and it was hot indeed, the rocks and old trunks reeked
in the sunshine. A slender-growing species of calamus
was very common in the low forest below the cave, and
it supplied “ rattans ” of excellent quality for tying up our
plants. At least three showy species of coelogyne grow
on the rocks and mossy banks here, at 9,000 feet elevation
; and a dainty little plant with reddish pseudo-bulbs
in clusters, each bearing a single spathulate dark green
leaf, is common. This last has erect spikes of pure
white flowers and buds, reminding one of the lily of the
valley in cool, fresh purity, an effect partly due to its
column being of a soft green tint, like a speck in the
interior of the blossom. The ccelogynes are very distinct
and beautiful as seen here blooming among the
coarse sedges and shrubs. One has white flowers with a
blotch of gold on the lip, eight or ten of its waxy flowers
being borne on an erect scape. Another has yellow
sepals and petals, and a white lip corrugated with brown
warts. Another, not so showy, has a nodding spike of
white and brown flowers.
We ascended about 9,000 feet, and were delighted
with the charming views obtainable during clear
weather. The whole upper portion of the mountain
along the south and south-eastern slopes is nearly
devoid of vegetation, except where there are streams and
rather sheltered gullies up which the stunted trees and
a few other plants struggle up near to the summit. On
the north-western side the rocks rise very precipitous;
and here vegetation fails to gain foothold. Looking
upwards in the early sunlight, we had clear views of the
shelving granite slopes, on which are numerous shallow
channels down which streams of water pour during misty
and rainy weather. When we gained the top of the
great spur the morning after our arrival at the cave, we
were delighted at the immense panorama which lay at
our feet as we looked back. Looking away south-west
we beheld the coast-line from the mouth of what our
guides said was the Tampassuk river right down to Gaya
Bay and Pulo Tiga, which was distinctly visible, the
many-mouthed Menkabo.ng river glistening like a silver
net quite close to the coast line.
Looking south-east over a billowy sea of silvery clouds
we saw a gigantic range of mountains, and from this the
conical peak of Tilong rises through strata after strata of
cloud, or stands out on a clear blue background of pure
sky, according to the state of the atmosphere. This
claims our interest as the beacon of a land unknown;
and this magnificent peak, Tilong, is by repute as high,
or even higher, than Kina Balu itself. Altogether we
spent three days on the sides of Kina Balu collecting
plants, flowers, and seeds; and after a life on the plains
and among the coast mountains—hills compared with
this grisly giant—we found the climate most deliciously
cool and invigorating. Bain generally commenced about
3 p .m . , and continued until eight, the remainder of the
night being clear, bright if mooitlight, and cool—so cool,
indeed, as to make a good camp fire and woollen shirts
two or three-fold and blankets very desirable. The
mornings were generally misty, every leaf and branch
dripping with the rain and heavy dews common here at
night, especially during the wet season. About noon the
sim was warm, and the temperature at 9,000 feet rises
to 758 if the day is fine and dry.
As I have elsewhere said, our Malay followers suffered
much from what to them was bitter cold; indeed they
seemed perfectly helpless, with scarcely energy to make
a fire and cook their food. They have no notion of
actively bestirring themselves in order to keep warm.