MODE OF TRAVELLING. 287 



its length, to afford a more apparent than real protec- 

 tion to the timid that may pass that way. The rail 

 slopes away from the footpath of the bridge at so con- 

 siderable an angle, that the two sides cannot be reached 

 at the same time by stretching both the arms, and 

 they are so fragile, that it is dangerous to trust one's 

 weight upon them, so that Europeans find considerable 

 difficulty in crossing them, more particularly in such 

 of them as are agitated by the least motion of the 

 passengers, or of the wind. The Dyaks cross over them 

 with heavy burdens on their heads, without requiring 

 the assistance of the parapet, and merely balancing 

 themselves with a light cane held in their hands. 



The great height above the water, frequently sixty 

 feet, and the foaming and boiling torrent dashing 

 amongst the rocks below them, have no effect upon their 

 practised nerves, but are obstacles which nothing but 

 necessity would induce the European to face. The 

 Dyaks, in this species of tight-rope dancing, have a 

 great advantage over the nations of Europe, in the 

 prehensile nature of their feet, their toes being as 

 useful to them as the fingers of their hands; and they 

 may frequently be seen seated with a knife between 

 their toes, with the back of its blade towards them, 

 cutting, by drawing the object they wish to sever towards 

 them, across the blade : flesh is always cut in this way. 



For travelling on roads of this nature, shoes, with 

 soles of the least possible thickness, are preferable to 

 any others, as with them the feet are of considerable 

 service, and after six months' experience, the traveller will 

 be astonished at the proficiency he has attained in using 



