of the Old World. 327 



company us in a trip up the side of the ravine, where 

 the herd of bison had been seen. These matters 

 being settled, we sat smoking and chatting for a 

 couple of hours, and then turned in. 



Next morning the moon had only just set, and 

 there was but a slight tinge of grey in the eastern 

 sky, when my factotum " Five Minutes " entered the 

 hut with hot coffee flavored with eau-de-vie, which 

 is the best morning-cup for a sportsman when in the 

 jungle, as it prevents any ill effects arising from 

 inhaling the vapour which still hangs upon the 

 ground at that early hour. Our toilet was soon com- 

 pleted, and on stepping outside the hut we found the 

 gang all wrapped up in their combleys and couched 

 over a wood-fire, for the early morning was damp and 

 chilly ; so I ordered a glass of grog to be served out, 

 and Chineah distributed the spare guns, blankets, 

 stores, &c., that each had to carry in case of our 

 being benighted in the jungle, which was a common 

 occurrence. 



In tropical climates the interval between the first 

 faint glimmering of dawn and daylight is very short, 

 and as soon as we could distinguish objects pretty 

 clearly we entered the forest, where we heard jungle- 

 cocks already crowing merrily. 



The first living creatures we encountered were 

 two great hooded-owls, who, like drowsy revellers 

 after their nightly carouse, sailed hooting past lei- 



