2 BITSH WALKING. 



Ciuup where the hostility of the natives has been to a great extent 

 overcome by the influence of the missionaries and of the traders ;. 

 but the interiors of the larger islands are almost without exception 

 inhabited by fierce and treacherous tribes who forbid all approach. 



In this chapter I have endeavoured to give some idea of my 

 experiences during my rambles in different islands of the group. 

 When geologising in these islands, one labours under the very seri- 

 ous disadvantage of being unable to get any view or form any idea 

 of the surroundings, on account of the dense forest-growth clothing 

 both the slopes and summits of the hills, which is often impassable 

 except by the rude native tracks that are completely hemmed in by 

 trees on either side. Bush walking, where there is no native track, 

 is a very tedious process and requires the constaiit use of the com- 

 [tass. In districts of coral limestone, such traverses are equally 

 trying to the soles of one's boots aiid to the measure of one's temper. 

 After being provokingly entangled in a thicket for some minutes, the 

 persevering traveller walks briskly along through a comparatively 

 dear space, when a creeper suddenly trips up his feet and over he 

 goes to the ground. Picking himself u\), ho no soontr starts again 

 when he finds his face in the middle of a strong web which some 

 huge-bodied spider has been laboriously constructing. However,, 

 clearing away the web from his features, he struggles along until 

 comins: to the fallen trunk of some ffiant of the forest which ob- 

 structs his path, he with all confidence "plants his foot firm 1}^ on it 

 and sinks knee-deep into rotten wood. With resignation he lifts 

 his foot out of the mess and proceeds on his way, when he feels an 

 uncomfortable sensation inside his helmet, in which, on leisurely 

 removing it from his head, he finds his old friend the spider, with 

 body as big as a filbert, quite at its ease. Shaking it out in a 

 liurry, he hastens along with his composure of mind somewhat 

 rnfHed. Going down a steep slope, he clasps a stout-looking areca 

 ])alm to prevent himself falling, when down comes the rotten palm, 

 and the lonjr-sufierin<;r traveller finds himself once more on the 

 ground. Ti» these incoriycniences must be added the peculiarly 

 oppressive heat of a tropical forest, the continual perspiration in 

 wiiich the skin is bathed, and the frequent difficulty of getting 

 Avater. There are therefore many drawbacks to the enjoyment of 

 such excursions undertaken without an aim. But let there be 

 some object to be gained, and it is astonishing how small a success 

 amply repays the naturalist for all the toil. As an example of the 



