310 TWO YEAES IN THE JUNGLE. 



We got seven fine specimens altogether, one of which is figured 

 herewith, and of all the muddy human beings you ever saw — but I 

 will draw the veil. 



We were fated to have another adventure in mud which was not 

 down in the programme. We left the mouth of the Sungei Bulu 

 very late one evening with the tide at the ebb, and did not arrive 

 opposite Jerom until after sunset. To my hoiTor, our boat grounded 

 in the mud thi-ee-fourths of a mile from shore, and stuck fast, leav- 

 ing us to choose between staying in the boat, with the mosquitoes 

 biting vigorously, for five hours, until the tide came in, or wading 

 ashore through that sea of mud. Of course we chose the latter. 

 It is easy to imagine mud knee deep ; but it is a different thing to 

 go through it, when one actually sinks to the knee at every step. 

 We had a quarter of a mile of that, floundering along, slowly and 

 painfully, the dim lights on shore seeming farther away every time 

 we looked. At last we emerged from this slough of despond upon 

 firm ground of shells and sand, and the last half of the distance was 

 quickly accomplished ; but we were never caught in that way again. 



But for a clean sandy shore line, Jerom would be intolerable, 

 for it is entirely surrounded by mud. No prospect could be more 

 dreary than the vast mud-flat left bare all along the shore at low tide. 

 But even the sandy shoi'e is being rapidly eaten away by the sea. 

 The beach is thickly strewn with the trunks of cocoanut trees which 

 have been undermined and overthrown by the waves, and many 

 more are doomed. Back from the beach, for an unknown number 

 of miles, extends a swampy wilderness inhabited at present only by 

 wild beasts. Mr. Syers once penetrated it a short distance, with a 

 French count as a companion, in search of wild cattle (Bos sondai- 

 ciis). After proceeding a little over a mile, the Gallic sportsman 

 made his attendants construct a litter and carry him back to 

 Jerom. Mr. Syers proceeded, but found no game, and returned in 

 disgust. Along the banks of the Sungei Bulu I saw where the 

 high grass had been trampled down quite recently by wild ele- 

 phants. 



Besides the specimens of Macacus cynomolgus, the only other 

 mammal species I obtained at Jerom was an otter [Lutra leptonyx), 

 brought in by a Chinaman, who killed it with his parong. 



Half a dozen small box-turtles [Guora Amboinensis) were brought 

 to me, and one large tortoise {Emys trijuga), which was caught 

 near Jerom. The fishermen catch and eat a good many spiny- 

 backed rays {Urogymnus asperrimus) of large size, the dry backs of 



