A SPEAKIKG QUlDRUrED. 



37 



The lower part of the share is of iron, the other 

 parts of wood. It only scratches the gi'oimd to the 

 depth of six or eight inches— a strange contrast to 

 our deep subsoil ploughing. In these shallow fur- 

 rows are di'opped kernels of our own Indian maize 

 and seeds of the sugar-cane. Sometimes the fields 

 are planted with cocoa-nut palms about twenty yards 

 apart, more for theii' shade, it appears, than for their 

 fruit, which is now banging in great gi'een and yellow 

 clusters, and will be ripe in a month. Beneath these 

 trees are blighted nuts, and in many places large 

 heaps of them are seen, gathered by the natives for 

 the sake of the husk, from which they make a coarse 

 rope. 



Among these trees I was sui-prised to hear the 

 noise, or more properly words, " Tokay 1 tokayl" 

 and my servant at ooce explained that that was the 

 way a kind of lizard " talked " in his land. So 

 snugly do these animals hide away among the green 

 leaves that it was several days before I could satisfy 

 myself that I had secui'ed a specimen of this speak- 

 ing quadi'uped. 



During my hunting I enjoyed some charming 

 views of the high, dark-blue mountains to the south. 

 One excursion is worthy of especial mention. It was 

 to the palace of Rahdeu Saieh, a native prince. This 

 palace consisted of a central part and two wings, 

 with broad verandas on all sides. On entering the 

 main building we found ourselves in a spacious hall, 

 with a gallery above. In the centre of the toor rose 

 a sort of table, and around the sides of the room were 

 chairs of an antic[ue pattern. Side-doors opened out 



