138 OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS. 



several logics the latter being mere open sheds from whose 

 rafters hammocks may be hung. The whole country here- 

 abouts is low, except at this point where two small conical 

 hills arise one on each side of the river bearing the high- 

 sounding names of Mounts Everard and Terminus. The 

 forest has been partly cleared from these and we attempted to 

 explore the neighboring country. We soon gave it up as the 

 underbrush was too thick, and even when we forced a way 



FIG. 69. THREE- YEAR OLDS AT HOME IN THEIR WOOD-SKIN. 



through it there was no footing but muddy water. Cow- 

 paths led over the "mounts" which seemed to be composed 

 of red, sticky clay. Half way up Mount Everard we found 

 an enormous terrestrial ants' nest, some fifteen feet across, 

 bare of vegetation and with well-marked roads, four to six 

 inches wide, leading out into the jungle. A little prodding 

 with a stick brought out scores of huge-jawed soldiers 

 (Atta cephalotes). 

 The most interesting birds were the well-named Magpie 



