330 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. xvi. 



Shelter. A light tent of oiled calico is often useful, 

 as timbers for it can be cut almost anywhere en route. A 

 waterproof sheet will protect you from ground-damp if 

 spread on brush-fern or palm-leaves. In the Malay 

 islands the natives are very clever at constructing huts or 

 tabernacles of palm-leaves, &c, but wherever there are 

 native houses one is always welcome to the large public 

 room, firewood, and water. Field-huts, overhanging 

 rocks, and caves, have sometimes to be taken advantage 

 of. I have slept very comfortably many nights in the 

 open forest in a light net hammock swung between two 

 trees, with a waterproof sheet put roof-fashion as a pro- 

 tection from the rain. It is often difficult to light a fire. 

 I used to carry a few dry sticks, and when a fire had to 

 be lighted, I whittled these into shavings with my knife. 

 These light readily as a rule. A small bottle of spirits 

 of wine may be carried, as paper soaked in it will set fire 

 to almost anything. I have seen the Borneans wet paper 

 with cocoanut-oil, or mix whittled shavings with melted 

 beeswax in order to get a fire. If the matches are damp, 

 tinder may be made by blowing a piece of rag or paper 

 out of a gun. A small spirit-lamp cooking apparatus, if 

 well and strongly made, is a great convenience to a trav- 

 eller, enabling him to get his coffee, chocolate, or a 

 refreshing cup of tea while the men are rigging up 

 shelter, or lighting a camp-fire. 



Barter. There are not many countries wherein it is 

 now necessary to carry goods for barter. In the interior 

 of the Malay islands, and in the far interior or moun- 

 tainous districts of other countries, however, it still 

 happens that money is useless. White or grey shirting 

 and chopper blades are generally acceptable throughout 

 the interior of Borneo and the Sulu islands. Black and 



