272 NIGHT IN THE FORESTS. 



you will hear an interrupted hissing whirring sound from 

 some huge locust; now a loud and silvery chirp; then 

 a soft and gentle sibillant sound ; anon a harsh croak, a 

 distant yell, or a low gurgling gutteral cry. 



The entire symphony, if so it may be called, this " re- 

 quiem to the day's decline " heard at a distance reminds 

 one of that peculiar sensation termed a " ringing in the 

 ears "; there is no cessation, no rest, no respite ; still the 

 noise continues, sometimes growing louder, then drooping 

 and dying away, then bursting forth again as if with 

 renewed enegy ; in fact, I believe each performer tries to 

 emulate the others, giving out great impulsive strains 

 at intervals. 



Twice was the midnight tranquility of "Cockpit 

 Hall." disturbed by the visits of a Porcupine, that was 

 accustomed to wander in a half-tame condition about 

 the jungle in the neighbourhood, and as these night 

 alarms afforded us some amusement, I shall relate them 

 to my readers. Our house, like other Malay and Dyak 

 dwellings, was, of course, raised on posts from the ground, 

 the space below being occupied by pigs and poultry. 

 Now it happened, as we slept one night on the floor above, 

 dreadful whirring noises, attended by loud gruntings, 

 and hurrey-skurreyings were heard all about the enclosure 

 beneath the house. Anticipating a hunt, I descended 

 our rude ladder, and, followed by a little volunteer with 

 a lantern, crept through the wicket, but instead of fronting 

 a wild Boar or Cat-of-the-woods, my knife encountered 

 merely the quills of the Porcupine, which having entered 

 our premises to forage, could not easily find his way out 

 again. On another occasion, we were awoke by strange, 



