EXPEDITION TO LAKE SEMBULO 375 



The steamship Janssens had recently reduced its al- 

 ready infrequent sailings for Singapore, which caused 

 some delay, but finally, toward the end of March, I em- 

 barked for Sampit. I was glad to see the controleur, who 

 came down to the pier, for the rare occasions when steam- 

 ers call here are almost festive events, and arrangements 

 were at once made for my journey to Sembulo. At Pem- 

 buang we took on board the native kapala of the district, 

 who was to accompany me; he also brought an attendant, 

 a cook, and a policeman, all natives. Twelve hours later, 

 when we arrived at the kampong Sembulo, the kapala 

 who came on board the Selatan informed us that no 

 Dayaks were there. As the lake was low and the water 

 continued to fall it was impossible to proceed to Bangkal, 

 the other kampong, or to remain here more than a few 

 days. Therefore, at my request the native authorities 

 agreed to have the Bangkal Dayaks congregate here, the 

 kapala himself undertaking to bring them. 



The population of the kampong Sembulo, formerly 

 called Pulau Tombak, at the present time is Malay, com- 

 prising more than two hundred full-grown men, nearly 

 all recent arrivals from Bandjermasin, Sampit, Pembuang, 

 and other places. Very little rice is planted because the 

 soil is sandy and unsuited to cultivation, therefore the 

 inhabitants confine their activities mainly to rubber 

 gathering. At that time about a hundred men were busy 

 in the jungle on the opposite side, gathering white rubber, 

 which is plentiful in the surrounding country. They 

 cross the lake in their small prahus, pole them up the 

 streams, and remain perhaps three months in the utan 



