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New Guinea in search of Paradise-hirds. 
On April 14th we were up before daylight attending to the 
last of the packing ; then, after fixing the cages to long poles 
slung between two men, I led off at 8.30 a.m. with the birds, 
while Stalker followed with our impedimenta. We reached 
Eikeild about 3.30 p.m., much tired with the long march, and 
just escaped the rain which fell heavily soon afterwards. 
Next day I got ahead of our noisy followers with my gun- 
bearer and shot a fine Zoe’s Fruit-Pigeon (Carpophaya zoece). 
When we arrived at Epa a native missionary residing there 
gave us some fresh bread, and I tried some fried wallaby- 
meat, which was palatable enough, though somewhat tough. 
I observed plenty of beautiful butterflies in this district, and 
spent a little while in the village, which did not differ much 
from others that we had already seen. Signs of revolt here 
arose amongst our carriers, hut Stalker threatened to 
report them to the police, and they then came along quietly 
for the last march. This part of the journey was one of the 
most trying that I have ever undertaken, as we had received 
word from Bowden that the whale-boat and canoes would 
meet us below Bioto, and we therefore took a slightly different 
route to our former. We continually descended through the 
marvellous jungle and open patches of country until we 
found ourselves in a mangrove-swamp, where the mosquitoes 
became most annoying in their attentions. For a long while 
I fully believed that we had lost the way. The daily rains 
had flushed the banks of all the streams, and as a natural con¬ 
sequence the swamp w r as rendered more difficult to traverse 
than at other seasons, so that I was happy to arrive at last 
at the small village of Nikora about 2 p.m. I immediately 
ordered fresh cocoanuts and had a change of clothing, Stalker 
arriving about an hour later, when we enjoyed some lunch 
and made preparations for a night's lodging. We were 
allowed but a short rest, however, for news was brought in 
that the whale-boat and canoes were awaiting us in a creek, 
having been sent up a day earlier than I had arranged with 
Bowden. Luckily we were within about two miles of the 
river, and we soon put our stores aboard the whale-boat, 
while the bird-cages were placed carefully on a canoe, and 
