zens of tropical jungle are here entirely absent. The
tracks of a large animal were seen ; they appeared to
me to be those of a tapir. I got a bearing of Mentapok.
I t was 75°.
The Dusuns at Toadilah were afraid to receive a
note which I wanted to leave for Smith, should he
come in this direction. They were afraid there was a
charm in it. After much persuasion, however, they
took it in, and placed it carefully away in a bamboo.
I t is impossible to reach any house to-night, as the
next place is too far, and there is no water ; we therefore
prepared to camp in the jungle. There was a
small stream called “ Tadjum ” in our vicinity, and as
it did not rain, a night in the woods was not at all
unpleasant. (To-day, six miles in four and a half
hours. Direction, S.S.W.)
April 2nd.—A beautiful day broke upon us in our
foçest beds. We awoke early, and our friends the
Dusuns soon came up. Away we went in a W.S.W.
direction, the path as usual leading over ridges and
hills varying from 1000 to 2000 feet, “ Tadjum” and
Labuk vales away in the distance. At 2.30 we descended
into the Bendowen vale. The place was surrounded
by hills, some rising as high as 4000 feet.
We shortly after arrived at the banks of the Bendowen
river, a rushing stream about forty yards broad; in
the wet season more than 100. I t comes down from
the Bendowen hills, which are about three days’journey
away, if one follows the river. To-day we have been
travelling over a clayey country, the clays getting
harder and harder, until here at Bendowen the
transition into slate is complete. The cause of metamorphism
is also at hand in the shape of vast masses
of quartz. The slate at Bendowen is excellent, and
an extended search for minerals is advisable all up the
river. (To-day, ten miles in five and a half hours.)
We left Bendowen in the morning after a splendid
bath in the stream. The temperature down^to 60°,
a thing which I never observed before^ I t was, indeed,
quite cold, and the moisture in the breath condensed
as it issued from one’s mouth. Degadong’s
people turned out rather sneaks. There was plenty of
time to come to Bendowen village yesterday instead
of camping out on the stones near the river. They
had stated we should not get there before dark,
whereas we could get there in half an hour. They
also disputed over every inch of cloth (their wages as
guides and baggage bearers), would not accept black,
must have blue, &c. The Bendowen people received
us very kindly. The people gave me some pieces of
iron pyrites, which they thought was “ Sarring ”
(copper).
April 4the—To-day I was initiated into the brotherhood
of the Bendowen Dusuns. The old men and all
the tribe having assembled, the ceremonies began.
First the jungle was cleared for about twenty yards,
and then a hole dug about a foot deep, in which was
placed a large water-jar. In this country these jars
are of enormous value: $80, $40, and even $100 of
gutta being given for a single jar. The bottom of the
jar in question was knocked out so as to render it useless
in future. The clay taken out to make the hole
was thrown into the jar, and now the ■ old men ”
commenced declaiming, “ Oh, Kinarringan, hear us ! ”
—a loud shout to the Kinarringan. The sound echoed
away down- the valleys, and as it died, a stone was