705 THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. [chap. 



approach the fugitives, they hastened farther away. We won 

 their favour with some cigarettes, which Palander distributed 

 among them, and with which they were evidently dehghted. 

 Tliey had a serious, reserved, perha^Ds rather indifferent appear- 

 ance. A physiognomist would perhaps have had difficulty in 

 saying whether their countenances expressed ferocity, determi- 

 nation, or indifference. It appeared as if it would not be 

 easy to bring forth a look of mirth or gladness on their faces. 



" At the Malay villages which we visited, some Chinese had a 

 sago plantation. With some Malays as workmen in their 

 service, they were now employed in loading a vessel of light 

 draught with sago meal, of which they appeared to have a large 

 quantity in store. Another vessel had just taken on board its 

 cargo and was starting. The Chinese here made the same favour- 

 able impression on me as their countrymen, whom I had seen 

 before in Japan and Hong Kong, and whom I was afterwards to 

 see at Singapore — the impression of an exceedingly industrious, 

 thriving, contented, and cleanly race." 



Labuau strikes me as a very suitable starting-point for a 

 naturalist who may wish to explore Borneo. Surrounded by 

 Europeans, but undisturbed by the distractions of a large city, 

 he would have an opportunity of accustoming himself to the 

 climate, which, though rather warm for a dweller in the North, 

 is by no means unhealthy, to get acquainted with the manners 

 and customs of the natives, to acquire a knowledge of the com- 

 monest forms of the luxuriant nature, which would otherwise be 

 apt to overwhelm the northern naturalist ; in a word, to make 

 such preparations for the journey as are necessary to secure its 

 success. This region of Borneo appears to be one of the least 

 known parts of the Indian Archipelago, and one need not go 

 far from the coast to come to places which are never visited 

 by Europeans, Labuan itself and its immediate neighbourhood 

 have much that is interesting to offer to the observer, and from 

 thence short excursions may be made with ease and without 

 excessive cost to the territory of the Sultan of Bruni, who is 

 favourable to foreigners, and to the mountain Kini Balu, near the 

 northern extremity of Borneo, which is 4,175 metres liigh, and 

 visible from Labuan. When, before our arrival at Japan, I 

 arranged the plan of our voyage home, I included in it a visit 

 to this mountain, at whose summit a comparatively severe 

 climate must j^revail, and whose flora and fauna, therefore, not- 

 withstanding its equatorial position, must offer many points of 

 comparison with those of the lands of the north. But when I 

 was told that the excursion would require weeks, I had to give 

 it up. 



On the 12th November, the Fcf/a again Aveighed anchor to 



