296 TRIP UP THE SOUTHERN BRANCH 



approach, from their feast off the fruit of the Kayu Ara, a 

 species of fig. A hornbill flying over, makes such a 

 rushing noise with the action of his powerful wings upon 

 the air, even though he be at a great height, that I have 

 never observed the like in any other large bird. They fly 

 with a steady, regular, and straight flight, like a crow. 

 The highest woods on the most lofty mountains are the 

 favourite places of their residence ; but they frequently 

 are tempted by the fruit to the plains. They are gene- 

 rally seen in small flocks of from three to six individuals. 

 There are many species of them in Sarawak ; but the 

 largest and most common is that known as the rhi- 

 noceros hornbill fBuceros RhinocerusJ. Of pigeons 

 and doves we procured many kinds, and shall have a 

 famous feast off them at night. The kinds of doves, or 

 small pigeons, called " punei" by the natives, are very 

 tender and excellent eating ; the large " preggam," or 

 wood-pigeon, though excellent when young, is generally 

 tough when old. They are very large birds, and some 

 just shot weigh as much as a good Dyak fowl. Nothing 

 smaller than No. 3 shot will bring them from their 

 lofty perches. 



Shooting as we went, and having made a good bag, it 

 was noon before we reached Si Budah, a temporary 

 farm village of the Sempro Dyaks, situated at the foot 

 of the mountain of the same name, which, like the 

 others, is limestone, and precipitous It appears higher 

 than either Sebayet or Si Gigi, peaked on the face, 

 towards the north, and appearing to be a narrow ridge on 

 the top, as, through a large hole, which pierces the lime- 



