ch. xni.] Cold Rains. 275 



foliage of this last reminded one of that of a sciadopitys 

 in form, being linear, and arranged in whorls. It has 

 been named (Rhododendron stenophyUum, Hook. f.). 



As we ascended the temperature fell faster and faster, 

 and at intervals we were completely enveloped in dense 

 clouds of mist, while at other times they were dispersed, 

 and the sun brightened up the mountain side. One 

 place we passed this morning is rather dangerous, almost 

 like walking on the ridge of a high building, the descent 

 on one side however being a sheer precipice of 1,500 

 feet, and the other side is steep ; but there are a few 

 bushes near, which give one confidence. At 8,000 feet 

 we again enter a dripping cloud, or rather it sweeps down 

 to meet us, and the trees here are of low stature and 

 gnarled, the branches being so low that in places one 

 has to crawl through them. Casuarina trees are com- 

 monly met with. The ground and lower bushes are 

 covered with wet mosses, and white hair-like masses of 

 usnea sway to and fro in the higher branches. The cold 

 increased, and my Labuan men felt it very much. I 

 looked at my thermometer at three o'clock during a 

 heavy shower, and at an altitude of 9,000 feet, and it 

 registered 56°. In England one would consider this a 

 delicious temperature ; but when we started this morning 

 we had a temperature thirty degrees higher. 



It was curious to notice the effect the depression of 

 heat and the rain had on my men, who had never in 

 then lives known the thermometer below 70°. They 

 appeared perfectly paralysed ; and the Dusun them- 

 selves were but little better. We reached our former 

 camping-place, the cave, about 3.30, wet, cold, tired, and 

 hungry. Five of the fellows were so far chilled and 

 exhausted that they gave up when within ten minutes 

 of the cave, and huddled themselves close together under 



t 2 



