CHAP. xxvT.] WJYPOTI. 131 



forest, and looking rather promising. A low hut with a 

 very rotten roof, showing the sky through in several places, 

 was the only one I could obtain. Luckily it did not rain 

 that night, and the next day we pulled down some of 

 the walls to repair the roof, which was of immediate 

 importance, especially over our beds and table. 



About half a mile from the house was a fine mountain 

 stream, running swiftly over a bed of rocks and pebbles, 

 and beyond this was a hill covered with fine forest. By 

 carefully picking my way I could wade across this river 

 without getting much above my knees, although I would 

 sometimes slip off a rock and go into a hole up to my 

 waist, and about twice a week I went across it in order to 

 explore the forest. Unfortunately there were no paths 

 here of any extent, and it did not prove very productive 

 either in insects or birds. To add to my difficulties I had 

 stupidly left my only pair of strong boots on board the 

 steamer, and my others were by this time all dropping to 

 pieces, so that I was obliged to walk about barefooted, and 

 in constant fear of hurting my feet, and causing a wound 

 which might lay me up for weeks, as had happened in 

 Borneo, Aru, and Dorey. Although there were numerous 

 plantations of maize and plantains, there were no new 

 clearings ; and as without these it is almost impossible 

 to find many of the best kinds of insects, I determined 

 to make one myself, and with much difficulty engaged two 



K 2 



