242 IN MALAY FORESTS. 



banks in their numbers, they presented the appear- 

 ance of an invasion of the country, and thy slave 

 accordingly sounded the war alarm. The fault is with 

 the Penyu, the Eiver-turtle.' 



" ' Because the branch brake when the Hornbill flew 

 by/ said Nabi Sleman, ' who shall say that the Horn- 

 bill broke the branch ? We would hear the Eiver- 

 turtle.' 



"The Eiver-turtle was in the stream amidst the 

 throng of the water-dwellers. He scrambled up the 

 bank, the sand flying to right and . to left under his 

 broad flat flippers, and made his way into the 

 presence. 



" He made the obeisance, and Nabi Sleman said to 

 him, 'Blato' the Woodpecker has sounded the war 

 alarm, and has given as his excuse the appearance of 

 an invasion of the country by thy kin. What hast 

 thou to say?' 



"The Eiver-turtle again made the obeisance and 

 said, ' Pardon, King ! Thy slave saw that the 

 river was full of turmoil and alarm. Udang, the 

 Prawns, were ascending the river in companies and 

 battalions, and all of them carried their long spears 

 between their eyes. Sebarau, the Perches, were 

 swimming up-stream in broad lines of array, and 

 every one carried his bright war-sash across his body. 

 And Jenjulong, the Garfishes, dashing hither and 

 thither, followed close behind, and each of them 

 carried his terrible pike. When thy slave saw in 

 the river such signs of war and cruel death, thy slave 

 and thy slave's kin left the river for the safety of 

 the banks.' 



