102 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. v. 



and it was hot indeed, the rocks and old trunks reeked 

 in the sunshine. A slender-growing species of calamus 

 was very common in the low forest below the cave, and 

 it supplied " rattans " of excellent quality for tying up our 

 plants. At least three showy species of coelogyne grow 

 on the rocks and mossy banks here, at 9,000 feet eleva- 

 tion ; and a dainty little plant with reddish pseudo-bulbs 

 in clusters, each bearing a single spathulate dark green 

 leaf, is common. This last has erect spikes of pure 

 white flowers and buds, reminding one of the lily of the 

 valley in cool, fresh purity, an effect partly due to its 

 column being of a soft green tint, like a speck in the 

 interior of the blossom. The ccelogynes are very dis- 

 tinct and beautiful as seen here blooming among the 

 coarse sedges and shrubs. One has white flowers with a 

 blotch of gold on the lip, eight or ten of its waxy flowers 

 being borne on an erect scape. Another has yellow 

 sepals and petals, and a white lip corrugated with brown 

 warts. Another, not so showy, has a nodding spike of 

 white and brown flowers. 



We ascended about 9,000 feet, and were delighted 

 with the charming views obtainable during clear 

 weather. The whole upper portion of the mountain 

 along the south and south-eastern slopes is nearly 

 devoid of vegetation, except where there are streams and 

 rather sheltered gullies up which the stunted trees and 

 a few other plants struggle up near to the summit. On 

 the north-western side the rocks rise very precipitous ; 

 and here vegetation fails to gain foothold. Looking 

 upwards in the early sunlight, we had clear views of the 

 shelving granite slopes, on which are numerous shallow 

 channels down which streams of water pour during mist}' 

 and rainy weather. When we gained the top of the 

 great spur the morning after our arrival at the cave, we 



