■distinct enough to be made the type of a new genus when
■submitted to the botanical authorities at Kew. It grew
in tufts on wet mossy stones, forming rather compact
plants a foot in height. The spathe is of a bright rose
•colour, borne on a scape nearly as long as the leaves. I
was especially interested in this plant, as I had seen a
species singularly like it beside the Haya Haya stream at
the foot of Kina Balu. As we approached the summit,
we were stopped at one place by a perpendicular wall of
sandstone rock, and we had to make a wearisome detour
in order to gain the crest. I had been led to explore this
hill at all risks, having been told by natives that a golden
large-flowered phalsenopsis was here to be found, but after
a hot and weary search on rock and tree alike, no trace
o f any species of this genus could be found; and as I
afterwards offered my informants a month’s wages if they
would bring me a flower of it without any result, I am
inclined to think the thing a myth, like its “ bright
scarlet ” congener. The only thing which consoled me
for my disappointment was a beautiful golden-blossomed
dendrobium, which has always been rare in our gardens;
and I was also enabled to collect a large number of Vanda
Hookeri. This last is the “ Golden Duck I orchid of the
Brunei Malays, and exists in quantity in the marshes
near the river, and always, so far as I saw it, epiphytal,
on a slender-stemmed red-ftuited pandan.
This hill is not above five or six hundred feet above
the sea, and yet on its crest the air was quite fresh and
cool. We obtained extensive views from the top over a
well-wooded country. Neither pitcher plants nor rhododendrons
were seen, although both exist abundantly on
the Lawas hills, only a few miles away. In descending
a wide detour was made through the forest in search of
plants, but distinct forms were rare. On reaching the
boat we bathed, and changed our clothes, which was
necessary, as we were drenched to the skin, and covered
with dirt from the half-rotten tree-trunks, over which we
had scrambled. It was about three o’clock, of course
very h o t; and our boat formed quite an attraction to the
bees, butterflies, and some lovely blue day-flying moths,
which fluttered in the sunshine. The wild bees were
indeed rather troublesome; and some of the men who
were nervous at their proximity, and began to buffet
them, were stung. As we ate our luncheon of boiled
rice and jam, they fr.equently settled on our plates,
but they did not attack us.
The journey down the river was an easy and pleasant
one. The water, which had been so high and turbid the
night before, had now regained its proper level, and
except exactly amid stream the surface was as smooth
as a mirror. The curving nipa leaves and other vegetation
were most sharply reflected from the placid surface,
so clearly indeed, that one could scarcely see where
reality ended, and the shadow began. The presence of
the nipa palm beside the banks of eastern rivers, is
almost always evidence of deep water. In the shallow
parts the pink-blossomed banana and baukinia-draped
trees were most beautiful, here and there varied by elegant
groups of pandanus. We stayed at intervals to examine
the vegetation more closely, and did not reach the Murut
settlement before nightfall.
We paid off our guides, and stayed here an hour or
two to rest our men. We slept in the boat, and found
the mosquitoes very voracious. When the moon rose
we continued our journey. In Bornean travel, near the
coast, boats form the best conveyance. There are no
horses, nor indeed roads suitable for them; so that all
journeys inland must be performed on foot. Buffaloes