NATIVE METHODS OF FISHING 



march brought us to a very large village, at which 



we decided to camp for the night. In this village was 



the biggest bamboo house I have ever seen in any part 



of the world. Fully a hundred and twenty people 



were eating, sleeping, cooking under the one roof. 



The chief of the place was a man of importance, 



recognised officially by the Government of British 



North Borneo. He received us very well, arranging a 



big dance in our honour, and I in my turn entertained 



the dancers by taking some flash-Ught pictures of 



them. 



I was greatly interested in the local method of 



fishing, which is as ingenious as it is effective. The 



net used somewhat resembles those of the Roman 



gladiators. It is weighted all round, and has to be 



thrown so as to spread out on the water, then of course 



it sinks immediately, enmeshing all the fish wliich 



happen to be beneath it. Like all the people of the 



Far Eastern tropics, the natives of Borneo depend 



ver}^ largely on fish for their food supply, and display 



an amazing amount of skill in their methods of fishing, 



the great traps in the lagoons being especially elaborate. 



At the mine I had to part company with my friend 

 Clarke, who was remaining there. I bade him " good- 

 bye " with the greatest regret. A better companion 

 no man could wish to have. 



My intention now was to make my way to another 

 river, the Kinamatang. The start was by no means an 



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