ch. v.] Beautiful Scenery. 103 



were delighted at the immense panorama which lay at 

 our feet as we looked back. Looking away south-west 

 we beheld the coast-line from the mouth of what our 

 guides said was the Tampassuk river right down to Gaya 

 Bay and Pulo Tiga, which was distinctly visible, the 

 many-mouthed Menkabong river glistening like a silver 

 net quite close to the coast line. 



Looking south-east over a billowy sea of silvery clouds 

 we saw a gigantic range of mountains, and from this the 

 conical peak of Tilong rises through strata after strata of 

 cloud, or stands out on a clear blue background of pure 

 sky, according to the state of the atmosphere. This 

 claims our interest as the beacon of a land unknown ; 

 and this magnificent peak, Tilong, is by repute as high, 

 or even higher, than Kina Balu itself. Altogether we 

 spent three daj^s on the sides of Kina Balu collecting 

 plants, flowers, and seeds ; and after a life on the plains 

 and among the coast mountains — hills compared with 

 this grisly giant — we found the climate most deliciously 

 cool and invigorating. Bain generally commenced about 

 3 p.m., and continued until eight, the remainder of the 

 night being clear, bright if moonlight, and cool — so cool, 

 indeed, as to make a good camp fire and Avoollen shirts 

 two or three-fold and blankets very desirable. The 

 mornings were generally misty, every leaf and branch 

 dripping with the rain and heavy dews common here at 

 night, especially during the wet season. About noon the 

 sun was warm, and the temperature at 9,000 feet rises 

 to 758 if the day is fine and dry. 



As I have elsewhere said, our Malay followers suffered 

 much from what to them was bitter cold ; indeed they 

 seemed perfectly helpless, with scarcely energy to make 

 a fire and cook their food. They have no notion of 

 actively bestirring themselves in order to keep warm. 



