118 HUMAN TREE-DWELLERS 



tracks showed that the rhino had at least made 

 the attempt, and nowhere for a mile down stream 

 could we find signs on our side that he had not 

 succeeded. This experience came near to stopping 

 the expedition, for the Malays seemed determined 

 to turn back, and as I was without even the first 

 aid to communication which my Tamil servant 

 (before I sent him back ill with fever) furnished, 

 I had recourse to looking pleasant and offering 

 gifts. Finally we did go on, though the Malays 

 had no liking for it, and were sullen. 



There had been days of this kind of experience, 

 so that when I actually came on fresh tracks, my 

 thankfulness was both deep and sincere. At first 

 the tracks were distinct, and I had no difficulty in 

 following them, particularly where, for a consider- 

 able distance, they led through what may be called 

 a jungle runway, which is a passage forced through 

 the heaviest underbrush by the rhino, and of such 

 density that, were you standing within a half dozen 

 feet, the beast might go through unseen, though 

 not of course unheard. But on this, the second 

 day, the tracks led up hill from the swampy land 

 of the valley. The rain was falling unusually 

 hard, and the water flowed down the hillside almost 

 in streams, making it, of course, very difficult to 



