A LOVELY SPOT 261 



Beyond this, we again struck into the woods, and were 

 brought to a sudden stop by a noise resembling the 

 low bellowing of a bull not far away. 



Advancing cautiously, we soon discovered that the 

 bellowing was made by the goura or crown-pigeon 

 (G-oura albertisi). Several of these fine birds (the 

 largest pigeons known) flew from the ground into a 

 tree. They were not very wild, and we were fortu- 

 nate enough to procure three. They were, indeed, 

 magnificent : in size being nearly as large as turkeys, 

 and of a bluish-slate color. Their heads were adorned 

 with a crown several inches high, each feather in it 

 having a fan-shaped tip. They were so large and 

 heavy that we were obliged to skin them on the spot. 

 Cutting off a few slices of their white breasts for our 

 suppers, we went on and soon came out on the natural 

 meadow near the base of the mountains. 



A lovelier spot I have seldom seen. The course of 

 the Lalloki River could be traced in the distance by 

 the line of graceful palms that bordered it. Here and 

 there stood isolated trees, one mass of scarlet bloom ; 

 and the luxuriant grass, in places higher than our 

 heads, bent in the breeze like a field of ripened grain. 

 The mountains, clothed about their sides with heavy 

 forests, their bare and rocky crests piercing the clouds, 

 formed the background to this charming picture. 



We sat down on a fallen tree-trunk to rest, for our 

 packs were heavy and the day was warm. In the 



