324 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



an extra ration of rice on account of their exertions since 

 eight o'clock in the morning, as well as some maize that 

 I had bought, and all came into the room to cook at the 

 fireplace. Besides Mr. Loing and myself all our baggage 

 was there, and the house, built on high poles, was very 

 shaky. The bamboo floor gave way in a disagreeable 

 manner, and it did not seem a remote possibility for it 

 to fall, though the genial lady of the manor, who went 

 away herself, assured us that the house was strong. I 

 did not feel thoroughly comfortable until the "onder" 

 and the thirteen men had finished their cooking and gone 

 elsewhere to camp. When all was quiet and we could go 

 to sleep it was twelve o'clock. 



Early in the morning Mr. Loing went back in the small 

 prahu to take up the map where he had been compelled to 

 quit on account of the darkness. In the meantime I 

 had opportunity to receive a man who had been reported 

 to me the previous night as wanting assistance because of 

 a wound on his head. Knowing that the Dayaks are al- 

 ways ready to seize an opportunity to obtain medicine, 

 even when they are well, I postponed examining into his 

 case. He had merely a scratch on his forehead — not 

 even a swelling. 



