IV 
INTRODUCTION. 
is left behind the greater does this difficulty become, until when the villages of the 
mountaineers are reached it is impossible to purchase rice in quantity c\ en directly after 
the harvest. This necessitates the conveyance of a tremendous amount of baggage from 
the coast if the expedition is to remain any length of time inland, which to be 
zoologically successful it must do. 
The equatorial regions are noted for their great rainfall; but that of the equatorial 
mountain regions may be said to be almost continuous, averaging perhaps six hours out of 
every twelve of daylight; the nights, however, are generally clear and cold. 
The utter indifference shown by the aborigines of these countries as regards the value 
of time is often more than annoying—to-day, to-morrow, or the next day being all the same 
to them. Then, again, their curious superstitions at times make them openly hostile to 
