THE WOOD-CUTTER. 
269 
Satsmna japonica, and the common Acusta Sieboldi. 
With the exception of some dark-winged butterflies, 
insect life seemed very scarce. The flat stones even, 
on being turned, revealed nothing but wood-lice, 
centipedes, and cymatise. A small yelping cur 
detected me in the act of transporting some bundles 
of brushwood in search of snails, and anon, his owner, 
a broad-faced, smiling Caliban, appeared. The honest 
wood-cutter was even more astonished at my volun- 
tary labour than liis ‘‘friend on all fours,” but 
muttering “moosi,"' which means “creeping things,” 
he rattled a bit of chain, saying interrogatively, 
“Ma?” which being interpreted, signifies, “Have 
you seen my j)ony pass this way ? ” I shook my 
head, and pointing to my collecting-bottle, repeated 
“Esha.” On this hint — for Esha means “Doctor” 
— I was treated with profound resj)cct, and the old 
peasant, suddenly vanishing into the bush, speedily 
returned with both hands filled with be<5tles. By 
the use of tlmee words only, we had succeeded in 
understanding each other. 
Froni my elevated position iji the fii’-clearing I 
M 
