They greatly ornament the forest as they hang
in graceful festoons from branch to branch, or adorn their summits with
feathery crowns of leaves, their highest points being erect leafy spikes
which rise up above all the other foliage.

Macco had collected several lengths of this curious creeper, each
perhaps of fifty fathoms; and having twisted them together, had formed a
very strong rope. The natives make their cables of them, as well as the
standing rigging of their masts; indeed, they are used for all sorts of
stout cordage. While we were working away, looking up, I saw on the
branch of a tree, at no great distance, as if watching our proceedings,
an animal with a small head and very large bright eyes. He was covered,
apparently, with very thick fur, and, I soon saw, had also a long tail,
which was curled on a branch below him. As we did not move, he began
eating away in a fearless manner the leaves from a branch which hung
near his snout. He reminded me somewhat of the opossum, covered with
thick, pure white fur, on which appeared a few black spots of various
shapes. I pointed him out at length to Macco. "He good eat," he
whispered. "I catch him." Several pieces of small ratan lay near us,
and taking one of them, he formed a noose, with which in his hand he
crept towards the tree. On considering what the animal could be, I
recollected one called the cuscus, a picture of which I had seen in one
of Mr Hooker's books. "Yes, I am sure that must be a cuscus. It is a
marsupial, or pouch-possessing animal, like the kangaroo," I said to
Oliver. Macco quickly climbed the tree, and reached a branch just above
the cuscus. Not till then did the creature catch sight of him, and
began moving along the branch, but at a very slow pace. Macco
immediately climbed down towards us and followed it. Just, however, as
he was approaching, cuscus let go his hold, hanging down by his tail.
It was a fatal manoeuvre, for Macco's noose was immediately let drop,
and quickly drawn over the head of poor cuscus, who in vain tried to
liberate himself with his claws. He was now a captive, and Macco,
keeping the noose tight, descended the tree. Cuscus held on by his long
prehensile tail; but Macco pulled and pulled, and down the animal came
with a flop to the ground. His claws were so sharp, that it was rather
difficult to take hold of him without the risk of being severely
scratched. Macco called out to us to bring him one of the