OF THE SARAWAK RIVER. 393 



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over the strata of fossils at the Battu Lichin and Battu 

 Tikus. The Battu Tikus, or rat-stones, have taken 

 their name from the curious fossils which project from 

 the limestone rocks which line the river. They are not 

 arranged in any particular order, but scattered on the 

 surface, from which they stand out in high relief, the 

 softer limestone having been worn away by the action 

 of the water. 



On the left-hand side of the river is a hill, also of 

 limestone, about 100 feet high, on the steep sides of 

 which numbers of small specimens, principally shells 

 and reptiles, are observed ; but in the bed of the river 

 are many strata of enormous fossils, like roots of trees, 

 or the gigantic relics of the animal monsters of a former 

 world. These are disposed in parallel strata, and cross 

 the river in south-east and north-west directions, though 

 in some instances, the parallel direction is departed 

 from. These also stand out from their rocky bed ; 

 and in July, form a rheum, or rapid; and by their 

 hard angles and edges, are formidable to canoes, which 

 on account of the shallowness of the water, necessarily 

 come in contact with them. It is to be regretted that 

 these remains have not been examined by a competent 

 person, as they were not discovered till just as the 

 geologist, formerly mentioned, was recalled to England, 

 so that he had not time thoroughly to examine them. 



Soon after noon, we reached the village of Sebayet, 

 situated at the foot of a mountain of limestone, the face 

 of which, towards the river, is about 1,000 feet high, 

 displaying a naked precipice of limestone. Opposite to 



