72 DR. O. STAPF ON THE FLORA OF MOUNT KINABALU. 
30 yards broad, but in places scarcely more than 2 feet deep, the whole way across with 
a sandy bed. At daybreak on the 13th the land-breeze from Kinabalu was very 
strong, and the thermometer read 21° C. We kept along the north bank of the Tawaran 
till we came to a tributary, which we crossed and followed a short distance before 
beginning the ascent of the spur between it and the main river. The highest point we 
reached was 1800 ft. above the sea; from this we could see the Tawaran curving round 
us to the south. A little further on we reached a scattered village, where we passed the 
night. At daybreak on the 14th the temperature was about 23° C., although our 
altitude was 1500 ft.; a thick mist filled the valley below us, which must have been the 
head of the tributary we crossed yesterday. We got off early, and still kept along the 
mountain-ridge in a direct course for Kinabalu. Everything was very dry, though in 
the afternoon we saw rain at a distance in the direction of Kinabalu. About midday we 
reached our highest point, 2700 ft., whence the ridge turns northward, but we kept our 
eastward course, descended into the valley, and crossed a stream running southwards 
into the Tawaran; its bed had an altitude of 1500 ft. We still kept eastward and 
before long came upon the Tawaran itself, now a rapid stream with a very stony bed, 
and about to our knees in depth; its altitude was about 1500 ft. Keeping along it and 
crossing it, we soon reached the village of Bongol; here the Tawaran bends round 
coming from the southward, a tributary only coming from the eastward. The village 
presented quite a different appearance to any in Sarawak territory, for it stood on 
pasture-land closely grazed by buffalos. Pinang-palmsand cocoanut-trees were scattered 
about in clumps, and climbing up them were strong tall plants of sirih (Piper Betle). 
We got off early on the morning of the 15th, and after following the river a short 
distance, again turned eastwards and ascended the single ridge here separating the 
Tawaran and Tampassuk. The altitude of our highest point was about 3100 ft.; from 
thence our descent to the Tampassuk was very steep. This river was much larger than 
the Tawaran at Bongol, but its altitude above the sea almost the same, and we forded it with 
the water scarcely over our knees. We kept along its eastern bank till we reached the 
village of Koung, situated on a flat pasture-land with hills rising abruptly from its 
sides and the Tampassuk coursing through it. A drizzling rain at 3 p.m. indicated our 
proximity to the mountain and a change of weather. 
“We crossed the river on the morning of the 16th, and kept along its western bank. 
On reaching the Kadamaian, the most southerly branch of the Tampassuk, our party 
divided, the larger crossing it and ascending the northern slopes of the ridge between the 
Kadamaian and Penokok, getting splendid views of Kinabalu up the Penokok valley ; 
but I with some Dyaks kept to the valley of the Kadamaian; the water was low, and we 
crossed and recrossed it several times. At an altitude of about 2000 ft. we left the river- 
bed and ascended the southern side of the ridge between Kadamaian and Penokok, 
reaching the village of Kiau, which is situated at about 3000 ft. on the southern slopes 
of this ridge. 
“The next day we went out to look for plants and birds. I descended northwards 
towards the Penokok, The top of the ridge was about 3500 ft. above the sea, and 
thence we got a splendid view of the south-western precipices of Kinabalu from their 
