90 THROrCH CKXTRAI. RORXFO 



floor, which had a covering of closely set bamboo stalks, 

 was black with ants and that regiments of them were 

 busily climbing up my bed. Coming in such immense 

 numbers and unannounced, their appearance was start- 

 ling. Outside the soil seemed to move. Twice before 

 I had received visits from these ants but had prevented 

 their entering the tent by pouring hot water over them. 

 The pain caused by their bite is severe, although of short 

 duration, and they are therefore feared by the Dayaks 

 and Malays. 



By liberal application of hot water and burning paper 

 on the ground we finally succeeded in driving the unwel- 

 come visitors out of the tent; but new hordes were con- 

 stantly arriving, and we battled for two hours before I 

 could retire, carr^^ing many bites as souvenirs. None 

 were then in the tent and next day not a trace of them 

 remained. The Chinese photographer had been there 

 twenty minutes before the raid began and had not noticed 

 even one ant. The attack began as suddenly as it ceased. 



My stay on the Kayan River had been interesting as 

 well as profitable. Twice during that period requests 

 had come from the government for Dayaks willing to 

 join a Dutch enterprise operating in northern New 

 Guinea, and the chances of my securing sufficient men on 

 this river for my expedition were evidently gone. How- 

 ever, with the assistance of the government I felt sure 

 there would be no difficulty in securing them from other 

 rivers of Dutch Borneo, but I deemed it wise to begin my 

 return trip. 



The river was now so swollen that it was difficult to 



