THE INDICATOR. 189 



no little difficulty to effect a passage, in the re- 

 cesses or kloofs (as they are called), we saw trees 

 of an enormous growth, which are protected from 

 the violent tempests by the still loftier mountains, 

 and rise in consequence to a surprising height ; while 

 they afford shelter to the various plants and shrubs 

 which flourish beneath their shade. The forest 

 seemed filled with birds of the most bright and glow- 

 ing plumage ; but no sweet melody prevailed : 



" For Nature's hand, 

 That with a sportive vanity has deck'd 

 The plumy nations, there her gayest hues 

 Profusely pours : but if she bids them shine, 

 Array'd in all the beauteous beams of day, 

 Yet frugal still she humbles them in song." 



Here we found the golden cuckoo, perhaps the most 

 beautiful of all the African birds ; the splendid lori, 

 with its elegant crest, sent forth its shrill and dis- 

 sonant cry on every side ; while the laughing epi- 

 machus made the forest echo with its screech ; inter- 

 rupted occasionally by the " Peitmyn vrouw" a bird 

 of which the Hottentots relate many amusing stories. 

 Here also the bush-lori, as it sat upon the branch of 

 some umbrageous tree in lonely solitude, uttered its 

 deep and melancholy note. The little honey-sucker, 

 or indicator, kept fluttering before us with its cry of 

 cherr, cherr, as if inviting us to follow. It is frequently 

 known to conduct travellers to a nest of honey de- 

 posited in the hollow of a tree. I have, however, heard 

 many instances mentioned of its stopping short of the 

 hive, and hovering over a spot where a lion or tiger has 



