SEA TRAGEDY OF THE JUNGLE FOLK 147 



about the capture of the orang-outangs and the 

 death of the crocodile. The stories had improved 

 with age, and so I told him what had actually hap- 

 pened. 



"Mahommed Munshee has been waiting here for 

 you to get well," said the doctor. "I think he'd like 

 to see you if you don't mind." 



Munshee came in, beaming with delight. Tak- 

 ing my hand and pressing it to his forehead, he 

 told me that only one chosen by "God and Prophet" 

 could recover from the fever and the sickness 

 caused by the paw of an orang-outang. All of the 

 villagers, he said, had been making offerings to the 

 different deities for my recovery, and the people 

 would be happy to hear that Tuan was well again. 

 I told him that I would return with him to Omar's 

 kampong within two weeks, and he left, promising 

 to come for me. 



The days at Dr. Van Erman's house passed 

 quickly and pleasantly. I found him a thoroughly 

 fine man, as well as a fine doctor, and I enjoyed his 

 companionship. Under his care I rapidly threw 

 off the fever, and my leg healed so that I could get 

 about with little difficulty. The ankle had been dis- 

 located by the grip of the orang-outang's paw, and 

 the tendons badly strained. 



By the time Mahommed Munshee came for me, 

 I was quite ready to go up the river. I had seen 

 enough of the country to know that the jungles were 

 full of animals, and I wanted to capture as many 



