Every foot of ground between the homes throughout the village is crammed with fruit trees, so that the sun and air have no chance of penetrating.

This must be very cool and pleasant in the dry season, but makes it damp and unhealthy at other times of the year.

Unfortunately I had come two months too soon, for the rains were not yet over, and mud and water were the prominent features of the country.
About a mile behind and to the east of the village the hills commence, but they are very barren, being covered with scanty coarse grass and scattered trees of the Melaleuca cajuputi, from the leaves of which the celebrated cajeput oil is made.

Such districts are absolutely destitute of interest for the zoologist.

A few miles further on rose higher mountains, apparently well covered with forest, but they were entirely uninhabited and trackless, and practically inaccessible to a traveller with limited time and means.