afterwards we were wandering at random in a bamboo
jungle. I t was about an hour before one of my men
found tbe patb from a Dusun rice reaper, who, however,
refused to tell us the way without we gave him a
“ cigarre,” which is not a smoke, but the Dusun for
“ three feet of cloth.” So we paid the fellow and he
showed us the way, our course being N. by E. We
hurried on now quicker than ever, as rain-clouds were
gathering and the rumble of distant thunder warned
us of the approach of the daily storms. On arriving at
Marang-Parang I found that only two men had kept up
with me, the others being miles behind. We pushed
on, however, for our rendezvous at Lasas, fording a
-large river, the Lunganan, one of the heads of the
Sugut. Lasas is situated on the left bank of this
river. I t rained in torrents; and wet us through
before we got to Lasas, which we did at 3.30, quite
tired out. In vain I waited for my baggage-bearers to
come up, and night came without them. They carry
all my food, my hammock, rugs, table-chair, canteen,
everything in fact. I at Lasas to-night have nothing
to eat, nowhere to sleep, and what is more important,
no change of dry clothes. However, I manage to sup
off sweet potatoes and melons, and being very tired go
to sleep.
April 14th.—Lasas : old men, Lingie and Linkapan;
houses, 8 ; men, 170 ; women, 200. I got up feeling
hot and tired from the effects of yesterday. About
eleven o’clock all my baggage-bearers came up. They
had slept in the jungle all night, the Dusuns from
Koligan refusing to bring . the things along. Soon
afterwards who should come up but Smith, with all
his men and plenty of provisions from Sandakan, Today
was a great day for me, as my food was finished,
and I had been living on Dusun fowls for a long time
past. Smith had travelled overland from Tampias,
partly following Mr. Witti’s route, via Mirowandei,
Beyaon, and Lausat.
The next day I left Lasas, twenty-three men in a l l ;
crossed the Lungalan; took from the bank a bearing of
Kina Balu, 280°. At seven we arrived at the village
of Banter; headman, Linkapan, of Lasas; men, 30;
women, 35; houses, 5. We soon crossed theMokodar,
which is the Sugut proper. (D. N.) Kina Balu now
bearing 265°. Having again crossed, we left the Sugut
and proceeded over “ Garass ” hill (misprinted, in Mr.
Witti’s diary, Paras). The hill, as well as much of the
surrounding country, is composed entirely of steatite,
massive, olive green, and much less pure than that of
Tanah Dumpas. Mr. Witti speaks of this hill as
follows : “ We came, on its southern slope, to an outcrop
of the same mineral as Sheriff Shea had given me
a sample . . . should the mineral prove of industrial
importance the water-carriage will be at hand.”
The mineral is of no value whatever, neither is there
a trace of any surface outcrop of any mineral of commercial
importance, although borings and careful
mineral search below the surface would be advisable
in this region, and when fixed up in “ Kino-
ram” I intend to come here and make the necessary
investigations.
Lassas to Mituo, about twelve miles, in five hours;
direction, N.N.E. Mituo, first village: headman,
Dinkol; men, 12; women, 15; houses, 2. Second village:
old man, Brontei; men, 12 ; women, 22 ; houses, 3.
Pushing N. we left Mituo and went on to the Bundo