230 
SOUTH SEA 
on another, with plumage of a golden yellow, mutely 
fixed on some green bough, lengthy and taper-streaking 
with its beauteous form the gloomy shade. Others, of 
the purest white, animated the forest scene, like the 
chaste snow-drop emerging frotn the dusky earth ; while 
strutted not far distant, proudly disdaining to exert its 
flight, the golden pheasant, his neck bespangled with a 
thousand hues. Every step that was taken aroused 
some drowsy lizard, basking in the sun’s rays, which 
shot suddenly and with remarkable swiftness into its 
subterranean abode in the dry bank or stony cleft;— 
now and then the buz of the busy humming-bird fell 
faintly upon the ear, and other winged music, shrill and 
sudden, melancholy, slow, or that of richest melody, 
delighted the traveller through the forest way ; and when 
the shades of evening enwrapped those beauties in its 
sable folds, then, amidst the ambrosial airs which rose 
from the scented shrubs or flowery fields, the fire-fly 
could be seen flitting in the darkened space, lighting 
itself along its gloomy road, or, with its flickering light 
searching for dainty sips of the rich nectar which various 
flowers distilled. 
When 1 arrived at the town I was immediately beset 
by numbers of people who were labouring under various 
diseases, all greeting me with great warmth. It was 
“come esta ,J from some, and “bon physico” from 
others ; and all of them exerted themselves to return by 
any means in their power the favours they received* from 
me, and I did the best I could for all of them while 
I remained among them. The house at which I lodged 
