Page:Neuroomia.djvu/146

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134
NEUROOMIA: A NEW CONTINENT.

which flowed numberless rivulets, fed by the winter snows.

Here we decided to make our second halt and remain for some time, for there was abundance of fresh green grass for the animals growing along the margin of the lake. As soon as we had fixed on a suitable spot for our camp, I secured from the pack a small axe, from the back of which projected a long spike that could be used for digging. Thus armed to cut away the brushwood, I went in search of the Bubu tree, the bark of which I used for smoking.

I went some distance from the camp, bearing away from the lake, yet could find none, so I stood to consider whether it might not be useless to proceed any farther, and was on the point of returning, when I recognised the foliage of one growing in the valley beneath. I clambered down to it, and found that it grew from the bank of a mountain stream, in a very awkward position, and by no means easy of access. However, by stepping from rock to rock in the water, I managed to reach it, and having collected a supply of the dry bark, filled my pipe, and sat down to have a quiet smoke beneath my favourite tree. I had not, however, liberated many clouds, when something glittering