32 AFTER TIIE ADJUTANTS. 



and collect a good lot of these, we went on again ; and thus 

 stopping- now and then to collect plants and then desperately 

 working up we got by degrees to the top. This hill was, if 

 possible, more difficult to get about than the one climbed 

 yesterday : the limestone being worn into a series of the most 

 acute needle points, and sharp knife-like ridges exceedingly 

 trying to one's feet. 



At the top I found three more nests of Adjutants similar to 

 those of yesterday, with eggs. One bird I fired at, but after 

 sailing off apparently unhurt, I saw it fall a long way out in 

 the forest. 



I was much struck by a curious noise the Adjutants made 

 when disturbed, a sort of loud grunting croak, not unlike the 

 low of a buffalo. 



Slowly I worked my way along the ridge, rapidly filling 

 my basket with plants ; and finding several fresh but empty 

 nests of the Adjutants. One pretty brown-spotted yellow 

 Orchid* I found hanging in a tuft overshadowing one of the 

 nests. 



The sides of the whole little range of rocks was covered with 

 evergreen, and several clumps of a pretty feathery light look- 

 ing bamboo. 



The scenery presented a picture very similar to that of 

 yesterday, but the Attaran river was more directly under my 

 feet ; and indeed I climbed on to a projecting rock, and peep- 

 ing very carefully over, I found that had I wished to take a 

 header of some 300 feet or so I could plunge sheer into the 

 Attaran. 



After wandering about for two or three hours I became 

 hungry, and thinking of tiffin began the descent, having care- 

 fully stowed away the eggs, and luckily, as will be seen presently, 

 made them over to the Karen guide to carry. Oh what tedious 

 work it was getting down, the sharp rocks cutting my boots to 

 pieces and tearing my clothes, and just below the place I had 

 got the pink Orchid I was let down with a run, by the breaking 

 of a root to which I was hanging, and so bruising rather 

 severely my right leg. However, all things must have an end ; 

 and, though I had to crawl down very slowly aud in great pain, 

 I got down at last ; and cheered by the knowledge of the eggs 

 having been brought down all safe and sound, and the prospect 

 of tiffin, I limped my way to the boat in good spirits. 



At the little ruined hut, I was distressed to find poor K. 

 down with fever, and feeling altogether very weak and ill. He 

 roused himself, however, at the sight of my basket of plants 

 and set to work pressing them. 



* Probably Cypripedium concolor, — Ed., S. F. 



