TME MaDAGASCAK TARliOT. 
03/ 
Small hunks falling dowu ou us from a giaut Mimosa betrayed tlie 
yveaeuee uf a lluck of panots iu iia tup, \shieli however, iu spite of 
every effort of the Caribs to lead our dim-,sighb?d eyes iu the right 
direction, Stöckle was unable to distinguish amongst the green 
foliage just as little as I could myself. A shot from one 
of our men brought down a couple of specimens when to my 
astonishment 1 recognised the pretty I'aittacas »uuhKjaacun- 
ciiifis Lath. whicJi one had hitherto considered indigenous to Madagas- 
car. According to the statements of the Indians, tlie lovely bird only 
appears at times in the neighbourhood of Kuamuta and soon after 
disappears again. On the summit of some rising ground we reached l!ie 
settlement that consisted of six houses. The male residents were still 
lying iu their hammocks iu a deep state of intoxication and the women 
who squatted around the tires on which large pots were standing, and 
who gazed at us with their bleary glassy eyes indicated clearly enougli 
HI what sort of a way they had painted the night red. But even greater 
confusion reigned in the chieftain's house where traces of civilisation, 
iu the way of chairs, tables, plates and other vessels, were tumbled one 
over the other with large drums, calabashes, etc. All our efforts to get 
the unconscious people to talk were in vain, and in a temper I retraced 
my steps to Kuamuta. As I would be again touching at this village on 
my return journey to Georgetown I left my collection of botanical 
treasures here until I got back. During my stay the maximum 
thermometer recorded 85.7° F. and the minimum 78° F. 
814. In company with several Caribs, I left the village on the 9th 
September. The strong current with commencing tide soon l»rougbt 
us into the Pomeroon up wliich we now made our way. 
815. Although the vegetation of the low-lying banks was only 
medium, their edging was uncommonly improved by the charming spruce- 
ness of a number of bushes and lianas amongst which were particularly 
noticeable the beautiful Carolinca prijiccp.'<, Caiisipurca r/uianensis 
Aubl., Tahernannontnna odorata Yahl., T. unduhita Vahl., T. utilis 
Arnott, Posoqurria lonf/ifjora Aubl., P. laiifoUa R.S. with yellow fruit, 
TTomnViiim Racouhca Sw., Guaffrn'a Ourrciou Dun., and Ahrrmwa Dun. 
The Cacoiftia corclnca and Noranfca f/tnaiieusi!^ covered the highest tops 
of the trees with their flowery finery, while the slim Lropoldiuia and 
Enierpe crammed with ripe stony fruits rose a long way beyond the 
foliage trees and were alive with parrots and marudis. 
816. The high degree of cultivation to which the banks of the 
Pomeroon must have been carried in former times was even yet indicated 
by the extensive flats where the Yismla, Mimom, and »Sfo/f/JM//»-bnsh now 
made a flourishing growth which was only surpassed by the ashen-grey 
trunks of Cccropia pcliata. This characteristic vegetation that rises 
up so quickly on flats once cultivated but subsequently al>andoned 
to Nature truly borders on the marvellous. 
817. We had again proceeded several hours along virgin forest when 
an unexpected sight presented itself. Upon top of a 60 to 80 ft. high 
hill on the right bank w\as to be seen a house facing the water, from which 
an alley -way of cocoa-nut palms led straight up. It was a strange 
V 1. 
