THROWN FROM MY HORSE. 341 



The fibres are taken from the large, succulent leaves. 

 Tliougli it resembles tlie banana so closely that at 

 first most people would mistake it for that plant, 

 its fruit is small, disagreeable to the taste, and not 

 edible. Several residents have made strenuous 

 efforts to extend its cultivation, but the result has 

 shown that the natives can be more profitably em- 

 ployed in raising coffee. The rain-clouds ha\Hing 

 cleared away, we all started for Menado. The horse 

 that had been kindly furnished me by an ofiicer was 

 not fast nor sure-footed ; and, finally, as we were 

 going down a gentle declivity at a quick canter, he 

 fell headlong. As I am, at least, a much better 

 sailor than horseman, I went off over his head with 

 a most surprising momentum, my feet, unfortunate- 

 ly, passing so far into the stirrups that I could not 

 extricate either of them. This so frightened the horse 

 that he reared and plunged fearfully, but I had no 

 idea of being dragged off" like Mazeppa, and held on 

 to the reins until my feet were once more clear, when, 

 with one leap, I was again in the saddle, and ready 

 for further experience in this mode of travelling. 

 Though I was aware my position was somewhat dan- 

 gerous, I could not help feeling amused at the alarm 

 manifested l>y my companions. They all seemed de- 

 lighted to know that I had escaped with only such 

 inconvenience as one clad in a summer suit of white 

 would necessarily experience in coming down in such 

 an unceremonious manner into the midst of a muddy 

 stream. Late in the evening we came to the Resi- 

 dent's house, where a cordial welcome awaited me, 

 and I had the pleasure to find myself once more in 



