30 XOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE XXI. 1914. 



Most of them use a simple loop of a soft but strong bark, tliougb the few Java mea 

 seem to prefer to sling the load in two sections from a short pole. The sergeant in 

 charge had jiromised us a bad night from mosquitoes, and nets were carefully tucked 

 in. However, he proved a false prophet, and one could have the well-earned night's 

 rest in peace. Early morning saw the camp astir, and we set out in some order 

 for the first day's march inland. The reported distance proved to be incorrect, as 

 usual, so that all the coolies were at the camp before midday. As there was the 

 chance of some trouble with mountain people, it was decided to wait and i)ush on in 

 the early morning. 



" The camp consisted of two small thatched roofs made by the natives of 

 Seliha several days previous, and, native-like, had been erected on the near side 

 of the river. In appearance the Samal at this jjlace was a fine fish river — jdeuty 

 of boulders, deej) pools, and ripples. About a hundred yards wide, the ford was 

 nowhere much above knee-deep. The road crossed and recrossed the river 

 re])eatedly in a most tiring way, the object — if object there was — being apparently 

 to make use of the long beaches which lined the river banks. About noon we 

 reached a clearing, ])lanted with potatoes, but tliere were no natives to be seen. 

 However, the advance-guard was sent ahead ; the coolies were kept together by 

 two white soldiers in the rear. Abont an hour later the road came to a break- 

 away on the river bank, and just below us lay Maneo Pendek. There seemed 

 to be only two houses, but two more were discovered later about two hundred 

 yards away. 



" The head of the village, the Bajah of Maneo, proved to be an old man, and 

 very little of a rajah. Inquiries elicited the fact that Maneo Tinggi consisted of 

 four houses, but there were other houses scattered on the mountain. As the 

 supposed strong mountain clan had melted into a series of scattered houses, the 

 Commandant decided to seud all but two of the patrol back. The iSurveyor had 

 now joined, and so the reduced party consisted of five whites, and the coolies, boys, 

 etc. The lieutenant and his men left in the morning with coolies who were to 

 bring up more provisions. The rest stayed in camp to make better friends with 

 the people. In the evening most of the men came in to get their ' pas ' — a paper 

 with his name, and a few particulars as to married or single — which all natives 

 have to possess. We made an early start, and abont 11 o'clock reached the first 

 three houses on the mountain (height about 2000 feet). 



" Maneo was quite close, we were assured, but it was 2 in the afternoon 

 when, very hot and hungry, we almost stepped on to the three houses of Maneo. 

 The three houses, and one in ruins, were placed close together on a small spur ; the 

 forest and the gardens grew right up to the sides, only a narrow passage sejiarating 

 the houses. There was no fence round the village to keep out pigs, or attempt at 

 cleaning — comparing unfavourably with the mountain villages of Central Papua. In 

 other ways they were much better, having come in contact with the traders on the 

 south coast. There they carry Dammar gum, and return with sarongs, plates, 

 piivaiigs, etc. While we were in the village most of the men wore clothes of sorts, 

 like the natives on the coasts, but appeared to doff them when out of sight. I was 

 much amused when, coming round a large tree some little distance from the village, 

 I startled the head of the village getting into his trousers, with an awkwardness 

 which proclaimed his want of practice. Here we stayed four days, and then went 

 on to Kabauhari. The country between was fairly level, but ipiite unoccupied. 

 Kabauhari proved to be in two parts; the smaller, where we passed the night, 



