17 



Piper Forstenii, Potlios, and various large-leaved root-climbers. Piles of 

 these huge leaves accumulate under the trees, to be dispersed by the floods 

 of the rainy season. A giant Korthalsia, its interlaced stems scrambling up 

 and down the trees or spreading in tangled mass over the ground, was the 

 only " rotan " seen. Asplenium Nidus was abundant ; but epiphytic orchids 

 were lew and far between, and the absence of flowers or fruits was most 

 striking. 



In this forest there is little undergrowth. Sodden leaves mostly fill up 

 the interstices of the porous korang. Where light shoots through, some 

 thin grass or patches of the creeping Geoplnla renifornris and Ilemigraphis 

 re plans, or single specimens of the small semi-herbaceous shrub Amarocarpus 

 Wichmannii, with horizontal dorsi-ventral branches, appear ; but the most 

 conspicuous objects are the huge Z&ntaua capsules, the size of large 

 pumpkins, in all stages of decay, scattered over the " korang," which is so 

 porous that surface-water soon drains through; but where there is standing 

 water, groups of Sago Palms occur, often forming swamps covering large 

 areas. 



A track from Waren to the Arfak runs for a couple of days through 

 Sago swamps. 



Native Plantations. 



These are dotted through this forest where little islands of soil accumulate, 

 as at Waren, or alluvial deposits have been formed by the rivers, as at 

 Wariap. Here the well-stocked " kebuns " 1 surprised me by their extent, 

 many kinds of bananas and plantains, coco-nuts, papaya, cassava, " kladi," 2 

 " ubi," 3 "labu," 4 egg-fruit, and various " sayur" 5 etc. being grown, with 

 clumps of bamboo, probably planted. 



On passing through this " korang " zone we followed a new route, 

 keeping to the south bank of the Momi, so obviating the necessity of 

 crossing the river, which is rather deep at its mouth. This track passes 

 through the Wariap plantations and the sterile "korang" forest beyond, 

 cutting off a great angle of the river. Then it skirts the shifting banks of 

 the river as the latter cuts through alluvial deposits of mud and sand, 

 or crosses wide sand-banks, the splash of crocodiles heralding our approach. 

 These sand-banks afforded a fine view over the Momi, showing Camarinas 

 and the symmetrical Terminalia, the latter veiled in all-obliterating Zanonia, 

 backed by the distant mountains. Thence the track alternates between the 

 dome-like " korang " forest and the thicker undergrowth of alluvial flats, or, 

 when nearer the river, over oozy slime which spreads over the stems and 

 leaves of a small Licuala palm and the giant KorlJuilsia, the chief under- 

 growth in such areas. 



1 Gardens. a Colocasia antiquorum Schott. ' Sweet potatoes. 



4 Gourds. ' Vegetables. 



C 



