20 FEKTILITY OF SOIL. Chai\ I. 



complete the picture, and that was 'a grog-shop near the 

 church.' " We find also a few guava and lime-trees growing- 

 wild, but the natives claim the crops. The dark woods resound 

 with the lively and exultant song of the kinghunter {Halcyon 

 striolata), as he sits perched on high among the trees. As 

 the steamer moves on through the winding channel, a pretty 

 little heron or bright kingfisher darts out in alarm from the 

 edge of the bank, flies on ahead a short distance, and settles 

 quietly down to be again frightened off in a few seconds 

 as we approach. The magnificent fishhawk (Halietus vocifer) 

 sits on the top of a mangrove-tree, digesting his morning 

 meal of fresh fish, and is clearly unwilling to stir until the 

 imminence of the danger compels him at last to spread his 

 great wings for flight. The glossy ibis, acute of ear to a re- 

 markable degree, hears from afar the unwonted sound of the 

 paddles, and, springing from the mud where his family has 

 been quietly feasting, is off, screaming out his loud, harsh, 

 and defiant Ha ! ha ! ha ! long before the danger is near. 



The mangroves are now left behind and are succeeded by 

 vast level plains of rich dark soil, covered with gigantic 

 grasses, so tall that they tower over one's head, and render 

 hunting impossible. Beginning in July the grass is burned 

 off every year after it has become dry. These fires prevent 

 the growth of any great amount of timber, as only a few trees 

 from among the more hardy kinds, such as the Borassus-palm 

 and lignmn-vitse, can live through the sea of fire, which 

 annually roars across the plains. 



Several native huts now peep out from the bananas and 

 cocoa-palms on the right bank; they stand on piles a few 

 feet above the low damp ground, and their owners enter them 

 by means of ladders. The soil is wonderfully rich, and the 

 gardens are really excellent, Rice is cultivated largely; 



