96 BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. [chap. 



fashion. By the side of several graves was placed a sort of rude 

 bier, vipoii which the corpse had evidently been carried to its 

 last resting-place, and here and there a miniature bamboo flagstaff 

 was planted, from the top of which still hung a few tattered rags 

 of linen. 



The scene was beautiful as well as quaint, for the ground had 

 been liberally planted with crotons and dracajnas, whose coloured 

 leaves stood out in bold relief against the heavy dark green of the 

 forest around. Close by, a few arecas and an old coco-palm 

 revealed the age of the clearing. A few years ago, when the pirate 

 fleets from the Sulu Islands ravaged the countries far and near, 

 the natives lived far up the rivers, where they were safer from 

 attack, better able to defend themselves, and more free to grow 

 their crops. Now that security is greater, many of the clearings 

 are deserted, and have become rapidly overgrown. 



The Buludupis have a curious account of their origin. An 

 old woman — but of what nation history does not inform us — one 

 day instructed her daughter to light a fire. Again and again the 

 young woman tried ; again and again she failed. At length, 

 wearied by her non-success, and by the abuse of her mamma, who, 

 as far as it is possible to judge of historical personages, seems to 

 have l3een a woman of violent temper, she exclaimed, " The Fire 

 Fiend may take me, if he will only let me get this alight." No 

 sooner had she spoken than her wish was gratified, but at the 

 same instant she disappeared from view. Time passed by, and at 

 length she returned from the lower regions, and interesting as 

 must have been her adventures, of which, by the way, history gives 

 us no account, they were not more so than her condition. In a 

 few days she gave birth to a son, who was the progenitor of the 

 Buludupi tribe. 



We continued our voyage up stream after having taken 

 photographs of the burial-ground, and constantly passed the re- 

 mains of old clearings. The river had become much narrower, and 

 the forest-trees were laru'er than I ever recollect seeing; them in 



