AMONG PAPUAN PEAKS 
But for the support of the growing things we could 
not have made the descent at all, and the marvel was 
how our carriers managed it with their heavy loads. 
They seemed, however, quite unconcerned, and took 
no notice of the dangers besetting them. ‘They would 
never think of lightening or setting down their loads, 
but moved on in a zig-zag, catching hold of the creepers 
as they went, without effort. The bed of the creek, 
when we reached it, we found to be full of boulders. 
While my men took a bath, I examined the gravel in 
the river-bed, for it looked tempting for the mineral 
prospector. By way of experiment, and to pass the 
time, I washed out a panful or so of gravel, and noticed 
a few colours in the sand that indicated the presence 
of gold. Itis not improbable that the prospector who 
worked that creek would find considerable trace of 
mineral wealth. Here I saw the indigenous bread- 
fruit, about the size of a cricket ball, and full of kernels 
smaller than a chestnut, only with a thinner rind and 
of a chocolate rather than a red-brown colour. The 
natives boil it, and we found it floury and very palat- ~ 
able, though slightly bitter. The Papuans are very 
fond of this fruit when they can get it. 
We ascended, by way of one of the two villages 
known as Foula, for four hours, the climb being all 
the way through dense forest soaking with the 
humidity of the atmosphere. Even the hot sun seemed 
scarcely to affect the prevailing damp. The rocks 
which beset our path were covered with lovely-shaded 
begonias, ferns, and trailing creepers, intermingled in 
richest profusion of golden tints. In the early morning 
the forest is alive with bird-life. The trees are of 
rat 
