24 
After lunch, which we ate aboard the launch, we did our afternoon's 
climbing nearer home, up the hog-back leading to the clearing on the first 
treeless bluff above on the south side of the stream entering Chatham Bay. 
From this open space, once we got on top, we travelled back along a ridge of 
the hills extending inland. High up along this second ridge and down a way 
on either slope we saw not only more of the palms we went so far to get yester- 
day, but a profusion of tree ferns as well. 
was thrilling enough, with what precarious footing we found among the giant 
tufts of long grass growing over it. But it was far too steep and ri sky- 
looking for us to want to attempt to return that way. We took a longer way 
'round, down a valley that, from the way it was scoured out in places, must 
serve as a quick run-eff for the torrential downpours for which Cocos is noted. 
but 
The several detours we had to make around precipitous ,^for the time 
being* waterless falls lengthened out the return journey considerably* Yet, 
it was but a few hours 1 journey as compared to yesterday’s all day jaunt* 
Any party exploring the upper reaches of Cocos Island should carry a long* 
light* but stout line— in a sack* to prevent its getting caught in the brush* 
A good line should prove an invaluable aid in descending very steep slopes or 
otherwise impossible drops. There are trees everywhere at hand about which 
it could be passed in order that one could safely descend the doubled line* 
This could then be quickly pulled down* More than once we wished that we 
had taken something of the sort along* 
The President had an interesting experience in the course of landing 
his sailfish of this day* As recounted to me by Captain Callaghan, the Presi- 
( ( 
dent's Naval. Aide, appears that the President bad hooked a monstrous 
sailfish, and while playing it, a second sailfish became entangled in the line. 
