All Orang Hunt in Borneo 177 



We were floating slowly down stream when we came upon a 

 flock of 'Vasongs" or proboscis monkeys. As they are valuable 

 animals it was desirable to secure some, so I ordered the men 

 to follow into the swamp and get within range. After going 

 fifty yards I got a long range shot at one big fellow, but hit 

 him too low so that he was able to make off. The boat followed 

 a short distance, but soon became fast in the roots and vines, 

 and, as there was nothing else to do, we went over the side, 

 at first going in up to the shoulders. Wading cautiously along, 

 avoiding briars and thorns as much as possible, we followed 

 the wounded animal, but each time we approached him he 

 would make off before we could get a shot. Going in this way 

 we were soon a quarter of a mile away from the boat. Just 

 then while peering anxiously up into a tree over our heads, we 

 sighted an orang carefully concealed in the top. He was so 

 well hidden that it was impossible to tell where to aim, so I 

 fired at a venture expecting to take him again when he dis- 

 closed himself. The bullet broke his leg, and as he hastily 

 started to make off I took quick aim and pulled the trigger. 

 Click ! That empty click that makes a hunter's heart sink was 

 the only response. The rifle was empty, not a cartridge in my 

 pocket, the boat a quarter of a mile away and the orang slowly 

 making off. I well knew that I could not find my way to that 

 boat and back again, so told Pasang that I would follow the 

 animal while he returned for cartridges. At first the animal 

 got ahead of me, but after a while it stopped and rested in 

 the crotch of a tall tree. I carefully concealed myself and keep- 

 ing perfectly quiet awaited the return of my guide. The animal 

 did not attempt to go farther until again disturbed by the 

 noise made by the returning Dyak, when a bullet quickly brought 

 him down. In time we got back to the boat with our prize, 

 but I was sore for a week from the scratches and bumps I 

 got while struggling through that bog. 



A few days later found us up the Sibuyan river far beyond 

 Dyak houses. As there was no high ground m the region we 

 wished to work, we were compelled to build a rough shanty 

 directly over the swamp. From this place as a center, aided by 

 the good hunters, we worked the surrounding country with 

 good success. Orangs, proboscis monkeys, black monkeys and 

 other animals came in quite rapidly. But at the end of the 



