1844.] TRAFFIC FOR BULLOCKS, ETC. 191 



southward, the view was obstructed by the mountain 

 ranges. The summit of Kini Balu was shrouded in 

 mist, but I could sufficiently trace the outline and sur- 

 rounding scenery to judge of the difficulty which would 

 attend its ascent. On my return to the town of Ambong, 

 I found a brisk traffic going on for fowls, bullocks, cocoa- 

 nuts, and other articles ; quantities of wax were brought 

 down, but did not find purchasers. At first, a glass 

 bottle was eagerly taken for a fine fowl, sometimes less, 

 but before the evening they had fallen much in value, 

 and on the close of the market the rate of exchange ter- 

 minated with three bottles for two fowls. Bullocks, of 

 the Bramin breed, about thirteen hands high, with 

 humps, very sleek and fat, and weighing about three cwt., 

 commenced at twenty yards of calico, but the closing 

 price had increased to forty; on a later visit, a prize 

 animal, a perfect picture, fetched sixty. The calico cost 

 in England 9s. per piece of forty yards, or not quite 2f d. 

 per yard, making the value to range between five and 

 fifteen shillings per animal. 



A great drawback to this port is the want of a suffi- 

 cient supply of water ; small runs, just adequate to the 

 wants of the population, abound, but at no particular 

 spot could we meet with enough to supply shipping. The 

 people residing at the beach are of the Bajow race, fre- 

 quently termed, " the wandering Bajows, or Sea-gipsies ", 

 their pursuits are those of fishermen, or probably pirates, 

 when opportunity offers. An Orang Kaya, or (head man,) 

 with half a dozen Malays, comprise the entire residency 

 of Ambong, and upon the tops of the surrounding culti- 



