VII 

 UP A TREE IN THE JUNGLE 



fully a week after the killing of the man- 

 eating tiger, I devoted all my time seeing to the 

 making of rough transportation cages, crates of all 

 sizes, and small nets. One morning I told the Tung- 

 ku of a plan I had to get some large nets made in 

 a hurry. "Te-dor, bully tuan" (Cannot be done, 

 sir), said he, shaking his head. I then explained 

 to him how I intended to work it. Clapping his 

 hands to his sides he went into a fit of laughter, 

 and was as pleased as a child, saying: "By tuan by 

 (Good, sir, good)." I have stated before 

 that getting work out of a Malay was an 

 art that can only be attained by close intercourse 

 and complete confidence on the part of the native 

 and by making work seem play or a game. To stage 

 the affair in the best light I had the Tungku give 

 orders for a general assembly of the men of the 

 kampong, saying that the Tuan had a game he 

 wanted the men to enter into, and when they were 

 all assembled, I told them I was going to offer 

 prizes to the men picked out and worked as crews, 

 that made the best and most nets in four days, 

 one day for the cutting and washing the rattan, one 



177 



