UP THE MERASI RIVER 265 



labour, but always to command. He naturally selected 

 a place in my prahu and seated himself at one side, which 

 kept the boat tilted; however, it was out of the question 

 for any of the men to correct him. When the prahu 

 moved away the first thing he did was to wash his feet, 

 next his hands and arms, finally to rinse his mouth, and 

 several times during the trip the performance was re- 

 peated. He was of little assistance except through the 

 authority that he exerted as a great raja. 



Early in the afternoon we arrived at Lulo Pakko (lu- 

 lo = river; pakko = edible fern), situated in a beautiful hilly 

 country. The natives very obligingly helped to make 

 camp in the usual way. Raja Besar, who made himself at 

 home in the gallery of the long communal house, told me 

 that he wanted his "children," as he called the men, to 

 remain until the following day, his plan being to obtain 

 double wages for them. With the swift current, how- 

 ever, they could easily return the same day, so I said I 

 had no objection to their staying, but that they would 

 receive no extra pay for the additional time; whereupon 

 they left without argument. 



Comfortably established on the cool, spacious gallery 

 of the large house, I received articles they were willing 

 to sell, had decorative designs interpreted for me, and 

 interviewed the more intelligent of these pleasant Oma- 

 Sulings. On the floor lay an admirably finished plank, 

 which was used as a seat; it was about four centimetres 

 thick and nearly two metres broad, the bark remaining 

 on the edges. In Long Pahangei I noticed a similar 

 one of slightly narrower width. 



