The rocks are covered with moss and ferns, and the
mist curling and wandering about among the stems is very lovely.
In our next ravine there is a succession of pools, part of a
mountain torrent of greater magnitude evidently than those we have
passed, and in these pools there are things swimming. Spend more
time catching them, with the assistance of Bum. I do not value
Kefalla's advice, ample though it is, as being of any real value in
the affair. Bag some water-spiders and two small fish. The heat is
less oppressive than yesterday. All yesterday one was being
alternately smothered in the valley and chilled on the hill-tops.
To-day it is a more level temperature, about 70 degrees, I fancy.
The soil up here, about 2,500 feet above sea-level, though rock-
laden is exceedingly rich, and the higher we go there is more
bergamot, native indigo, with its underleaf dark blue, and lovely
coleuses with red markings on their upper leaves, and crimson
linings. I, as an ichthyologist, am in the wrong paradise. What a
region this would be for a botanist!
The country is gloriously lovely if one could only see it for the
rain and mist; but one only gets dim hints of its beauty when some
cold draughts of wind come down from the great mountains and seem to
push open the mist-veil as with spirit hands, and then in a minute
let it fall together again.
