AN EXPEDITION TO PENRISEN 273 



ever hear the " East a-calling," it is not the life in the 

 towns that calls me, not the freedom of social inter- 

 course, not the boundless hospitality of friends and 

 neighbours, nor the luxuries of a tropical home, but 

 the dark, mysterious forest with its teeming life, the 

 nights on the river-bank with the rushing stream beside 

 me, the starry sky above, the camp-fire with the natives 

 huddled round telling tales in murmuring tones, the 

 shrill clamour of the insects filling the whole air these 

 are the things that call. Forgotten are the discomforts 

 of poor food, Mosquitoes, hard sleeping-places, the 

 weariness of travel. One was in closest contact with 

 Nature then Nature almost savagely triumphant, 

 riotously luxuriant ; and whosoever has learnt to know 

 her in this mood can never altogether forget his 

 lesson. 



19 



