394 TRIP UP THE SOUTHERN BRANCH 



it, and on the right side of the river, where also are 

 some houses, is the peaked rock, called Si Gigi: this 

 is higher than Sebayet, and, like it, is precipitous. 

 Si Gigi is the end of a round-topped range of limestone 

 hills, which is continued along the banks of the river. 

 The village of Sebayet is the head-quarters of the 

 Sempro Dyaks, who were at this time absent at the 

 farms ; but as I intended to stay for the night, I went 

 up to the houses, and took up my residence in that of 

 the chief. This was situated in the middle of a long 

 row of finely-built houses, before which stood the 

 Pangah, or house for bachelors, universally found in the 

 villages of the Hill Dyaks. 



About dark, the family of the Orang Kaya returned, 

 though he himself stopped at the farm, not knowing of 

 my arrival. His wife and I were old friends, as it is her 

 unfailing custom to dun her visitors for bottles, who 

 by this means recollect her. I found that bottles were 

 still in demand ; and after having concluded a bargain 

 for some rice for my men, for which, to her delight, 

 I paid her the Sarawak price, I gave her two or three 

 empty bottles, in consideration of the use of her house, 

 of which I had so unceremoniously possessed myself. 

 Others of the tribe came in the evening, bringing small 

 presents of fruit, rice and eggs, for which they received 

 Javanese tobacco and beads, with which they were 

 delighted. The river, which near here is very tortuous, 

 flows peacefully along between its steep banks over 

 beds of sand and gravel, though the rapids below, and 

 the high walls of limestone which endeavour to confine 



