VALE OF PRITIE. 193 



a magnificent pair of antlers which, we were rejoiced 

 to hear, had been lately taken from a deer shot 

 within a hundred yards of the house. After a re- 

 past of young cocoa-nuts, and gula, a kind of honey ; 

 it was arranged that a party should be collected to 

 go with us on the morrow to shoot deer and pigs. 



Our host now took us to see the village, and then 

 conducted us to the house we were to occupy during 

 our sojourn at Pritie, which was a large homely 

 built edifice erected for the Resident's use when he 

 visits this neighbourhood. We spent the dusk of 

 the evening in pigeon-shooting, but did not meet 

 with much success ; for the birds perched for the 

 most part on the summits of trees so lofty that they 

 were quite out of shot-range. Many of these giants 

 of the forest must have attained the height of at 

 least two hundred feet. They formed a grand ele- 

 ment in the landscape, especially when their huge 

 trunks rose by the side of the' limpid water of the 

 stream that intersects the vale of Pritie. Between 

 their topmost boughs, to the north, the amphi- 

 theatre of hills which I have mentioned lifted up 

 their indistinct forms, round which the shades of 

 night were gathering, towards the heavens, that 

 soon began to glisten with a multitude of faint stars. 



By the time we got within doors, after our un- 

 successful stroll, we were quite tired, and well pre- 

 pared to enjoy our dinner. The dignified air 

 assumed by our guide, evidently for the purpose of 

 showing off, and the ostentatious liberality with 



VOL. II. o 



