AFTER GOAT ON THE MAINLAND 137 



scenery all up the inlet was very fine. The hills 

 got more and more perpendicular as the head 

 of the inlet was approached, and were clothed 

 with dense forest down to the water's edge. 

 Down the ravines from the hill-tops 3,000 

 feet high poured great waterfalls, and rain- 

 clouds and mist swept over the tops of the hills, 

 giving from time to time a glimpse of distant 

 snow-covered peaks some 6,000 feet high. 



The evening was fine and by 6 o'clock we 

 were anchored in the river opposite a few 

 settlers' houses. 



We found Lansdown's old house, somewhat 

 dilapidated but habitable. There was abund- 

 ance of sweet hay and it was a luxury to spread 

 my blanket on a hay -strewn dry wooden floor 

 with a rainproof roof over my head. 



Most of the settlers, including Lansdown's 

 strapping brother, came round to have a chat and 

 to hear the news from the outside world. They 

 seem to have a fairly easy time chiefly raising 

 cattle, for the delta formed by the washed-down 

 detritus from the hills was a rich white soil on 

 which a fine crop of grass was raised. There 

 were a good number of wild duck about, and 

 the settlers were a sporting lot, so they amused 

 themselves with the evening flighting and with 

 occasional trips up Mount Kingcome, which 



