'opped kernels of our own Indian maize 

 and seeds of the sugar-cane. Sometimes the fields 

 are planted with cocoa-nut palms about twenty yards 

 apart, more for their shade, it appears, than for their 

 fruit, which is now hanging in great green and yellow 

 clusters, and will be ripe in a month. Beneath these 

 trees are blighted nuts, and in many places large 

 heaps of them are seen, gathered l)y the natives for 

 the sake of the husk, from which they make a coarse 

 rope. 



Among these trees I was surprised to hear the 

 noise, or more proj^erly words, " Tokay ! tokay ! " 

 and my servant at once explained that that was the 

 way a kind of lizard " talked " in his land. So 

 snugly do these animals hide away among the green 

 leaves that it was several days before I could satisfy 

 myself that I had secured a specimen of this speak- 

 ing quadruped. 



During my hunting I enjoyed some charming 

 views of the high, dark-blue mountains to the south. 

 One excursion is worthy of especial mention. It was 

 to the palace of Rahden Saleh, a native prince. This 

 palace consisted of a central part and two wings, 

 with broad verandas on all sides. On entering the 

 main building we found ourselves in a spacious hall, 

 with a gallery above. In the centre of the floor rose 

 a sort of table, and around the sides of the room were 

 chairs of an antique pattern. Side-doors opened out 



