The appearance presented by the balété is very frequently indescribably picturesque; and this is so true that, within a space of some hundred paces in diameter--which these gigantic fig-trees usually occupy--one may see by turns grottoes, halls, chambers, that are often furnished with natural seats, formed out of and by the roots themselves. No! no vegetation is more diversified, nor more extraordinary! This tree sometimes grows out of a rock, where there is not an inch of earth; its long roots run along the rock, encompass it, and then plunge into the neighbouring brook. It is indeed a masterpiece of nature--a chef d'oeuvre--which, however, is very ordinary in the virgin forests of the Philippine islands. "Here," said I to my lieutenant, "is a good spot for us to spend the night on." He recoiled some paces. "What!" said he; "do you wish to stop here, master?" "Certainly," replied I. "Oh! but you don't see that we are in still more danger here than in the midst of the Igorrots!" "And why, then, are we in danger?" asked I. "Why? why? Do you not know that the Tic-balan dwells in the large balétés. If we stop here you may be very sure that I shan't sleep a moment, and that we shall be tormented the whole night." I smiled, which my lieutenant perceiving: "Oh! master," said he, most dolefully, "what should we do with an evil spirit that fears neither bullet nor dagger?" The terror of the poor Tagal was really too great for me to resist him, so I yielded, and we took up our quarters for the night at a place much less to my own taste, but much more to Alila's. The night passed away like many others--I mean, perfectly well, and we woke up to resume our journey through the forest. We had been walking about two hours, when, on leaving the wood, and entering on a plain, we met an Igorrot, mounted upon a buffalo, face to face. The encounter was somewhat curious. I levelled my gun at the savage: my lieutenant took hold of the animal by the long leather strap, and I made a sign to the Igorrot not to stir: then--always in my mimic language--I asked if he were alone. I understood from him that he was accompanied by no fellow-traveller, and that he was going northwards, in the opposite direction to our own. But Alila, who decidedly had a grudge against the savages, was most anxious to lodge a ball in this fellow's head. However, I strenuously opposed such a project, and ordered him to let go the bridle. "But, master," said he, "allow me at least to see what these jars contain." Around the neck of the Igorrot's buffalo were strung three or four jars, covered with leaves of the banana tree.