270 Thd Gardens of the Sun. [ch. xm. 



August 14th. — "Kurow" came in this morning, and 

 commenced to " bargain " cautiously by asking to see the 

 goods we were willing to pay for guides. " Suong," 

 our interpreter, who was an adept at trading, spread out 

 some cloth and other things to the value of a few shillings, 

 and after a deal of talking an agreement was arrived at 

 by "Kurow" and "Boloung" consenting to accompairy 

 us in return for these things and an old coat of mine, 

 upon which "Kurow" had cast longing eyes ever since 

 my arrival. Among the goods was an entire length — 

 twenty- six yards — of grey shirting, and this was brought 

 back for me to divide into two halves, each of these dusky 

 chiefs seeming firmly convinced that the other would 

 "best" him if possible. Having, after some slight 

 trouble, divided the cloth to their liking, and handed 

 them the other goods in pre -payment, another difficulty 

 arose, both declaring that they could not start to the 

 mountain to-day, as they had no rice, and must needs go 

 to the next village to obtain some. By this time all my 

 men were ready to start, and as I had said I should set 

 out to-day, I was determined to do so at all risks. I 

 explained to them that they had plenty of rice in their 

 village, but that if they really wanted more " Kurow " 

 had better accompany us, and "Boloung" could obtain 

 supplies and come on after us on the morrow, adding 

 that we should start at once, and if their agreement was 

 not kept we should of course take back the goods we had 

 pre-paid them. It must be distinctly understood that in 

 Borneo pre-payment for goods or services to be rendered 

 is the national custom, just as it is in South America. 

 In the latter country the natives who collect the india- 

 rubber or caoutchouc in Brazil majr serve as an illustra- 

 tion of the fact. I left my " boy," who was rather 

 unwell, and the only old man in our party, to "abide by 



