THROUGH THE RAPIDS 205 



journey down the Kasao River, in seven prahus with 

 twenty-eight men, twenty-four of whom were Penihings, 

 who, with their raja, as the chiefs are called on the Maha- 

 kam, had arrived from below by appointment. Owing to 

 my recent distressing experience I was not sorry to say 

 farewell to Data Laong, where the women and children 

 were afraid of me to the last, on account of my desire to 

 have them photographed. The Saputans are kind, but 

 their intellect is of a low order, and the unusual prevalence 

 of skin disease renders them unattractive though always 

 interesting subjects. 



A glorious morning ! The river, running high and of 

 a dirty yellowish-green colour, carried us swiftly with the 

 current in the cool atmosphere of the morning mist which 

 the sun gradually cleared away. Repeatedly, though for 

 a few moments only, an enchanting fragrance was wafted 

 to me from large, funnel-shaped, fleshy white flowers 

 with violet longitudinal stripes that covered one of the 

 numerous varieties of trees on our way. Many blossoms 

 had fallen into the water and floated on the current with 

 us. It was a pleasure to have again real Dayak paddlers, 

 which I had not had since my travels in the Bulungan. 



We dashed through the tall waves of many smaller 

 rapids and suddenly, while I was having breakfast, which 

 to save time is always taken in the prahus, I found myself 

 near what appeared to be a rapidly declining kiham. A 

 fathomless abyss seemed yawning before us, although the 

 approach thereto was enticing, as the rushing waters 

 turned into white foam and played in the strong sunlight. 

 We passed a timid prahu which was waiting at one side 



