A RAID BY ANTS 91 



effect a departure, and current report indicated that if 

 the rain continued it might be necessary to wait a month 

 before the rapids below could be passed. I had all my be- 

 longings packed in order to be ready to start whenever it 

 was found advisable to do so. While waiting I went over 

 to the kampong to kinematograph two dancing girls who 

 the day before, owing to their bashfulness, had detained 

 us so long that the light became inadequate. At last the 

 river fell about a metre during the night, and the chief 

 and his brother called on me early in the morning to sug- 

 gest that our best plan would be to start in the middle of 

 the day. 



Only a couple of hours are consumed in going to Long 

 Pangian from here, on account of the downward course 

 of the river, which forms rapids and currents at frequent 

 intervals. As the men appeared disinclined to go, the 

 posthouder of Long Pangian, who then was with me, 

 crossed the river and gave the necessary impetus to action. 

 Soon a big prahu was hauled by many men down the 

 bank to the river; this was followed by others, taken from 

 their storage place under the house, and shortly afterward 

 we had facilities for departure. Most of the boats were 

 medium-sized; mine was the largest, about seven and a 

 half metres long, but so unsteady that the luggage was 

 loaded with difficulty. As usual my prahu carried the 

 most valuable articles, the photographic outfit, scientific 

 instruments, etc., all of which was finally secured by 

 tying rattan over it from side to side. Naturally, fewer 

 men are needed going down a river than coming up, and 

 I had only four. 



