78 The Gardens of the Situ. [cd v. 



Gantisan in Gaya Bay. We waited here at a Roman 

 Catholic Catechist's Station for some time, and I as- 

 cended to the summit of the grass-covered hills north- 

 wards. These are forest-covered below, the nehong 

 palm being very abundant, and attaining large dimen- 

 sions. 



The hill-tops above, which look so smooth and green 

 when seen from the sea, are found to be clad with coarse 

 "lallang" grass a yard high, among which the men who 

 accompanied me pointed out several deer lairs. Fresh 

 green tufts of Cheilanthcs tenuifolia grew in the crevices 

 of the decomposed sandstone, and among the clumps of 

 nebong palm ; a singular fern, Schizcea digitata, was 

 very plentiful. 



Returning, we re-arranged our baggage, and sending 

 our boat round to Pangeran Rau's place at Kalombini, 

 by sea, we and the majority of the men started over the 

 ridge of the wooded hill on foot. It was a stiff climb in 

 the hot sun, the path being both steep and rough. In 

 descending to the plain on the other side we shot three 

 large swallows and a crimson and blue-painted barbet ; 

 we were also fortunate in finding a pretty pink-fiowered 

 zingiberad in bloom. The fiat plain into which we 

 descended was partly cultivated, and the rice especially 

 looked strong and healthy. Fine buffaloes were also 

 grazing here. 



We reached Pangeran Rau's house at three o'clock, 

 and had the usual bichari or talk, arm-chairs and mats 

 being at once brought into the head-house on our arrival. 

 Some of the women were busy pounding the rice to 

 separate it from the husk ; and one or two ran away 

 shrieking at our approach — it was sirnply affectation, and 

 not fright. We found the Pangeran rather reserved, 

 but hospitably inclined. He was a gray-haired old 



