size of the last, was caught, this being called “ Tingerie.”
We reached the mouth of the Abai about 5.30 p .m . , and
tried hard to make the mouth of the Tampassuk ere dark,
in which we failed ; and after being tossed about for an
hour in vainly endeavouring to get over the bar, our men
were glad to pull back to a little island, near Qualla
A.bai, where we could land to cook, and anchor for the
night. It was a lovely, moonlight night, and very quiet
in our snug little anchorage. We dined and slept on
board, and so escaped the myriads of mosquitoes on the
grassy shore.
August 5th.—Awoke at sunrise, the air being deliciously
fresh and cool, and the sky clear. We were glad
to get a very good view of Kina Balu this morning, the
long rocky ridge standing out first purple, and then blue,
against the sky, while fleecy masses of silvery clouds
were ever changing their position on its rugged sides.
After a delicious hath in a little fresh-water pool
near the shore, and breakfast, we pulled to the Qualla
Tampassuk, and found a strong current coming over the
bar. Our men pulled over, however, all right; and then
came a good five hours’ pull up the river before we
reached the old quarters of Bajah Muda, now occupied
by Mr. Pretyman, who had come to live here a
month or two ago, and for whom we had brought on the
mails from Labuan. The whole distance from the bar
is only about five miles ; hut the river winds much : and,
as it was the wet season, a deal of water coming from
the ranges inland had swelled the river beyond its usual
limits, and the men had to pull against a heavy stream.
* The vegetation of,the banks is luxuriant; and after
pulling a mile or two, native dwellings, and cultivated
patches of bananas, cocoa-nut trees, tapioca, maize, and
other products appear. We reached Mr. Pretyman’s
residence about 1.30 p .m ., and found him and his people
tolerably well in health and spirits. He was surprised
and pleased at our unexpected visit, and promptly
ordered his men to kill a fine young bullock for ourselves
and men. After luncheon we crossed the river
and walked to the top of the adjacent coast-hills, from
whence a good view of the winding stream and surrounding
country is obtainable. These bare grassy hills rise
out of the plain, which serves as pasturage for a few
buffaloes, and here and there patches are irrigated for
rice culture. I made a small collection of the herbaceous
plants, annuals, and grasses of the hill we ascended;
and on the top we found a round-headed tree, which
bore edible fruits, remarkably like walnuts in form and
flavour.
In descending, we came across plants of a very lovely
gardenia, forming bushes, varying from a foot to two
feet in height, and bearing large white flowers in the
axils of its glossy leaves. A gentle spring-like shower
was falling in the last rays of sunlight, and the perfume
of this dainty flower was most balmy and delicious, quite
unlike the odour of any other plant I ever saw. On my
return from the mountain I was careful to secure plants
of this species, and they reached London quite safely
three months afterwards. As it was now dusk we returned
to dinner, and spent a very pleasant evening,
talking over home news, and our plans for reaching Kina.
Balu.
August 6tli.—We were up at sunrise and set to work
in packing our stores into suitable parcels for each man
to carry, and we hired two buffaloes so as to be able to
carry an extra supply of rice. These details took time,
and it was fully noon ere we bade our host farewell and
were fairly started on our journey. Our guide and buffalo