and L. cordifolius, the first of these hanging from the trees like honeysuckle during the cold season, gives the woods and groves a gay appearance. But the havoc which it makes on the trees is incalculable. It is useless urging the natives to cut it off their trees, for they are too apathetic and conservative to do anything, however beneficial, which was not done by their forefathers.

The mistletoe is not unlike its English cousin; and few people in Calcutta seem aware of its existence, though there is little doubt an enterprising firm would find some profit in sending a few cart-loads of this favourite plant to decorate European houses in Calcutta.

One of the most beautiful of the jungle products here is the red Chamber Candlestick (Hastingia coccinea), which lights up the hill side, particularly if there is water near. The flowers require the direct rays of the sun to bring them to perfection, for I have noticed those which grow under the shadow of the hills are of a much lighter hue than those enjoying the full sun-light. Other conspicuous members of the Verbena family found among

these hills are the Wild Sage (Lantana alba), the Chaste tree (Vitex negundo), and the Trumpet flower (Cleredendron phlomoides), which may be seen climbing over old ruined temples near Kharakpoor.

CHAPTER XII.

Monkey Island.-The Paradise Fly-catcher.-The Kabur Swamp.-Narrow escape from drowning.-Birds on the Swamps. Jacanas. - Purple Coots. - Cormorants. Abundance of Fish.-Myriads of wild Ducks.—The Goose-teal.-Water Plants.-Picnic on the Swamp.The Sacred Island.-Monkeys.--Ascetics.-Ospreys.Plants on the Island.-Fresh-water Sponges.-Abundance of Mosquitos.-Myriads of Swallows.-Duckshooting.

ALTHOUGH Monkey Island is a sacred spot, the number of Europeans who have visited it may be almost counted on the fingers. It consists of nearly five hundred acres of land, surrounded by the Kabur swamp, situated in the northwestern division of Monghyr. As the swamp is the favourite rendezvous of water-fowl, I always turned my steps towards it during the cold weather of each succeeding year; and my camp was pitched adjacent to the nearest

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THE PARADISE FLY-CATCHER.

bazaar, where my servants and horses could be fed. The mango grove in which my sleeping tent was pitched abounded in bamboo clumps, where the beautiful Paradise fly-catcher (Tchitrea paradisi) might generally be seen hawking about for flies, with its tail, fifteen inches long, floating out behind. The plumage of these birds, varying from chestnut to pure white, still puzzles naturalists; some of whom think the colour depends on age, whilst others say that the white is the nuptial plumage. As I have seen both white and chestnut males paired with females in the spring, the nuptial theory does not appear correct; and I believe that the colouration is merely due to a mysterious law similar to that which give some men red and others white hair.

At daybreak on the 21st of February I arrived at the margin of the swamp, which covers an area of twenty square miles, and which supports a band of some four hundred fishermen upon its waters, for it swarms with fish. More than once it has been proposed to drain the swamp, and turn it into arable land fit for growing rice; but I believe the fish which the waters contain are more valuable to

THE KABUR LAKE.

255

the surrounding country than any amount of rice, as it gives the people variety in their food. On arrival at the margin of the swamp as morning dawned, I found that the boatman who always accompanied me had not arrived, and the only boat available was an ancient forest tree which, when the century was young, had been hollowed out for carrying the present owner's grandfather in his fishing excursions on the lake, and had been preserved as an heirloom ever since. This kind of canoe, or dugout, as it is called, is always used on the Monghyr lakes and swamps, for it can easily be steered through tangled grass and reeds where a broad-bottomed boat could not possibly go. But time had so impaired the seaworthiness of this frail canoe that the water was only kept from entering by lumps of clay, which formed a kind of bulwark against its sides. I had, however, great confidence in the boatman's skill; he had been reared from his childhood in this boat, and knew it well. But the sequel proved my confidence was misplaced; for the boatman made his calculations regarding the tonnage of his boat by the number of natives, and not Europeans, which