120 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



with me in my boat, while Mahommed Munshee, 

 the other headman, went ahead with some of the 

 stores. 



On the way up the river we came to the station 

 of Dr. Van Erman, the Dutch medical officer who 

 was in charge of the outlying districts. He insisted 

 that I stay with him for two days at least, and I was 

 glad to do so, for he was the last white man I should 

 see before we tackled the orang-outangs. I was 

 anxious to have the benefit of his knowledge of the 

 natives and the country, and also I found it reassur- 

 ing, under the circumstances, to have the friendship 

 of a medical man. Later, I became his enforced 

 guest and I have always been thankful for his care. 



We arrived at Nanaoh-Pinoh, which was Ma- 

 hommed Munshee's village, two days late. I stayed 

 at Munshee's house while the men prepared boats 

 for the trip up the Melarir River to the spot where 

 the orang-outangs were. 



