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s on my way； and had come to my assistance； bringing a present of cocoa…nuts and vegetables。 Being thoroughly acquainted with the coast； and having several extra men to assist us； he managed to get the prau along by rowing； poling； or sailing； and by night had brought us safely into harbour； a great relief after our tedious and unhappy voyage。 We had been already eight days among the reefs and islands of Waigiou； coming a distance of about fifty miles； and it was just forty days since we had sailed from Goram。
Immediately on our arrival at Muka； I engaged a small boat and three natives to go in search of my lost men； and sent one of my own men with them to make sure of their going to the right island。 In ten days they returned； but to my great regret and disappointment； without the men。 The weather had been very bad； and though they had reached an island within sight of that in which the men were； they could get no further。 They had waited there six days for better weather； and then； having no more provisions； and the man I had sent with them being very ill and not expected to live； they returned。 As they now knew the island； I was determined they should make another trial； and （by a liberal payment of knives； handkerchiefs； and tobacco； with plenty of provisions） persuaded them to start back immediately； and make another attempt。 They did not return again till the 29th of July； having stayed a few days at their own village of Bessir on the way； but this time they had succeeded and brought with them my two lost men； in tolerable health； though thin and weak。 They had lived exactly a month on the island had found water； and had subsisted on the roots and tender flower…stalks of a species of Bromelia； on shell…fish。 and on a few turtles' eggs。 Having swum to the island； they had only a pair of trousers and a shirt between them； but had made a hut of palm…leaves； and had altogether got on very well。 They saw that I waited for them three days at the opposite island； but had been afraid to cross； lest the current should have carried them out to sea； when they would have been inevitably lost。 They had felt sure I would send for them on the first opportunity； and appeared more grateful than natives usually are for my having done so； while I felt much relieved that my voyage； though sufficiently unfortunate； had not involved loss of life。
CHAPTER XXXVI。
WAIGIOU。
（JULY TO SEPTEMER 1860。）
THE village of Muka； on the south coast of Waigiou； consists of a number of poor huts； partly in the water and partly on shore； and scattered irregularly over a space of about half a mile in a shallow bay。 Around it are a few cultivated patches； and a good deal of second…growth woody vegetation； while behind； at the distance of about half a mile； rises the virgin forest； through which are a few paths to some houses and plantations a mile or two inland。 The country round is rather flat； and in places swampy； and there are one or two small streams which run behind the village into the sea below it。 Finding that no house could be had suitable to my purpose； and hawing so often experienced the advantages of living close to or just within the forest； I obtained the assistance of half…a…dozen men； and having selected a spot near the path and the stream； and close to a fine fig… tree； which stood just within the forest； we cleared the ground and set to building a house。 As I did not expect to stay here so long as I had done at Dorey； I built a long； low； narrow shed； about seven feet high on one side and four on the other； which required but little wood； and was put up very rapidly。 Our sails； with a few old attaps from a deserted but in the village； formed the walls； and a quantity of 〃cadjans；〃 or palm…leaf mats； covered in the roof。 On the third day my house was finished； and all my things put in and comfortably arranged to begin work； and I was quite pleased at having got established so quickly and in such a nice situation。
It had been so far fine weather； but in the night it rained hard； and we found our mat roof would not keep out water。 It first began to drop； and then to stream over everything。 I had to get up in the middle of the night to secure my insect…boxes； rice； and other perishable articles； and to find a dry place to sleep in； for my bed was soaked。 Fresh leaks kept forming as the rain continued； and w e all passed a very miserable and sleepless night。 In the morning the sun shone brightly； and everything was put out to dry。 We tried to find out why the mats leaked； and thought we had discovered that they had been laid on upside down。 Having shifted there all； and got everything dry and comfortable by the evening； we again went to bed； and before midnight were again awaked by torrent of rain and leaks streaming in upon us as bad as ever。 There was no more sleep for us that night； and the next day our roof was again taken to pieces； and we came to the conclusion that the fault was a want of slope enough in the roof for mats； although it would be sufficient for the usual attap thatch。 I therefore purchased a few new and some old attaps； and in the parts these would not cover we put the mats double； and then at last had the satisfaction of finding our roof tolerably water…tight。
I was now able to begin working at the natural history of the island。 When I first arrived I was surprised at being told that there were no Paradise Birds at Muka； although there were plenty at Bessir； a place where the natives caught them and prepared the skins。 I assured the people I had heard the cry of these birds close to the village； but they world not believe that I could know their cry。 However； the very first time I went into the forest I not only heard but saw them； and was convinced there were plenty about； but they were very shy； and it was some time before we got any。 My hunter first shot a female； and I one day got very close to a fine male。 He was； as I expected； the rare red species； Paradisea rubra； which alone inhabits this island； and is found nowhere else。 He was quite low down； running along a bough searching for insects； almost like a woodpecker； and the long black riband…like filaments in his tail hung down in the most graceful double curve imaginable。 I covered him with my gun； and was going to use the barrel which had a very small charge of powder and number eight shot； so as not to injure his plumage； but the gun missed fire； and he was off in an instant among the thickest jungle。 Another day we saw no less than eight fine males at different times； and fired four times at them； but though other birds at the same distance almost always dropped； these all got away； and I began to think we were not to get this magnificent species。 At length the fruit ripened on the fig…tree close by my house； and many birds came to feed on it； and one morning； as I was taking my coffee； a male Paradise Bird was seen to settle on its top。 I seized my gun； ran under the tree； and； gazing up； could see it flying across from branch to branch； seizing a fruit here and another there； and then； before I could get a sufficient aim to shoot at such a height （for it was one of the loftiest trees of the tropics）； it was away into the forest。 They now visited the tree every morning； but they stayed so short a time； their motions were so rapid； and it was so difficult to see them； owing to the lower trees； which impeded the view； that it was only after several days' watching； and one or two misses； that I brought down my birda male in the most magnificent plumage。
This bird differs very much from the two large species which I had already obtained； and； although it wants the grace imparted by their long golden trains； is in many respects more remarkable and more beautiful。 The head； back； and shoulders are clothed with a richer yellow； the deep metallic green colour of the throat extends further over the head； and the feathers are elongated on the forehead into two little erectile crests。 The side plumes are shorter； but are of a rich red colour； terminating in delicate white points； and the middle tail… feathers are represented by two long rigid glossy ribands； which are black； thin； and semi…cylindrical； and droop gracefully in a spiral curve。 Several other int