CHAPTER XXXI. 



DOINGS IN THE ORANG-UTAN COUNTRY. 



Preparation of Orang Skins and Skeletons. — Return down the Simujan.— 

 Three Orangs Killed. — A Troublesome Infant. — Accessions from Native 

 Hunters. — Seven Orangs in One Day. — Miscellaneous Gatherings. — A 

 Battle-scarred Hero. — The Bore in the Sadong. — Another Trip up the 

 Simujan. — Doctoring an Injured Hunter. — The Dyak at his Worst. — Death 

 of a Huge Orang, "the Rajah." — Dimensions. — A Rival Specimen. — Two 

 Captives. 



The day following our arrival at the Popook village was a busy 

 one. We had three mias to skin and also to skeletonize, for all 

 the great apes (gorilla, chimpanzee, and orang-utan) are so rare and 

 valuable that the entire skeleton of each specimen is carefully dis- 

 sected out, and makes a complete sj)ecimen by itself, quite as valu- 

 able as the skin. 



Near the house was a low platform of poles upon which the 

 Dyaks spread their paddy to dry, and being vacant at that time, 

 we converted it into a very serviceable work-table. We erected 

 the kadjangs over it to protect us from both sun and rain, and, 

 calling all the members of our party, gathered round the festive 

 board for a picnic with the three dead mias. After each sj^ecimen 

 had been carefully measured and one sketch made we sharpened 

 the knives and went to work. 



The forenoon was very hot and the afternoon very rainy ; but 

 we kept dry under the kadjangs and worked steadily on. It was a 

 great bother to skin the fingers without mutilating them. Fore- 

 seeing that all ray companions would very probably assist on simi- 

 lar occasions in the future, I took pains to teach them the modus 

 operandi, and was pleased to find how intelligently and skilfully 

 they took hold of the work in hand. It was well that I did so ; for 

 not very long after that our resources were taxed to the utmost. 



My method of preserving the skins and skeletons was very sim- 

 ple, and I am happy to say proved entirely satisfactory. After re- 



