76 ANIMATED NATURE. 



Sarawak in such places as are sufficiently open to allow 

 of an approach to it. The flesh is coarse, and, being 

 altogether devoid of fat, it is not esteemed by the 

 Europeans, though much sought after by the Malays. 

 It is said by the natives to be found occasionally white ; 

 it is then called ' rajah-rusa,' or the king-deer. Its 

 usual colour is dark brown. The rutting season is 

 about August. 



The ' kijang,' or roe, as it is commonly called by 

 Europeans, is the Cervus muntjack, an elegant 

 animal, the points of the horns of which are turned 

 forwards : it is of a light brown colour, about the size 

 of the antelope, which, with the exception of the horns, 

 it resembles in general appearance. The elegant little 

 'palandok' and its varieties are perhaps the smallest of 

 the deer tribe, some of them being only eight inches in 

 height at the shoulder. They live in very old woods, and 

 feed entirely, as does the kijang, on leaves and berries, 

 and they are particularly fond of the flower-buds of 

 the beautiful Dillennia speciosa. They are so graceful 

 and elegant in their forms and movements as to be 

 universal pets. Their coat is covered with fine and 

 glossy rich brown fur, and their eyes, which are large 

 and dark, have all that soft and melting beauty which 

 has rendered the gazelle so famous. Had the Malayan 

 countries been as fertile in poets as those of the west, 

 the palandok had doubtless occupied in their delight- 

 ful romances the place at present ceded to the gazelle. 

 They are frequently eaten ; and, notwithstanding their 

 fitness to adorn the page of poetry, they are not con- 

 sidered out of place on a well-furnished table. 



