250 IN MALAY FORESTS. 



them, made in a few minutes an excellent protec- 

 tion against the dew ; and a few handf uls of tepus- 

 leaves afforded a comfortable and fragrant matting. 

 Three pointed sticks hammered into the ground made 

 a tripod for the rice-pot, and what more does any 

 man want ? 



At first the moon was overcast with heavy clouds 

 that threatened rain, but the surrounding darkness 

 only set off the cheerful brightness of the camping- 

 ground. The lights of the different fireplaces fell 

 brightly on the forms of the men, their rude lean-to's, 

 the throng of boats, and flickered gaily on the trunks 

 of the great solemn forest trees above and around 

 us. Later the clouds passed away, and the glorious 

 full moon shone upon us. 



By seven o'clock all had finished their evening 

 meal, and small woven cases of native cigarettes, 

 and little covered bowls of silver or copper, con- 

 taining betel-leaf and its accessories, were brought 

 out and passed round. After a while old Pawang 

 Duhamat was seen handling a short thick bludgeon. 

 Similar bludgeons immediately made their appearance 

 on every side, and then we all went down to the 

 water's edge. Ten dug-outs lay a little apart from 

 the others: cleaned and washed, stripped of every- 

 thing, they were mere empty vessels. The tuba root 

 lay in great bales on the bank. Each man picked 

 up as much as he required, and took it to one of 

 the empty boats. After splashing a few gallons of 

 water into the boat, he soaked a piece of the root 

 in the water for a moment, and then began to pound 

 it with his bludgeon. As the root abraded, a little 



