A WALK IN KIUSIU. 121 



and then gradually rose to their feet. Of course, 

 beginning so early, all the muscles which come into 

 play by carrying weights on the head are very much 

 developed. These girls told me they had seen some 

 "slcJia" (deer) just before they met me, adding I 

 should probably see them as I went on. About a 

 quarter of a mile further on a red bird like a gigantic 

 butterfly started from a branch as I passed, and after 

 flying twenty yards lit on a low bush. It was the 

 Alcedo {Halcyon corovianda major), the very beautiful 

 kingfisher already spoken of. As I was watching this 

 interesting bird, a stag trotted from a clump of bushes 

 and made off up the hill. A fine fellow he was, with 

 the velvet still on his horns though they were full- 

 grown. 



Evening was approaching, and I had still some 

 miles to go, so getting again into the path I made the 

 best of my way back. 



As I neared the bay, and was passing by the stream 

 that entered the village, I came upon a fisherman sit- 

 ting ftet in hand on a stone, quietly watching a mat 

 spread out over the water, just above where there 

 happened to be a slight fall of about eighteen inches. 

 Underneath, the stream was blocked up sufficiently to 

 prevent any fish from passing that way. I had hardly 



