ch. v.] Koung. 93 



were very bad to traverse, and we were thoroughly tired 

 out ere we reached the grassy flat on which Koung is 

 built, indeed, this was the most toilsome day's work we 

 had hitherto had, although, perhaps, our long tramp yes- 

 terday had something to do with its being so. 



We found the Koung people peaceably inclined, al- 

 though we did not forget that it was here that Mr. Low 

 and St. John had some difficulty with the natives the first 

 time they came this way. We slept well, and in the 

 morning after breakfast we retraced our steps by the river 

 to examine a scarlet flower which we had seen from the 

 opposite bank yesterday. It turned out to be Bauhinia 

 Kochiana, or an allied species. Mr. Veitch shot a fine 

 white-headed hawk, which was on the look out for a 

 breakfast of fresh fish from the river. We also secured 

 several other birds we had not before seen. The red- 

 fruited Rubus roscefoliiis was very pretty here among the 

 rocks, and we observed one or two orchids of interest on 

 the trees overhanging the stream. The river is very 

 pretty as it passes the village, and as the water comes 

 from the hills above, it is deliciously clear and cool, quite 

 a luxury, in fact, either for drinking or bathing. We 

 enjoyed our morning ramble, and on returning to the 

 house wherein we had slept we found all the men ready 

 to start for Kiau. On our crossing the ford at the end of 

 the village we met a large party of natives laden with 

 baskets of tobacco and a little beeswax, going on a trading 

 expedition. There were some women among them, who, 

 of course, carried the heaviest loads. Several of the men 

 were tattooed on the breast and arms, and all were armed 

 with brass-handled parongs and slender-shafted spears. 

 They showed no surprise at seeing us, and passed on 

 apparently unconcerned as to our object. Our way now 

 lay up the valley, first on the right and then on the left 



