IV.
FOUR MONTHS IN THE DISTRICTS OF
KINORAM AND THE MARUDU.1.
Looking for antimony and copper—The Marudu valley—In the
bed of the Kinoram' River—-Dangers and difficulties—Camping
in a cave tenanted by bats and swallows—A romantic night
—The horrors of leeches and ticks—Immense ravines—The
natives “ prayed me for rain ”—Superstition obstructs the way
—The “ reported antimony ’ tracked to its “ reported ” h illSA
treacherous guide—Sayup objects to white men—Discovery of
copper—Descending a precipice—Limestone containing iron
pyrites and a small percentage of copper.
I.
I a r r i v e d in Kinoram from Labuan on t h e 23 rd of
July, 1882,
EIRST VISIT TO THE MARUDU.
July 25th.—Proposing to find the source of the
1 This report is marked “ Kinoram, Ko. I —Report in diary form of
investigations conducted in Kinoram and the surrounding districts
during the months of July, August, September, and October, 1882.”
I have searched for “ Kinoram, Ho. 2.” The Company have no such
document, and it is possible that the notes for this report may have
been lost with the diaries. There is, however, the following letter to
the Governor, which indicates reasons for postponing the preparation
of a complete and finished report, with-maps, &c.; and the house at
Kinoram referred to in this chapter is mentioned in the letter as
Marudu River, in order to investigate the whole of
this stream for the reported antimony, we left Kinoram
in contemplation. The present diary-report therefore refers to a
second visit to the Kinoram, though it chronicles the first exploration
of the Marudu:—
“ Kinoram, April 20th, 1882.
“ My dear Mr. Treacher,—I have arrived safely at Kinoram
after some difficulty and a very long and hard journey from the
mouth of the Labuk to the present country. My object was to explore
the Labuk and its tributaries for antimony. I went within three
days’ journey of the source of the former river, and examined more
than thirty tributaries, but to no purpose; and I am of opinion that
for surface outcrops the Labuk district is quite wanting in useful
minerals. I also think that the pieces of sulphide of antimony
handed to me never came out of the Company’s territory.
1 1 am much pleased with Kinoram, and I think it may turn out a
good mineral country when properly explored. In order to do this
I am now going to make a house in this country, and store food and
other things. I have sent a list of things required down to Mr.
Everett and Mr. Cook, and I am waiting here for them. I was
unable to explore the country from Tampias on the Labuk to
Kinoram, as food, trading goods, cloth, and everything were short,
and our only object was quick travelling in order to get stores from
Kudat. I reserve my full report and map until I have settled the
copper, which I think exists at the head of the Kinoram River.
“ Smith has had to endure a good many hardships, and if you deem
it advisable, I think a small bonus would be well given. If you
UiinTr fit, Smith returns to Sequati to finish his work there. He
wants eight of ten men, and the sooner he goes the better, as I am
most anxious to finish that investigation. I can get on quite well in
here by myself, and am great friends with the Dusuns. I should
like to make Kinoram my headquarters for mineral exploration, and
from here go up the rivers Kinoram, Kapona, Kau, Sujut, Telusih, &c.,
all of which may yield metals, but I must have a place to fall back
upon, and a place where 1 am sure of getting food,
“ Among the Dusuns in some parts we had extreme difficulty in
getting food. I want also five police and a headman, Housin, if
possible, with guns, &c., as the whole country is in a most unsettled
state and full of head-hunters. My mandore, Sahat, and Smith have
full instructions what to bring me from Kudat, and my boy goes to