CHAPTER VI 



resumption of my journey up the kayan river — long 

 pangian — beri-beri — hints on proper provisions 

 — kenyahs from central borneo — effect of a 

 spider's bite 



Shortly after my arrival in Tandjong Selor, fifty 

 Dayaks, mostly Kenyahs, Oma Bakkah, and some 

 Kayans, arrived from distant Apo Kayan on a trading 

 expedition, and I considered this rather fortunate, as it 

 would largely solve the difficult question of prahus and 

 men for my journey up the river. The controleur and 

 the Sultan also co-operated in assisting me to make a 

 start, but when at last all seemed in readiness, the Malays 

 allowed one of our prahus to drift away down toward the 

 sea; after other similar delays I finally began my expedi- 

 tion up the Kayan River. 



At the old pasang-grahan near Kaburau, I found that 

 during our two weeks' absence surprising changes had 

 taken place in the vegetation of the immediate surround- 

 ings. The narrow path leading from the river up the em- 

 bankment was now closed by large plants in flower, one 

 species looking like a kind of iris. The grass which we had 

 left completely cut down had grown over twenty centi- 

 metres. (Three weeks later it was in bloom.) It was the 

 month of March and several big trees in the surrounding 

 jungle were covered with masses of white blossoms. 



It is about 112 kilometres from Tandjong Selor to 



53 



