398 TRIP UP THE SOUTHERN BRANCH 



which the stream had worn a narrow passage, through 

 a corridor about a hundred yards in length, which con- 

 ducted us to the open air on the other side ; so that we 

 had passed, as through a tunnel, under the mountain. 

 This stream does not, like that in Lubong Angin, 

 rise from the interior of the cave, but passes through 

 it from the side on which we now stood. In a country 

 like Italy and Spain, what a romantic and beautiful 

 retreat for banditti, or any similar curse of those 

 countries ! A troop of cavalry, a thousand strong, might 

 reside here, with shelter for man and beast at hand, and 

 the luxury of a delightful stream running through their 

 dwelling. 



Having gained the opposite side, I tried to ascend the 

 lofty rock by a path used by the Dyaks for reaching the 

 caves to get the birds' nests which abound in them. 

 Having succeeded in getting half way to the top, I found 

 it impossible to proceed without very great danger, a 

 single stick, not thicker than my wrist, being the only 

 ladder by which an overhanging rock was surmounted. 

 I climbed up to the top of the rock, but looking below 

 me at the rocky depth over which I hung, and not 

 seeing any good hold above, I returned, much to the 

 amusement of the Dyaks, who had told me the path was 

 very difficult, and accessible only to Dyaks who they 

 truly said were like monkeys. 



Descending the stick and hill, we returned through 

 the cave, which is a regular road of the Dyaks to the 

 village, where we intended to remain for the night. 

 I had collected some plants of the fine Ixora, which I 



