JUNGLE PEOPLE 47 



These shy nomads remained in camp two days and 

 allowed themselves to be photographed. One morning 

 seven of them went out to look for game, armed with their 

 long sumpitans and carrying on the right side, attached to 

 the girdle, the bamboo casket that contained the darts. 

 They formed a thrilling sight in the misty morning as in 

 single file they swung with long, elastic steps up the hill. 

 Though the Punans are famous as hunters and trappers, 

 they returned in a few hours without any result. Next 

 morning when I ventured to begin taking their measure- 

 ments they became uneasy and one after another slipped 

 away, even leaving behind part of their promised rewards, 

 rice and clothing for the women, and taking with them 

 only tobacco and a large tin of salt, which I rather re- 

 gretted, as they had well earned it all. 



We made a trip of a few days' duration to the next 

 elevation, Gunong Rega, in a northerly direction, most of 

 the time following a long, winding ridge on a well-defined 

 Punan trail. The hill-top is nearly 800 metres above 

 sea-level (2,622 feet), by boiling thermometer, and the 

 many tree-ferns and small palm-trees add greatly to its 

 charm and beauty. 



Toward the end of February I made my way back to 

 the river. From our last camp, one day's march down- 

 ward, three of my strongest Kayans had carried 45 kilo- 

 grams each. My Javanese cook, Wong Su, on arriving 

 in camp, felt ill and I found him lying prostrate. He had 

 not been perspiring on the march down the hills and com- 

 plained of chilly sensations. He also presented the symp- 

 toms of a cold attack of malaria, but it was simply the 



