90 
FOREST EXCURSIONS. 
whose beach the east wind has been throwing 
a wealth of sponges, hydroids, and shells, we 
spend many hours examining them and watch- 
ing the fields of shore-crabs, with their richly 
coloured pincer limbs, and the curious fishes 
which come up out of the water and hop along 
the shore in their odd way. 
When H. goes with the men to the forest, I 
accompany as far as I am able. Several shallow 
rivulets find their outlet round Waai, and there 
is no w T ay of reaching the surrounding country 
except by crossing some one of them. When 
we start, I am carried through the streams by 
Lopez if there are no stepping-stones. But these 
boulders, thrown in by the natives, and easily 
grasped by their unbooted feet, are simply a 
snare to us ; we invariably slip off them into the 
water. The rest of the walk is then taken with- 
out any regard to boots and stockings, and on 
my return alone I splash quite unconcernedly 
through the streams. 
Sometimes the forest path leads through a deep 
glade under high-arching trees, where the under- 
growtlis are lit up by rich blossom or gorgeous 
tree -fruit ; sometimes through stretches of open 
field, from which we can look out on the pleasing 
scener} r of the environs. I find H. J s warning, not 
