of the pigs, dogs, and dirt. Their manner also offends
the people, and to-morrow I shall send them back to
Sandakan. . . .
March 29th.—I got the black men away as early as
possible. They were .very troublesome, and had I taken
them on they would most likely have created some disturbance
with the natives. Two chiefs of “ Touaorum,”
Degadong and his brotherj accompanied us on our first
day’s tramp overland. The road lay over a high ridge,
and we had often to climb heights of 2000 and in one
case upwards of 3000 feet. From the summit of one of
these, where there was no high jungle, I had a splendid
view of the country. To the north, lay the Kinabatan-
gan valley, with the Silam hills in the distance ; eastwards
stretched the Labuk, girded by hills rising one
above the other up to the noble crags of Mentapok.
In the distance again was the Sugut vale, with range
upon range of tree-capped mountains rising right away
to Kina Balu, which, seemingly near, towered like a
fairy castle up into the blue sky. I shall never forget
this lovely scene, but more especially shall I remember
the wonderful tints and shades presented by the distant
“ giant hills of Borneo.” A blue sky showed up every
crag of the principal mountain, which stood out purple
and black. The setting sun shed its rays on rock and
tree, and the water streaming down the time-worn sides
glinted and flashed, while all the nearer hills were
clothed in every shade of green. A few white clouds
appeared in the distance, and as I neared the Dusun
kampong of Toadilah night clouds were closing in the
glorious landscape. I t was a most exceptional view,
and one which this season of the tropical year can
alone afford.