ch. iv.] Native Dwelling. 59 



it into the touch-hole ; nor did they seem in the least 

 disconcerted as the guns sprang a yard into the air 

 dragging up the nebong planks with them, the whole 

 returning with a crash by reason of their elasticity. 



In the morning, after breakfast, Mr. Treacher returned 

 down the river, but could not cross to Labuan until next 

 day, as a heavy sea was running with much wind and 

 rain, so he had to put back to Pulo Sirra until morning. 

 After his departure I had a consultation with " Bongsur" 

 about the country, and eventually decided to shift my 

 quarters from his father's house to that of his brother, 

 from which the forests and hills of the district could be 

 more readily reached. A party of natives and one or 

 two Muruts who had come to the Kadyan's village to 

 trade, soon got all my traps stowed into the canoes, and 

 half an hour's pull brought us to the clearing in which 

 my future head-quarters were situated. I found here 

 half-a-dozen palm-leaf houses built on piles six feet high, 

 a notched tree trunk serving as a ladder by which to 

 enter. The largest house was forty or fifty yards long 

 by eighteen or twenty feet wide, and being nearly new, it 

 was clean and in good condition. It was occupied by 

 " Bongsur's " brother, a lithe and intelligent young 

 fellow named " Moumein," and three or four other 

 families. 



Within, it was simply one large room open to the roof, 

 and divided in half by the central path, communicating 

 with doors at either end. On the right were the hearths 

 for cooking, water-jars, bamboos, baskets, and other 

 simple tools or utensils, the left-hand side being covered 

 with the sleeping-mats of the separate families. Two or 

 three mosquito nets hung over the mats, and at the head 

 of each hung the parong, spear, musket, or other arms of 

 the men, other spears, shields, blowpipes, &c, being laid 



