Part 20 (2/2)
What a difference now! They had been successful, and had abundant treasures at their command. Something told them that they were to find still greater treasures, and the zest was one beyond expression.
The course was directed due north. The boys knew that they were to investigate the mountains, the hills and the streams. They were to learn what fruits and vegetation might be found in their native state on the island; the kinds and varieties of animals, and the qualities of the minerals, if the geological formations offered them for inspection.
From the first day that they landed, the boys had heard a peculiar guttural sound, impossible to describe. The sound was almost annoying after they had heard it for a time. Pa.s.sing the limb of a tree during the first hour of the march they heard the same cry.
”I see what it is,” remarked George. ”It is a bird. See it on that limb?”
John looked, and then turned to George. ”Why certainly, that is the Kagu.”
”Why its bill and feet are red, while the rest of the body is gray. What a funny feather it has running back from its head!”
Harry laughed, as he remarked: ”I wonder if our women took their hat fas.h.i.+ons from the Kagu?”
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Fig. 8. The Kagu._]
”You have made a correct observation. Some species of the hornbill have feathers which project up into the air like sentinels, and the same feathers are used in exactly the same fas.h.i.+on by makers of millinery.
Now, I am not an authority on the fas.h.i.+ons, but I have often thought that if the leaders in styles would build those wonderful head decorations something like the patterns furnished by nature they would be more beautiful and becoming.”
”I wonder if it has only one leg?”
John laughed. ”I imagine it has two. It is the custom of many birds of this species to stand for hours on one leg. It is of the same family as the stork, the heron and the ibis.”
”Why don't we see more animals?”
”The island is not, probably, large enough. These small islands have only the smallest kinds. Besides, the larger animals are found where the nature of the country permits them to conceal themselves.”
George stopped before a large bush which had rows of yellow flowers growing up all along the stems, and at each flower was a seed.
”Ah! you have found a most valuable plant,” said John, as he broke off one of the stems. ”Feel the crushed leaves.”
”It is just like grease.”
”It is an oil. It is one of the products largely used in the United States, as a subst.i.tute for olive oil, and for soap making.”
”What is it called?”
”The plant is known as Benne. The product is Sesame oil. The peculiarity of the plant is that nearly one-half of the leaf is a pure oil, and it can remain exposed a long time before it turns rancid.”
”I wonder if that is what they use in their cooking!”
”Yes; it is absolutely inodorous, and is better than lard for table uses. Look at the seeds. They are cla.s.sed with the most nutritious in the world.”
”The Chief had them, and I tried some of them the first night I dined with him.”
The route led to an upper plateau, well wooded, many of the trees being of the palm variety, with plenty of silver-leafed families so common everywhere.
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