212 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
round the body, and reaching from the hips to the 
knees. This is the universal dress, except in a few 
cases where the Malay sarong has come into use. 
Their hair is frizzled, and tied in a bunch at the back 
of the head. 
The forest scenery possesses a brilliant and varied 
vegetation ; the beautiful Causurina tree, luxuriant 
groves of cocoa-nut, and palms of graceful forms 
were seen everywhere, while climbing ratans formed 
entangled festoons from almost every forest tree. 
Here the lovely bird of paradise, and scores of others 
with gorgeous plumage, flew in and out amidst the 
bright green foliage, forming a magnificent sight. 
From an early hour in the morning the forests are 
all alive with lories, parroquets, and cockatoos, whose 
shrill screams and cries resound through the woods ; 
while numerous smaller birds, many of the most 
lovely form and colour, chirruped and whistled all 
the day long. 
In and amongst this beautiful forest scenery we 
remained for a week, while daily excursions were 
made to the other islands of the group, and large 
numbers of very beautiful birds obtained, including 
many varieties of the rich-plumed birds of paradise. 
So gorgeous and beautiful are some of these (the 
king-bird) that the natives name them God’s birds. 
All were sorry to leave these fascinating shores, 
for the many pleasant cruises in the steam-pinnace 
up the rivers and to the adjacent islands, together 
