left behind while taking bearings. A good many fishes in the
brook, and many cray-fish; one of the last with a queer glow-
worm head. Like all our brooks, the water is pure as air,
and runs over red stones like rubies. The foliage along both
banks very thick and high, the place close, the walking
exceedingly laborious. By the time the expedition reached
the fork, it was felt exceedingly questionable whether the
MORAL of the force were sufficiently good to undertake more
extended operations. A halt was called, the men refreshed
with water and a bath, and it was decided at a drumhead
council of war to continue the descent of the Embassy Water
straight for Vailima, whither the expedition returned, in
rather poor condition, and wet to the waist, about 4. P.M.

Thus in two days the two main watercourses of this country
have been pretty thoroughly explored, and I conceive my
instructions fully carried out. The main body of the second
expedition was brought back by another officer despatched for
that purpose from Vailima. Casualties: one horse wounded;
one man bruised; no deaths - as yet, but the bruised man
feels to-day as if his case was mighty serious.


DEC. 25, '91.


Your note with a very despicable bulletin of health arrived
only yesterday, the mail being a day behind. It contained
also the excellent TIMES article, which was a sight for sore
eyes. I am still TABOO; the blessed Germans will have none