204 Mr. C. B. Horsbrugh —to British 
Occasionally we heard Cassowaries, which usually keep 
away from a track frequented by human beings. This 
bird's voice sounds to me like very distant and indistinct 
thunder. At this season rain is of daily occurrence, and 
innumerable streamlets crossing the track made it rough 
and slippery, but the porters took great care of our belong¬ 
ings and we found nothing damaged when we reached 
camp. Of how many miles that first day's march consisted 
I cannot state, but we both had more than enough of it 
and were pleased when we came to Epa. Here we invaded 
the mission-house and stored our personal luggage inside, 
while the natives made themselves at home underneath the 
house and on the wide verandah. Cooking-operations were 
soon started and everyone finally settled down, not, however, 
before the day’s events and a host of other subjects had been 
discussed far into the night. Before our start next morning 
I bought a Erogmouth (Podargus intermedins) for a stick or 
two of tobacco. I kept the bird alive for a week, and it 
became fairly tame and readily ate grasshoppers of all sizes ; 
but I can say nothing of its habits in captivity, as it was a 
mournful-looking object, and sat silent and inactive all day 
in its cage. At this place Stalker deemed it wise to remain 
until he could get more of our impedimenta brought up from 
Bioto. We sent back the pony by the policeman, with a 
few carriers who would not go any further. The rice, 
which was intended to serve as food for our staff and carriers, 
had mostly been stored at our first halt, with several other 
items which might be required when we finished our marches. 
Stalker and some of our personal attendants were, therefore, 
left behind whilst I advanced to Eikeiki, which was reached 
the same afternoon. Where the village lay I had no time 
to discover, as none of its inhabitants came to meet us. The 
mission-house there stood on a little hill, from which was 
obtained a fine view of the mountains densely covered with 
vegetation. I made use of this dwelling, and while attending 
to preparations for the evening meal heard some shots in 
the surrounding jungle, and soon afterwards one of our boys 
returned with a fine male Paradisea raggiana . This bird 
