WAX AND BIRDS* NESTS. 315 



near the heart of the tree, where it is of a chocolate 

 colour, and very hard and tough ; it turns black on 

 long exposure to the atmosphere. The branches are 

 large, and extend high above the tree, being long as 

 the stem itself, over which, with the small light green 

 leaves, they form a round, regularly and beautifully 

 formed head. 



The bees generally place their nests on the under- 

 side of the larger branches, and the Dyaks ascend to 

 these by torchlight, by means of spikes of bamboo, 

 which are driven in a sloping direction between the 

 bark and wood of the tree. These are about two feet 

 apart, and project about twelve inches from the stem. 

 They are connected by a rail of bamboo, which is placed 

 perpendicularly along them, and attached to each by 

 rattans, and this ladder is all the assistance to the 

 Dyak in his perilous undertaking; which, when we 

 consider the height from the ground, the time at which 

 the ascent is made, and the tormenting and sharp 

 stings of the large wasp-like bee (Lanyeh), must 

 make us wonder how the temptation of a few dollars 

 can cause the Dyaks to expose themselves to so much 

 danger. 



One ascent I witnessed : a little boy who had never 

 been up before, accompanied his brothers, who all 

 ascended, singing and making as much noise as possible, 

 and with torches in their hands. The little fellow 

 got safely to the top, but when the nests were disturbed 

 and the bees began to sting, as their domiciles were 

 placed in the baskets on the backs of the Dyaks, his 



