CHAPTER V 
THE FIRST CAMP 
To return, however, to our journey. We crossed the 
Aculama by a missionary bridge, a rough structure 
made of two trees placed about a couple of feet 
apart, and laid with cross strips of wood. At once 
we began our climb to Dinawa up a winding forest 
path—the last stage of the march which was to 
bring us to our permanent camp. I was always on 
the lookout for natural treasures, and when we got 
to the top of the ridge just beyond the Aculama, I 
was fortunate enough to see in a ravine just below a 
magnificent example of D’Alberti’s creeper. D’ Alberti 
had discovered it on the Fly River. The one I found 
here in the mountains was of the variety named 
Macuna Bennettr. It ran up its supporting trunk 
on a stem which was about 6 inches thick at the 
base. At the height of 200 feet it found light, 
threw out slender arms, and then dropped down 
bunches of festoons 20 feet long, a magnificent blaze 
of scarlet blossom. The flowers of the Macuna 
Bennetts are distinguished by a calyx covered with 
short hairs, some short and pliable, a few stiff. 
When we reached the top of Dinawa Hill we found 
patches of grass growing, which did not occur any- 
where on the lower slopes. 
We at once set about selecting a piece of ground 
107 F 
