224 MYSTIC ISLES 



splendid gorge, narrow, and affording one no vision 

 straight ahead except at inteiTals. 



The princess named many of the growths we passed, 

 and explained their qualities. The native is very close 

 to the ground. The lantana, with its yellow and ma- 

 genta flowerets, umbrella ferns, and aihere, the herhe de 

 vache, and the bohenia, used by the Tahitians for an 

 eye lotion, were all about. Palms, with cocoanuts of a 

 half dozen stages of growth, and giant banana-plants 

 lined the banks, and bushes with blue flowers like violets, 

 and one with red buttons, intermingled with limes and 

 oranges to form a thicket through which we could hardly 

 force our way. 



We were yet on the level of the rivulet, but now, the 

 princess said, must take to the cliff. We had come to 

 a pool which in symmetry and depth, in coolness and 

 invitingness, outranked all before. I was veiy hot, the 

 beads of perspiration like those in a steamroom. 



"We will rest here a few minutes, and you may 

 bathe," said my lovely guide. "I have not been to 

 Fautaua vaimato for several years, but I never forget 

 the way. I will make a basket, and here we will gather 

 some fruit for our dejeuner for fear there might not be 

 plenty at the waterfalls." 



I took off my tennis-shoes, hung my silk coat on a 

 limb, and plunged into the pool. Never but in the 

 tropics does the human being fully enjoy the dash into 

 cool water. There it is a tingling pleasure. I dived 

 time and again, and then sat in the small glitter of sun- 

 light to dry and to watch Noanoa Tiare make the basket. 

 She said she had a wide choice there, as the leaves of the 

 banana, cocoanut, bamboo, pandanus, or aihere would 



