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the malay archipelago-1-第70章

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in rotten trunks I was sure to get the curious little tiger beetle; Therates flavilabris。 In the denser thickets I would capture the small metal…blue butterflies (Amblypodia) sitting on the leaves; as well as some rare and beautiful leaf…beetles of the families Hispidae and Chrysomelidae。

I found that the rotten jack…fruits were very attractive to many beetles; and used to split them partly open and lay them about in the forest near my house to rot。 A morning's search at these often produced me a score of speciesStaphylinidae; Nitidulidae; Onthophagi; and minute Carabidae; being the most abundant。 Now and then the 〃sagueir〃 makers brought me a fine rosechafer (Sternoplus schaumii) which they found licking up the sweet sap。 Almost the only new birds I met with for some time were a handsome ground thrush (Pitta celebensis); and a beautiful violet…crowned dove (Ptilonopus celebensis); both very similar to birds I had recently obtained at Aru; but of distinct species。

About the latter part of September a heavy shower of rain fell; admonishing us that we might soon expect wet weather; much to the advantage of the baked…up country。 I therefore determined to pay a visit to the falls of the Maros river; situated at the point where it issues from the mountainsa spot often visited by travellers and considered very beautiful。 Mr。 M。 lent me a horse; and I obtained a guide from a neighbouring village; and taking one of my men with me; we started at six in the morning; and after a ride of two hours over the flat rice…fields skirting the mountains which rose in grand precipices on our left; we readied the river about half…way between Maros and the falls; and thence had a good bridle…road to our destination; which we reached。 in another hour。 The hills had closed in around us as we advanced; and when we reached a ruinous shed which had been erected for the accommodation of visitors; we found ourselves in a flat…bottomed valley about a quarter of a mile wide; bounded by precipitous and often overhanging limestone rocks。 So far the ground had been cultivated; but it now became covered with bushes and large scattered trees。

As soon as my scanty baggage had arrived and was duly deposited in the shed; I started off alone for the fall; which was about a quarter of a mile further on。 The river is here about twenty yards wide; and issues from a chasm between two vertical walls of limestone; over a rounded mass of basaltic rock about forty feet high; forming two curves separated by a slight ledge。 The water spreads beautifully over this surface in a thin sheet of foam; which curls and eddies in a succession of concentric cones until it falls into a fine deep pool below。 Close to the very edge of the fall a narrow and very rugged path leads to the river above; and thence continues close under the precipice along the water's edge; or sometimes in the water; for a few hundred yards; after which the rocks recede a little; and leave a wooded bank on one side; along which the path is continued; until in about half a mile; a second and smaller fall is reached。 Here the river seems to issue from a cavern; the rocks having fallen from above so as to block up the channel and bar further progress。 The fall itself can only be reached by a path which ascends behind a huge slice of rock which has partly fallen away from the mountain; leaving a space two or three feet wide; but disclosing a dark chasm descending into the bowels of the mountain; and which; having visited several such; I had no great curiosity to explore。

Crossing the stream a little below the upper fall; the path ascends a steep slope for about five hundred feet; and passing through a gap enters a narrow valley; shut in by walls of rock absolutely perpendicular and of great height。 Half a mile further this valley turns abruptly to the right; and becomes a mere rift in the mountain。 This extends another half mile; the walls gradually approaching until they are only two feet apart; and the bottom rising steeply to a pass which leads probably into another valley; but which I had no time to explore。 Returning to where this rift had begun the main path turns up to the left in a sort of gully; and reaches a summit over which a fine natural arch of rock passes at a height of about fifty feet。 Thence was a steep descent through thick jungle with glimpses of precipices and distant rocky mountains; probably leading into the main river valley again。 This was a most tempting region to explore; but there were several reasons why I could go no further。 I had no guide; and no permission to enter the Bugis territories; and as the rains might at any time set in; I might be prevented from returning by the flooding of the river。 I therefore devoted myself during the short time of my visit to obtaining what knowledge I could of the natural productions of the place。

The narrow chasms produced several fine insects quite new to me; and one new bird; the curious Phlaegenas tristigmata; a large ground pigeon with yellow breast and crown; and purple neck。 This rugged path is the highway from Maros to the Bugis country beyond the mountains。 During the rainy season it is quite impassable; the river filling its bed and rushing between perpendicular cliffs many hundred feet high。 Even at the time of my visit it was most precipitous and fatiguing; yet women and children came over it daily; and men carrying heavy loads of palm sugar (of very little value)。 It was along the path between the lower and the upper falls; and about the margin of the upper pool; that I found most insects。 The large semi…transparent butterfly; Idea tondana; flew lazily along by dozens; and it was here that I at length obtained an insect which I had hoped but hardly expected to meet withthe magnificent Papilio androcles; one of the largest and rarest known swallow…tailed butterflies。 During my four days' stay at the falls; I was so fortunate as to obtain six good specimens。 As this beautiful creature flies; the long white tails flicker like streamers; and when settled on the beach it carries them raised upwards; as if to preserve them from injury。 It is scarce even here; as I did not see more than a dozen specimens in all; and had to follow many of them up and down the river's bank repeatedly before I succeeded in their capture。 When the sun shone hottest; about noon; the moist beach of the pool below the upper fall presented a beautiful sight; being dotted with groups of gay butterfliesorange; yellow; white; blue; and green which on being disturbed rose into the air by hundreds; forming clouds of variegated colours。

Such gores; chasms; and precipices here abound;as I have nowhere seen in the Archipelago。 A sloping surface is scarcely anywhere to be found; huge walls and rugged masses of rock terminating all the mountains and enclosing the valleys。 In many parts there are vertical or even overhanging precipices five or six hundred feet high; yet completely clothed with a tapestry of vegetation。 Ferns; Pandanaceae; shrubs; creepers; and even forest trees; are mingled in an evergreen network; through the interstices of which appears the white limestone rock or the dark holes and chasms with which it abounds。 These precipices are enabled to sust
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