mangrove swamps, the homes of the Labuk crocodiles.
We anchored on the left bank at 10 p.m., and it rained
very heavily all night.
We got away in the early morning, and up to midday
passed two small tributaries, one on the right aud
one on the left bank; they were respectively twenty
and forty yards' broad. The banks were still lined
with nipa, and the stream was very deep and rapid.
The weather to-day was beautiful, and nothing could
be more delightful than steaming up this unknown
'river. Presently we left the swamps behind us, and
now the banks were covered with vast forests, from
whose sombre depths could be heard the cries of horn-
hills and the chatter of monkeys. Enormous creepers
hung in pendant growths from the great dark trees,
butterflies and insects of every hue and colour fluttered
before us, the sun blazing out and shedding a golden
radiance over the scene. On and on we went, and as
we rounded a bend in the stream a charming view
opened up to us. -A long stretch of river for miles,
ending in a bank of forest backed by lofty-peaked blue
mountains. Soon afterwards a stream, some fifty yards
broad, joined the Labuk on the right bank, and the
river ceased to be tidal. The Labuk is here about 250
yards broad. I shortly afterwards took a bearing of
the highest peak before mentioned (275°, height about
4000 feet), distance ten miles. This hill is called
Tingut, and gives rise to a river of the same name,
which joins the Labuk on the left bank, and is . sixty
yards broad at its mouth.
In the afternoon we arrived at £ Lomantic,” a Sulu
village situated on the right bank of the river. There.
is a small wooden pier on which the people, the moment
they saw us, ran and hoisted the Company’s flag. The
headman of the village is Datu Pang’eran Momonko
Nagara, who is a gutta trader. I learnt here that
Hadji Sedik (the antimony man) had been up the river
as far as Pungoh, which is close to the head-waters of
the Lukan. The headquarters of the Dumpas men is
at Heiot Tungal, and these people are already being
complained of.
All the morning of the next day was spent cutting
wood for the steamer, and we did not get away. until
1.30. cThe Labuk is npw about 150 yards wide, and
the soil changes from a sandy bank to a red gravel
mixed with blue clay. Stone heaps now began to make
their appearance in the middle of the river, the water
became shallower' and Shallower, and the stream swifter
and swifter, until at 5.15 we made scarcely any
progress at all. Shortly after this the launch got
ashore on a stone bank ; the stream catching her turned
her on her side, and I thought. she was over. All
•hands were put on, and by dint of much hard pulling
we managed to get her free before night. I t was
evident, however, that the launch could not be used
any further up the river, not only on account of the
shallows, but also because she had started a plank and
sprung a leak. The only thing to be done was to pull
the house-boat up as far as Tander Batu with ropes,
and then borrow the native “ dugouts ” (“ gobangs ” )
for further progress up the Labuk.
II. ' w
March 5th.—We left our anchorage for Tander
Batu this morning, dragging up the house-boat and
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