THROUGH THE RAPIDS 207 



on the other side of the river a lonely Malay was working 

 eagerly, trying to float a big bundle of rattan which had 

 lodged in the midst of a waterfall against a large stone, 

 and which finally he succeeded in loosening. Suddenly it 

 floated, and as suddenly he leaped upon it, riding astride 

 it down the foaming waters. 



The prospect for some smooth sailing now appeared 

 favourable, but scarcely had I made myself comfortable, 

 lying down in my prahu, before I was drenched by furious 

 waves into which we had plunged. We soon got out of 

 them, however, and continued our swift travel down- 

 ward. In the distance most of our prahus could be seen 

 in a calm inlet on the other side, where Mr. Loing was 

 awaiting our arrival; but my men continued on their 

 course. In a few seconds we entered the boiling waves of 

 the rapids, down which we went at thrilling speed. We 

 literally jumped a small waterfall, then, sharply turning to 

 the left, passed another. More than a third of the boat 

 was in the air as we leaped over it. The Dayaks stand in 

 the prahu and every nerve is at full tension. The man at 

 the bow shouts and warns. They are daring, but manage 

 to avoid the hidden rocks with which the course of the 

 river is studded, now steering slightly to the left, now 

 more to the right. Thirty or fifty centimetres one way 

 or the other may make all the difference between safety 

 and disaster. Three men in a small prahu which fol- 

 lows immediately behind, seeing that they cannot avoid 

 dashing against a rock, jump overboard, pull the boat 

 out of its course, and save it. 



Ahead was another turn in the river where the third 



