On our arrival at the beach, we found that the indefatigable Frau and
her young companions had carried up all the articles to the house. On
seeing us return, they had again come down, with Potto Jumbo, to help
us. The Frau, lifting a coil of rope, put it round her neck,
exclaiming, "Ah! I have one fine necklace--I carry this;" and off she
set, with a bag of biscuit at her back. The girls each loaded
themselves with blocks and ropes, while we carried up the chests and
heavier articles.
Great was Mr Hooker's delight when he saw his beloved cases arrive.
"What! you have saved these?" he exclaimed, lifting up his hands, and
gazing at them with affection. "I am indeed indebted to you. I little
thought any one else appreciated them as I do. But it shows you are
true lovers of science, that you value such treasures as these--not as
ordinary persons value them, but as men of science look at them--at
their true worth. Thank you, my friends--thank you;" and he shook us
all warmly by the hand.
I really believe that the restoration of his collections contributed
greatly to his recovery.
The next day we were employed in the same way--in getting on shore as
many of the stores as we could fish up from the wreck. Mr Sedgwick was
well pleased at the appearance of the case of wine.
"It is just what my patients want," he observed; "and though I can
manufacture palm-wine and arrack, they will not answer the purpose
nearly so well. Indeed, the arrack is poisonous stuff at the best."
For some days both Mr Hooker and the mate appeared to hang between life
and death. Our uncle, I saw, was very anxious about them, and seldom
absent from their room. When he went away, the good Frau took his
place. When absent, however, he was still engaged in their service, as
he was either concocting medicines or cooking dishes to suit their
taste.
"Potto Jumbo is a very good sea-cook," he observed to me, "but not quite
capable of producing a dish fit for an invalid; and as to my Dyak,
Tanda, his ideas are somewhat limited in that way."
The weather continued fine, and the vessel hung together; but the
boatswain was of opinion that should another gale come on, she would
quickly go to pieces.
"Though we might get some of her timbers and planks, they would be
sorely battered by getting knocked on the rocks," he observed; "and to
my mind it would be better if we could get them ripped off at once. It
will be a pretty tough job; but it is to be done."
I proposed the matter to Mr Sedgwick, but he rather doubted our
capability of performing the operation. He could not help us, as he was
required to attend to our friends, while his man had to look after the
plantations and animals, and indeed had ample work. He thought that
fresh planks from the trees in the forest would be of more use than the
broken ones we might get from the vessel. We, indeed, were prevented
from returning to her for some days, on account of a strong wind setting
in directly on the shore, which created so much surf that we were unable
to pass through it in our small boat.
Mr Thudicumb was to be our master-builder. He had more acquaintance
with ship-building than any of us--indeed, probably than all the party
put together; but he was yet too ill even to superintend the
undertaking. We hoped, however, that in the course of a week or two he
would be sufficiently recovered to set us to work. At present, indeed,
he could scarcely even give his thoughts to the subject.
I proposed that we should employ the time in exploring the island. Mr
Sedgwick had never gone to any great distance from the spot where he had
located himself. He had been unable to do so, as directly he began to
collect his menagerie it was necessary for him to remain to attend to
his animals. He was also unwilling to go far from the coast, lest, a
vessel passing, he might lose the opportunity of getting on board her.
This had kept him week after week, and month after month, within a few
miles of the shore. He was now, however, very glad to make the proposed
expedition.
Mr Hooker and the mate were sufficiently recovered to move about the
house and to take short walks in the neighbourhood. The girls were both
very anxious to go also, but the Frau strongly objected to their doing
so.
"Suppose we meet snakes, or wild beasts, or savages?" she asked. "Oh
no, no, Frauline Emily and Grace. You must stop and take care of Mr
Hooker and poor Mr Thudicumb. What they do without you?"
We were much amused at the Frau's anxiety, because we suspected that she
supposed if they went she would have to go also, and for this she had no
fancy. She was a very good nurse, and a very good cook; but she took
little interest in beautiful scenery or in natural history.
"We will take very good care of the young ladies if you like to remain
behind," said our uncle. "We can easily make some litters to carry
them, should they be tired, and we will leave you to assist in
garrisoning our castle."
"Oh, but I not like to lose sight of them," she answered; and indeed she
was afraid that they might meet with some accident, or suffer from the
hardships of the journey.
They, however, pleaded their cause so well, that at length it was
arranged they were to go with us.
"I have read that Lady Raffles accompanied her husband, Sir Stamford, in
many of his excursions through Sumatra and other islands of these seas,
and I do not see why we should be afraid of any of the hardships which
she had to go through," observed Emily.
We now busied ourselves in making preparations for our journey. Our
party consisted of our uncle as leader, Oliver and I, Dick Tarbox, Roger
Trew, and Potto Jumbo. Merlin evidently understood that we were going
on an expedition, and wagged his tail and looked up in my face as if to
ask if he might accompany us. First he went to one, and then to
another, making the same request.
"If you can spare him, Hooker, we will take him," observed my uncle.
"He seems so well trained, that I think he will not range too widely and
disturb our game."
"Speak to him, and he will do whatever you tell him," said Mr Hooker;
and so Merlin was added to our party.
We promised the Frau that should the difficulties we might meet with be
too great for the girls to encounter, we would at once return, and
leaving them, set off again by ourselves. We each of us earned a
fowling-piece, an axe, and a knife, with flint and steel, and a bag of
sago-cake, prepared as have before described. We felt very sure that we
could provide ourselves with an ample supply of animal food, as also
vegetables, wherever we might go. Nature has been lavishly bountiful in
that region in her supply of food for the wants of man; indeed, there
are no parts of the world where a little labour will produce such an
abundance of all the necessaries of life as in most of the islands of
that archipelago.
Several streams ran down from the neighbouring mountains fertilising the
land, and, in the intervals, cocoa-nut trees grew, with fruit now
sufficiently ripe to afford a delicious draught of cool liquid whenever
we might want it.
We rose before daybreak to breakfast, that we might commence our journey
in the cool of the morning. Our friends collected in the verandah to
wish us good-bye. Mr Hooker, however, seemed very unhappy at being
unable to accompany us.
"Cheer up, friends," said our uncle. "We shall be back, probably, in
two or three days; and having stretched our legs, we shall be the better
able to make another excursion, and I hope by that time you will be of
the party."
My uncle led, axe in hand, to clear away any creepers or underwood which
might impede our progress. The girls, with Oliver and I on either hand,
followed, while the three men, with their guns ready for use, brought up
the rear. The views were, however, confined, in consequence of the
thickness of the forest and the somewhat level nature of the country;
but in the distance we could see mountains rising, with intervening
hills, which showed us that there was some climbing in prospect.
Nothing could exceed the beauty of the woods, or the great variety of
strange trees and plants which met our sight in every direction. Among
the most beautiful and curious were the orchids. One especially
arrested our attention. It had large yellow clusters of flowers hanging
down from some of the lower branches of the trees, so that it was more
than usually conspicuous. Our uncle called it the _Vanda Lowii_. Many
of its strange pendent flower-spikes almost reached the ground. Each
was about six or eight feet long, with large, handsome flowers three
inches across, varying in colour from orange to red, with deep
purple-red spots. Some, indeed, were even longer than that; and we
counted on one thirty-six flowers arranged in a spiral way upon a
slender, thread-like stalk.
A shout from one of the men a short distance behind made us stop.
"Why, that is a rum-looking creature!" exclaimed Dick Tarbox.
"Dat?--dat one big frog with wing!" cried Potto Jumbo, with a loud
laugh.
We turned round, and just at the same moment a companion probably of the
first that had been seen seemed to be flying in a slanting direction
from the bough of a high tree into a small pool which we had noticed as
we passed. Potto sprang forward, and caught it just as it was reaching
the water. It was a curious-looking creature, certainly. The back and
limbs were of a dark shining green colour, while the under surface and
inner toes were yellow. The body was about four inches long, while the
webs of each hind foot, when fully stretched out, covered a surface of
not less than four square inches. Its toes were peculiarly long, and
fully webbed to their extremity, so that, when expanded, they presented
a surface to the air considerably larger than the whole of the body,
which was also capable of being filled out by wind.
"Ah, this is a real flying-frog!" observed our uncle.
However, it was altogether a very curious creature. We were anxious to
preserve it to show to Mr Hooker. It was accordingly consigned to
Roger Trew's bag, our uncle saying that he would preserve it when we
stopped to rest.
The tree-ferns also were very graceful, of various heights and forms,
from eight to fifteen feet high, their tall leaves waving over in the
most picturesque manner.
"We shall soon have a stream to cross," said my uncle, "which I consider
the boundary of my domain. However, as I have made excursions a short
distance beyond it, I have built a bridge that I might get across
without difficulty. You must, however, string up your nerves, as,
probably, you have seldom passed over such a structure. It is exactly
such as I have seen built by the Dyaks in Borneo."
On getting to the banks of the stream it was evident that without a boat
or a bridge we should be unable to cross. We now, however, saw the
means my uncle had contrived. The bridge was made entirely of bamboo.
A number of stout pieces crossed each other like the letter X, fixed in
the bank on either side, and rising a few feet above it. They were then
firmly bound together, as also to a long bamboo of the largest size
which rested on them, and formed the only pathway over which we had to
cross. Another long bamboo, raised three feet above the other on either
side, formed the hand-rails. It was, however, supported also by ratans,
which led from some overhanging trees above it, while other bamboos were
stuck into the banks, and leaning outward over the stream, formed
diagonal supports.
"Come, Emily and Grace," said my uncle. "If you find that I get across
safely, you need have no fear; and I repaired it completely but a few
days ago, little thinking how soon it was to be crossed by any one
else."
When my uncle had got about half-way across the stream, I began to
tremble for his safety. The bamboo seemed to me to be creaking and
cracking, and every instant I expected it to give way. However, he
appeared perfectly at his ease, and walking calmly on, soon reached the
other bank in safety.
"Shall I go next, Emily, or will you?" I asked.
"Oh no, no," said Emily; "Grace and I will go," and bravely she led the
way.
Grace was a little more timid, but followed her closely, and they too
reached the opposite bank. When the rest of the party came over, they
said they had seen a large bird on the bank of the stream flying near
the decayed trunk of a huge tree.
"Whereabouts is it?" exclaimed my uncle with great eagerness.
"Dere, dere!" said Potto Jumbo, whose eyes in these thick woods were
evidently sharper than those of his companions, who might, however, have
been able to see further than he could on the ocean.
We crept carefully along the bank. It was a huge bird of dark plumage,
with a vast bill, and a curious sort of cap on its head. It had
something in its mouth, with which it went to a hole in the tree I have
described. My uncle, telling us to remain quiet, crept nearer and
fired. The bird fell with a loud flop into the stream.
"After him!" I said to Merlin, as the bird was floating down.
Merlin dashed forward, and springing in, approached the bird, who,
however, was only wounded, and began to show battle with his formidable
bill. Merlin wisely kept out of his reach, for a peck of that bill
would soon have taken out one of his eyes. The bird, at length,
however, became exhausted, and then Merlin sprang on him, and seizing
him by the neck, quickly dragged him to the shore.
"It is a magnificent hornbill!" exclaimed our uncle--"_Buceros
bicornis_."
Merlin had killed the bird in bringing it on shore, and it now lay
stretched out before us. My uncle eagerly went forward to the tree, and
looking up about fifteen feet from the ground, we saw a small hole
surrounded by mud. Directly afterwards, out came the white end of a
beak, which seemed to gape as if expecting to have some food put into
it. We were silent for an instant, and then heard the harsh croaking of
a bird, which seemed to come from the interior of the tree. How to get
at it, however, was the question.
"We will soon be up there," said Tarbox. "I have seen the way the black
fellows get up a tree, and I think we can do the same."
He soon cut down some bamboos, which, cutting into pieces about a foot
and a half in length, he drove into the tree, we all assisting him. He
then secured some upright bamboos to the pieces which had thus been
stuck in one above another. As soon as he had stuck them in as high as
he could reach, he mounted on the first, and then put in some more above
his head, and thus in a very short time got up to a level with the hole.
"I have no fancy, though, for having my eyes picked out, which they
might very quickly be if the creature inside has got as big a beak as
the one you killed, sir," he observed.
He accordingly got somewhat higher up. He then with his axe began to
knock away the mud, and in a short time cleared out a large hole, when
not only the beak but the head of a bird similar to the one which had
been killed was poked out.
Dick seized it by the neck in spite of its furious struggles, and giving
it a swing, threw it down to the ground, where the rest of us pounced
upon it, when it commenced uttering the most tremendously loud, hoarse
screaming I ever heard.
"There is something else in the nest, though!" he exclaimed; and putting
in his hand he drew out an extraordinary little lump of vitality, which,
however, was evidently a young bird. "I will bring it down to its
mother," he said; "for if I threw it, the poor little creature would be
killed."
Holding the creature in one hand with as much care as if it had been a
young child, he descended with the other. It was a bird as large as a
pigeon, but without a single feather on any part of its body. It was
wonderfully plump and soft, with a skin almost transparent, so that it
looked more like a bag of jelly than any living thing, with a head and
feet and commencement of wings stuck on to it. The little creature
seemed in no way frightened, but opened its mouth as if expecting to be
fed. We brought it to its mother, who immediately recognised it, and
when we handed her a piece of fruit she took it and gave a portion to
her offspring, who lifted up its beak to receive it.
"Oh, I will carry it!" cried Grace. "I should not like the poor little
thing to be hurt."
Grace had a kind heart, and was always ready to sympathise with any one
in distress. We accordingly made a basket of palm-leaves, and Dick
again ascended the tree to bring out the lining of the nest. This we
put into the basket, and the bird was placed upon it. The mother again
began to scream loudly when we took away its young.
"Come, old lady, I'll carry you," said Roger Trew, lifting up the hen
hornbill; but the bird fought so desperately that he was glad to put her
down again. "We must tie your legs and put your nose in a bag, ma'am,"
said Roger, "or you will be doing some one a mischief."
A larger basket was therefore made, into which we put the old bird,
fastening in its head at the same time. Mr Sedgwick was highly
delighted with his prize. He had always wished to get one of these
birds; but had failed to find them, though he had seen them at a
distance, and therefore knew that they were in the island. He was aware
of this habit of the male bird of plastering up his mate with her egg,
and bringing her food while it was being hatched. Several other
hornbills act in the same way.
We continued our journey for some time along the banks of the stream,
which sparkled brightly as it made its way through the forest. Then we
began gradually to ascend the mountains we had seen in the distance.
Nothing could exceed the beauty of the forest trees amid which we were
making our way--lofty palms, and the wonderful screw-palm, tall
cocoa-nut palms, and a number of trees of the same description. Here
and there also were groups of bamboos; and in many places ratans grew,
hanging from tree to tree. Now and then we met with beautiful flowers
and flowering shrubs, but they were not so common as we expected. Their
size and brilliancy, however, made amends for their scarcity. Among
them were some creepers, having crimson and yellow flowers; others were
of a rich purple colour. Among the most beautiful was one which Mr
Sedgwick called an _anonaceous_ tree: it was about thirty feet high, and
its slender trunk was covered with large star-like crimson flowers,
which surrounded it like a garland, and Grace and Emily declared they
thought some one had come on purpose to adorn it. In one spot a number
of these trees grew all together, producing a most beautiful and
brilliant effect; others were immense trees with furrowed stems; and now
and then we came to a magnificent fig-tree, which was altogether unlike
any tree I had ever seen. It seemed as if its trunk had been divided
into hundreds of small stems and roots. The most curious, however, was
one which had its base eighty feet up from the ground, while that rested
on a wonderful pyramid of roots which, shooting downwards, spread out on
every side, while the branches started off and rose again to a vast
height above the stem. Then, again, from its branches hung down a
variety of creepers, like the shrouds of a vessel, to keep it apparently
from being blown away by a tornado.
I cannot attempt to describe all the beautiful butterflies we saw. Now
and then Mr Sedgwick made chase after one. Once he returned with one,
which he considered a valuable prize. The ground colour of its wings
was a rich shining black, the lower wings being of a delicate grey with
white, and bordered by a row of large spots of the most brilliant
satin-like yellow. The body was marked with shade spots of white,
yellow, and fiery orange, while the head and thorax were intense black.
The under sides of the lower wings were of soft white, the marginal
spots being half black and half yellow.
Scarcely had this one been caught, than he gave chase to another
superb-looking one, of a rich purple, variously tinged with ash colour,
a broad bar of deep orange running across the fore wings. Away it flew,
and we ran after to assist him, when it seemed to drop among some dried
leaves, and there it totally disappeared. What had become of it, we
could not tell, when suddenly, almost from before our eyes, it rose
again in the air, and gave us another chase, till it again disappeared
as before. At length we saw Mr Sedgwick fall almost prostrate, with
his net over the leaves; and then what appeared to be a dry leaf
suddenly rose and turned into a large butterfly. It was, however, under
his net, and was quickly made his prisoner. We soon discovered the
curious arrangement by which the creature is enabled to escape capture.
The end of the upper wings terminated in a fine point, just as is the
case with the leaves of many tropical shrubs. The lower wings were more
obtuse, and lengthened out into a short thin tail. Between these two
points ran a dark curved line, representing the mid rib of a leaf, while
the other marks were radiated exactly like the lateral fans of leaves;
indeed, the wings of the creature when closed were so like a leaf, that
it was scarcely possible to distinguish it from those amidst which it
had pitched.
As we rose higher and higher in this mountainous region towards which we
were bending our steps, gigantic ferns became more numerous. Among them
were most curious pitcher-plants. They took the form of half-climbing
shrubs, their pitchers, of various sizes and forms, hanging in numbers
from their leaves. Every ridge was now crowned with gigantic ferns,
which reminded us of the descriptions of the antediluvian world, when
ferns appear to have been the chief vegetation which covered the surface
of the globe.--I will not mention our dinner.
It was now time to encamp for the night. Our first care was to make
arrangements for the accommodation of the young ladies. We had an
abundance of materials at hand, and soon cut down branches and leaves
sufficient to make a very comfortable bower in which they might rest. A
fire was then lighted, and similar bowers, though of less careful
construction, were erected for the rest of the party. Our uncle
arranged that one of the party should remain on watch.
"I cannot tell what sort of creatures inhabit these wilds," he observed;
"but I have every reason to believe that many of those that range over
Borneo and Sumatra are to be found here. They have probably been
prevented coming to my territory by the river which separates it from
the rest of the island; but I have seen traces of the rhinoceros, and
trees broken down in a way elephants alone could accomplish. Wild boars
I have shot; and tigers and huge serpents, I have reason to believe, are
to be found in some parts of the island."
"How delightful!" I exclaimed; but then I recollected the danger to
which Emily and Grace might be exposed. I said something to that
effect.
"We must keep a careful watch," he answered; "and in truth I believe
that generally wild animals are more afraid of man than man need he of
them, if he is on his guard."
I did not wish to frighten the girls, and therefore did not talk to them
of these things. As I lay down to waistcoat, I could not help thinking
of the various fierce creatures we might possibly meet with, and in my
dreams I was engaged in desperate encounters with all those my uncle had
mentioned, and not a few others--such as have no existence except in the
imagination.