253 



THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



skilful and enthusiastic botanist, and well can 

 remember the ecstasy he would go into over the 

 flora found upon the hillsides and in the valleys 

 that surrounded land-locked bays, which our ship, 

 now and then, was forced to take shelter in from the 

 dreaded typhoon raging without on open ocean. In 

 those days no European foot had ever traversed these 

 far distant braes, much less a lover of the vegetable 

 kingdom seeking for new species upon their slopes ; 

 thus this search had an additional, I may say excep- 

 tional, attraction for him, and perseveringly and 

 zealously did he take advantage of it ; in proof of 

 which the observer had but to note the loads of cut- 

 tings, leaves, roots, and flowers with which he would 

 return to the ship at sundown. Mr. Veitch was 

 far from loquacious, but to hear him speak of the 

 treasures he had obtained was almost sufficient to 

 make the listener as enthusiastic in his noble science 

 as himself. 



Now here, in the country I am now describing, 

 is a field almost as attractive for the botanist 

 as was distant Japan. I admire, yes, I idolise 

 flowers, and the man who does not do so is, I 

 believe, without a belief in a future state. On the 



