40 VISIT OF THE TRADERS TO THE ARU ISLANDS. 



natives, houses. Part of the shed is used by the 

 trader, when he comes, as a store in which to put 

 his merchandise ; and during his stay, a little 

 bustle goes on in the desolate spot. 



All behind the village is the dense forest, 

 with its swarms of living creatures; its Birds 

 of Paradise, its gigantic butterflies, and its spin- 

 ning spiders, that spread a net as thick as a 

 veil, and strong enough to entangle you. Some- 

 times you come on the spider itself, a great 

 yellow creature of monstrous size, and covered 

 with spots. 



The beach, in some places, presents a wonderful 

 appearance. Mighty branches droop down from 

 the trees and are clothed with fantastic flowers. 

 These flowers do not belong to the tree. They are 

 of the Orchis tribe, and have inserted themselves 

 into the branch, and seem to spring from it. 

 Others, of strange and brilliant form, hang down 

 by threads, and look as if they grew in the air. 

 And here and there, a palm raises its graceful 

 crown, or a tree-fern appears in all its beauty, 

 and mounts up to the height of thirty feet. The 



