CHAPTER XV. 



THE HOMEWARD VOYAGE. 



Our floating menagerie — The Twelve-wired Bird of Paradise — Paradisea minor — 

 Pigeons and parrots — Cassowaries — Flying Phalanger — "Chugs" — Tree kan- 

 garoos — We retui-n to Misol Island — Scurvy — Death of the boatswain — Arrive 

 at Batchian — Ternate — Beri-beri — Touch at North Celebes — The black Paradise 

 birds — Sulu — A successful amok — A farewell Mcdagueiia — Home. 



If my travelled reader has ever chanced to be a passenger on 

 board a West African steamer — where, from the nmnber of 

 monkeys, parrots, snakes, Wliydah bu'ds, and other creatures 

 around hun, he will come to the conclusion that there is almost 

 as much trade in zoological specimens as in palm oil — he %vill be 

 able to form some idea of the appearance of the Marclusas decks 

 at this period of her cruise. The burly form of " ]\Iisky" — happily 

 for our peace of mind — was no longer to be seen vainly engaged in 

 trying to annihilate his enemy the mongoose. He had taken his 

 passage for England from Hongkong, and had long ago reached his 

 destination — the Zoological Society's Gardens — whither the two 

 Anoas were follo\ving him. We missed, too, the solemn face of 

 " Bongon " the orang-utan, who, seated in his arm-chair, with his 

 blanket drawn tightly round him, was always to be found in his 

 favourite position near the wheel. Their places were filled by fresh 

 additions to our menagerie, to many of which I have not yet 

 alluded. 



The gem of our collection was, of course, the Twelve -wired 

 Bird of Paradise. He had got tame very quickly, and would 



