cave by a big opening. Haying slept the night, the
youngest brother got up with the morn, and rousing
his brothers, said, “ Oh, brothers, let us go out. I fear
the cave is closing upon us see, oh ! see, the opening
is very small.” And, indeed, this was the f a c t; but
the eldest brother, who was sleepy, said, “ You speak
that which is not,” and his speech again ruled the rest..
In vain the youngest son reiterated his warning, and
when the hole was getting smaller and smaller, and
there was only just time for escape, he got out, leaving
his six brothers in the cave. The hole was still closing,
and as the youngest looked in again, he saw his
brothers each in the arms of a fairy-like damsel, who
led them away into the cave. The hole shut with a
bang on the brothers and their fairy ladies for ever,
and to this day ladders are kept hanging outside, and
rice is thrown in by the passing Sulumen to feed the
long-lost brethren.
I was informed at Bilet that Sin Dyaks are Dyaks
who wear trousers, while real Dyaks only wear the
waistcloth. . . . I t rained to-day several times.
One terrific shower and thunderstorm. We, in
fact, get very unsettled weather every day. Rain,
in showers, begins, as a rule, about eleven to
twelve o’clock, and continues at intervals until four
or five o’clock. One storm sent the temperature
down 2° 0.. 1.30, 200° W.N.W. 1.35, 320° (N.W.,
near). The people say it is twenty days from here
toPinungah. 1.55,310°; passed a house on the left
bank. At 2, 298°. 2.5, 260°, near W. 2.10,190°, near S.
At 3.15 passed a high hill on left bank, with strata
inclined at a high angle. The rock was a limestone,
much veined with quartz. At 3.50 a heavy rainstorm
came on again, making the trip very miserable.. At
4.0,190° (near S.). 4.6, 300° (N.W.). 4.25,240° S.W.
4.35, 130° (S.E.). Distance got through to-day, sixteen
miles. Stopped at 4.45 at Subak. Bar. 30.5.
Elevation above Bilet, 110 feet. At 4.40, passed on
right a small tributary on left bank, three fathoms
wide. I was told that we came from the same stock—•
Adam : this by a wretched old Suluman.
Jan. 12th.—Left Subak at 8.23. D. 130° S.E.
Bar. 30.1, ther. 29°. 8.40,140° (S.E.). 8.55,176°, near
S. All through primitive forests. At 9, 250°, te a r W.
I hear that if we go up the Quamut w.e shall meet
the Tinggulans and roving bands of Muruts. At
Malapi the people said fifteen days would bring us to
Pinungah. Here they say one month. Quamut is
ten days this side of Pinungah. I t is two days to
Sebangan. . . . 11.35, passed a small tributary on
the left (right bank), about five fathoms wide; rapid
current, much overgrown by primitive jungle, and
apparently uninhabited.
Met some people coming from the Lu.kun. They
said four days would bring us to Quamut. They
remembered Witti and his adventures in the Lukun,
. . . Stopped at four o’clock. Distance to-day, thirteen
miles. Height above Subak, 100 feet. All day through
immense forests," and I had a touch of fever. Our
camping-place on left, bank, where a lot of driftwood
was thrown up. The place was an old clearing. The
sandflies are a terrible -curse; so is sitting in a
prahu all day.
Jan. 13th.—:Left our camp at 7.15. D. 260°, bar.
30.1, ther. 28°. . . . The only things we see now
are a stray pigeon and dozens of graceful cranes or
s 2 '