352 JOURNAL OF A VISIT 



the first vegetation, and is immediately succeeded by 

 the ordinary trees of the jungle. The country between 

 the Sarawak river, and the Batang Lupar, including 

 the Samarhand, Sadong and Lingah territories, appeared 

 to be beautifully studded with mountains, not disposed 

 in ranges, but, for the most part, solitary. The Gunong 

 Penerissen, inland of the Sarawak river, and on the 

 borders of the Sangon country, appeared to be the 

 highest. (It has been since ascertained, by barometrical 

 observation, to be about 4,700 feet in height). 



Soon after we had anchored, we waited upon the old 

 chief, Mulana, (which is not his name, but an Arabic 

 word signifying teacher), in a tumble-down kind of 

 audience hall. He was delighted to see Williamson, 

 whom he had previously known at Sarawak, and the 

 apartment was crowded with the inhabitants of the 

 place. Several verses from the Koran, in large Arabic 

 characters, were displayed on its decaying sides, under 

 one of which the chief was seated, and white mats were 

 spread for Williamson and myself, with our Tuanku 

 by my friend's side : our Dattu sat with the other men 

 of consideration a little lower down, but on the right- 

 hand side of the priest. 



When we were seated, tea and cigars were handed 

 to us, the former in small china cups, without sugar or 

 milk. The latter are made of Borneo tobacco, which is 

 very pleasant, neatly rolled up in the young straw-coloured 

 leaves of the Nipah palm, and bound with crimson silk. 

 They are about nine inches long, and contain much 



