A FASCINATING CAPTIVE 



wearing a topee, whilst I had an umbrella in one hand 

 and a revolver in the other. It was as well to be 

 prepared for emergencies. 



That night proved to be a repetition of the previous 

 one, another terrible storm sweeping down on us, as 

 though to prepare us for the miseries of the following 

 day. Soon after we struck camp in the morning I 

 happened to notice one of the carriers searching round 

 a tree, and discovered that he was after a big snake 

 which had hidden itself close by. Personally I was 

 not anxious to make the acquaintance of the reptile, 

 and I promptly trudged on. 



The whole of that day was passed in forcing our 

 way through the jungle. There was every imaginable 

 form of vegetation. Overhead, always out of reach, 

 innumerable beautiful orchids ; whilst, as if in contrast, 

 underfoot was the most abominable liquid mud, 

 knee-deep for a great portion of the way. Once more, 

 from a naturalist's point of view, it was a disappointing 

 tramp, for although I could hear birds and animals 

 everywhere, I never got a glimpse of any of them. 

 Towards evening we struck the river again in the 

 neighbourhood of a native village. Our men were 

 very anxious to try and get a buck and borrowed my 

 rifle, but they returned empty-handed save for a 

 wonderful little loris they had caught. 



He had wide-open eyes, out of which he stared at 

 me with owl-like gravity. I kept him for several days 



23 



