46 THE INLAND SEA REVISITED. 



I had the " recommendation " removed from the 

 charts. 



Deer were very abundant in the fir woods at this 

 corner of Sikok, which is, in fact, an island, cut off from 

 the mainland by a narrow boat's channel, partially arti- 

 ficial. Here two or three houses reposed on the bank 

 of a deep bight of blue water. A more lovely spot 

 can hardly be imagined, and is beyond any attempt at 

 description. I lived here with the natives for some 

 time. These kind people were in charge of the Prince 

 of Awa's pony-breeding establishment. The animals 

 had the whole island to roam about on ; and the place 

 being kept quite quiet, deer, as I have said, abounded. 

 I found deer at pony-breeding establishments in other 

 parts of the country also, and came to the con- 

 clusion that these two animals get on well together. 

 It was a fact, however, that very few ponies were ever 

 seen; certataly not one- tenth that of the number of deer. 

 Awadji island is almost all wild country in the south. 

 In roaming over the mountains, I found for the first 

 time the bay-tree growing in profusion ; several species 

 of myrtle also flourished, one of which, when in flower, 

 has the most obnoxious smell imaginable. The first 

 spring plant that shows a blossom in Mpon is our own 

 Gardamine pratensis, cuckoo plant. Towards the end 



