WILD LIFE IN CENTRAL BORNEO 193 



be sure to come there. Myriads of yellowish-gray flies 

 covered the ground as well as the rocks, and after having 

 taken some specimens of algae, also some white gelatinous 

 stuff with which the Malays rub themselves when afflicted 

 with beri-beri, I returned to camp. 



In spite of frequent light showers the stream failed to 

 rise appreciably, and our goods had to be carried on the 

 back of the men to our next camping place. The fol- 

 lowing morning we started in a heavy rain at which we 

 rejoiced, because it enabled us to use our prahus until we 

 reached the foot of the dividing ridge. At noon we ar- 

 rived in camp, with our clothing thoroughly wet. What 

 the downpour might have left intact the Penyahbongs, 

 forgetting everything but the safety of the prahus, had 

 done their best to drench by splashing water all the time. 

 Just as we had made camp the rain ceased and with it, 

 being near the source of the stream, the overflow too 

 passed away. In dry weather it would be a tedious trip 

 to get up the Bakkaang. 



For two days we were busy carrying our goods to the 

 top of the ridge. Neither the Malays nor the Penyah- 

 bongs are very strong carriers, and they complained of 

 being stenga mati (half dead) from their exertions. On 

 the third day, when the ascent was to be finished, eight 

 of them complained of being sakit (sick) or played out, 

 and they looked it. Fortunately the Saputan chief, who 

 a few days previously had left us to procure more men, 

 returned with four companions, who came in very op- 

 portunely. The ascent is neither long nor difficult, a 

 seldom used path leading across the ridge at the most 



