V.
EXTRACTS FROM DIARY OF THE LAST
EXPEDITION.1-
Difficult operations—An ancient clearing—The fable of the Kinaba-
tangan Cave—Dangers present and to come—Fever and leeches
—The future coal-fields of Borneo—Durian—Fighting the
torrent—Outcrops of coal—Lost—Expecting to prospect for gold
—Belies of a murder believed to have been committed by the
natives who killed Witti—Among the Muruts—A misunderstanding
that nearly led to a fight—An offer to go out against
Witti's murderers—Shooting rapids—Swamped—“ Bain, rain,
nothing but rain ”—Narrow escapes—Dismal wastes—From the
river to the sea—Thunder and rain—The last entry in the last
diary—“ Biver swift and deep.”
Jan. 6ih.—Left Sandakan at 6 a.m. in the steam-
launch Saline, and arrived at the Muruyan mouth of
the Kinabatangan at 9. Fine entrance: cazurina-
trees at mouth, afterwards mangroves. Anchored not
far from mouth, and went on up stream at 11.30.
Evidences of freshet as one proceeds. 12.5, main
stream on the le ft; still enormous mangrove-swamps.
We slowly passed on at 1, forest and rattans now
replacing the nipa and mangroves. Current heavy,
1 I t has been thought well in the interest of the reader to condense
these extracts, seeing that many pages of the diary are simply notes
of observations, important to the geographer and to the Government
of Sabah, but not of general interest.
soundings varying from four fathoms to six and seven.
At 6.30 arrived at Malapi.
Swnday, Jan. 7th.—Tenegang one day up in a prahu.
Bought a gobang for $26; rather a swindle. Stayed
at Malapi, making all ready. The agent at Malapi is
a Banjermassing man, and, like all natives, a fraud.
Ward stayed here three days. Country all densely
iungled and very fla t; while all clearings are quickly
hidden by thick, tangled grass. Could not sleep for
mosquitoes and sandflies. . Sulu ma in 2 going on here ;
the people speak a mixture of Sulu and Paitan.
# * * * *
Jan. 8th.—At Tenegang was an elephant’s tooth for
holding the fishing-nets down. People half-Dusun,
half-Sulu, like Orang Rungus in the Labuk. At
12 waited for sixty minutes at an ancient clearing,
where the remains of two houses, long since deserted,
were found. A small clearing in the immense jungle,
and three wooden spears (tanda) protecting the property
of the people is all that remains of old Tenegang.
. . . At 2.45, turning round to the S. to 160°, i.e.
near S.S.E, and eventually at 2.50 to S.E. 130°. At
3.15,160° S., 10° E. At 3.20, S. At 3.35,170° S., 10° E.
At 3.40, 160°, about S.S.E. At 4 due S., 180°. . . .
The river being flooded, and the country also for a great
distance inland, we could not get ashore. This at any
time would be difficult on account of the vegetation.
At 5 stopped on a mudbank to cook; immense difficulty.
Jan. 9th.—After a dreadful night, and very little
sleep on account of sandflies, started away up the
flooded river at 8 in W.S.W., D. 260°. . . . As we proceeded,
came on an immense swamp, much overgrown
2 Malay for “ a play.”