228 



A NATUnALfST'S WANDEJRINOS 



cbiefB of the district, I started for the crater of the moimtain. 

 The path lay through a very gently rmn^ stmtch of forest, 

 abound iiif*; in C^ras^wfrt trees, alternating with bamlMJO clum[)s, 

 but with almost no nudergrowth, ex<*ept low grass and a few 

 herbs. Where the mountain began to ascend more steeply, 

 we entered a dense thieket of tall reedy grass and fern tangle, 

 through which there would have been no possibility of pro- 

 gressing had I not sent men on several days before to make 

 a path. So tall was the grass that merely a funnel could 

 be excavated in it, through which we half walked half crept, 

 And along which the baggage was dragged only with -the 

 ntmost diliicultyt Above this we encountered many Tei^n- 

 sirwmmem, with large white and rose-coloured corollas, scented 

 laurel (Tefmnthera atrafa) whose sweet perfume filled the 

 air, and small trees called by the natives BaUh-mmpat from 

 whose fruits necklets are made for children to wear as charms. 

 When a youth and a maiden have plighted their troth by an 

 oath, or indeed made any oath before their marriage, they 

 I make tor their lirst child a necklet of the fruit of this 

 I tree, in order that no harm may overtake it on account 

 ' of their oath ; the name implies " Averter of the oath.** 

 I Above this the mountain presented a singular appearance. 

 . With the exception of a species of Pandan, there were no more 

 trees to be seen, only low shrubs of a pretty species of honey- 

 suckle, which gave the mountain the appeiirance of being 

 he*ither-clad, thickly interspersed with a taller species of pink 

 Mtlastoma with a profusion of immense flowers nearly three 

 inches in width, giving the landscape the appearance of being 

 set with wild rose-trees. These fine shrubs accompanied us 

 quite to the summit. Just about their commencement the 

 Icjeches which had attacked our limbs without mercy ceased to 

 be found ; on the Dempo they drew the line at 7500 feet. 



A large humble-bee (Bomhus senex) was busy visiting these 

 lilelastoma-tlowers, and I watched its operations with the 

 greatest interest. Each flower has two forms of stamens, 

 short and long, differing in colour and shajK;. The short 

 stamens have yellow anthers, a, which stand out from the middle 

 of the flower, and are very couspicuuus ; the longer stamens 

 have anthers, approaching in colour to that of the petals form- 

 ing their Imckground, and are therefore less conspicious, and 



