clumps separated by water, so that nothing was to be
gained by leaving the beaten track, and we were obliged
to go floundering on, never knowing where our feet would
rest, as the mud was now a few inches, now two feet, deep,
and the bottom very uneven, eo that the foot slid down to
the lowest part, and made it difficult to keep one’s balance,
One step would be upon a concealed stick or log, almost
dislocating the ankle, while the next would plunge into
soft mud above the knee. It rained all the way, and the
long grass, six feet high, met over the path ; so that we
could not see a step of the way ahead, and received a double
drenching. Before we got to the village it was dark, and
we had to cross over a small but deep and swollen stream
by a narrow log of wood, which was more than a foot
under water. There was a slender shaking stick for a
handrail, and it was nervous work feeling in the dark in
the rushing water for a safe place on which to place the
advanced foot. After an hour of .this most disagreeable
and fatiguing walk we reached the village, followed by
the men with our guns, ammunition, boxes, and bedding,
all more or less soaked. We consoled ourselves with
some hot tea and cold fowl, and went early to bed.
The next morning was clear and fine, and I set out soon
after sunrise to explore the neighbourhood. The village
had evidently been newly formed, and consisted of a single
straight street of very miserable huts totally deficient in
I [very comfort, and as bare and cheerless inside as out. It L situated on a little elevated patch of coarse gravelly
[oil, covered with the usual high rigid grass, which came
[p close to the backs of the houses. At a short distance
L several directions were patches of forest, but all on low
■and swampy ground. I made one attempt along the only
■path I could find, but soon came upon a deep mud-hole,
■and found that I must walk barefoot if at a ll; so I returned
■and deferred further exploration till after breakfast. I
■then went on into the jungle and found patches of sago-
■palms and a low forest vegetation, but the paths were everywhere
full of mud-holes, and intersected by muddy streams
■and tracts of swamp, so that walking was not pleasurable,
■and too much attention to one’s steps was not favourable to
■insect catching, which requires above everything freedom of
■motion. I shot a few birds, and caught a few butterflies, but
■ all were the same as I had already obtained about Cajeli.
On my return to the village I was told that the same
■ kind of ground extended for many miles in every
I direction, and I a t . once decided that Wayapo was
I not a suitable place to stay at. The next morning
II early we waded back again through the mud and long
[ wet grass to our boat, and by mid-day reached Cajeli,
where I waited Ali’s return to decide on my future
I movements. He came the following day, and gave a
very bad account of Pelah, where he had been. There was
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