CHAPTER XXVII 



CONTINUING THE JOURNEY DOWN THE RIVER — GREAT 



KIHAMS — BATOKELAU AT LONG IRAM LAST STAGES 



OF OUR JOURNEY — ARRIVAL AT SAMARINDA — HINDU 

 ANTIQUITIES — NATIVE'S SUPERIORITY TO CIVILISED 



MAN 



Early in August, as soon as the river had receded 

 sufficiently to be considered favourable for travel, we 

 started in seven prahus with thirty-two men. After 

 less than two hours' swift journey we encountered the 

 advance-guard of the kihams, which, though of little 

 account, obliged us to take ashore almost all our goods, 

 and we walked about fifteen minutes. It seemed a very 

 familiar proceeding. Early in the afternoon we arrived 

 at the kubo, a desirable shelter that had been erected 

 at the head of the first great kiham, but its limited accom- 

 modations were taxed to overflowing by our arrival. 

 Already camped here were a few Buginese traders and a 

 raja from the Merasi River, accompanied by two good- 

 looking wives, who were all going to Long I ram and had 

 been waiting two days for the river to fall. The raja, who 

 presented me with some bananas, moved with his family 

 a little farther down the river, and I put up my tent as 

 usual. 



Next morning the transportation of our goods on 

 human backs was begun, and shortly after six o'clock I 

 started with the men to walk to the foot of the rapids, 



which takes about three hours. On the way, I observed 



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