IN KANDANGAN 311 



where the man in charge could not be found, but a small 

 boy started in search of him. After half-an-hour the rest 

 of our party began to come in, and forty-five wet coolies 

 with their damp burdens filled the ante-room of the 

 pasang grahan, to the despair of the Malay custodian 

 who belatedly appeared on the scene. Notwithstanding 

 the unpleasantness of the crowded room I did not think 

 it right to leave the poor carriers out in the rain, therefore 

 had allowed them to remain. The burdens having been 

 freed from the rattan and natural fibrous bands by which 

 they had been carried, these wrappings — a load for two 

 men — were disposed of by being thrown into the river. 

 Gradually the place assumed an orderly aspect and Mr. 

 Loing and I established ourselves in two quite comfort- 

 able rooms. 



Through fortunate circumstances the assistant-resi- 

 dent, Mr. A. F. Meyer, was able to arrange to have 

 our old acquaintance, the river-steamer Otto, to wait for 

 us at Negara and take us to Bandjermasin. His wife 

 had an interesting collection of live animals and birds 

 from the surrounding country. She loved animals and 

 possessed much power over them. A kitten of a wild cat 

 of the jungle, obtained five days previously, was as tame 

 as a domesticated specimen of the same age. She stroked 

 the back of a hawk which was absolutely quiet without 

 being tied or having its wings cut. He sat with his back 

 toward us and as she stroked him merely turned his 

 head, immediately resuming his former position. All the 

 birds were in perfect plumage at that time, the month 

 of November, and in fine condition. 



