A MONTH WITH THE DYAKS. 411 



set off. I changed places with Dobah, thus leaving the four Malays 

 and Ah Kee to manage the large boat. 



After a few miles, we passed the limit of the nipa palm, and 

 then the screw pine took its place. As the stream became more 

 narrow the fringe on either side became wider and almost impene- 

 trable in density. About noon, we came to where the channel wag 

 blocked by thousands of Panda.nus stems, which had drifted 

 together and formed a wide barrier like a "jam" of pine logs. 

 The top of the drift was covered with rank grass, which bound the 

 whole mass together — sometimes strongly enough to walk upon. 



During the course of the afternoon we passed eight or ten such 

 barriers ; and each one cost a struggle. There was alwaj^s a 

 passage cut large enough to accommodate small sampans ; but 

 our large boat was heavily laden, and the passage had to be in- 

 definitely enlarged. We were all of two hours in getting her 

 through one drift, which was finally accomplished by cutting a 

 wider passage and then hauling on her from the small boat made 

 fast a few yards in advance, while others lifted on her at the same 

 time. No wonder the Dyaks were chaiy of trusting their muscles 

 in our keeping for that day. 



During the afternoon we saw several troops of proboscis 

 monkeys. They were not so shy as on the Simujan, but sat uncon- 

 cernedly in the trees, watching us as we went by. As night ap- 

 proached we tied up to the bushes at the edge of a fine bit of open 

 water, fourteen feet deep, and shifted our baggage so that Ave 

 could lie down. After a most refreshing bath in which all partici- 

 pated, we ate our rice and turned in. Ah Kee and the little mias 

 had a long and violent dispute as to whether they should sleep to- 

 gether, of which question the mias took the affirmative side and 

 finally carried the day. 



The large boat leaked badly, and, but for Ah Kee, I think we 

 should have filled and gone down before morning. Being unable 

 to swim he felt a lively interest in keeping the craft afloat, and 

 baled her out five times during the night. 



As we proceeded, the next morning, we entered a perfect laby- 

 rinth of screw pines, but fortunately there were no more bad drifts 

 and we wound our way along very agreeably. During the forenoon 

 we came upon a troop of proboscis monkeys which contained about 

 thirty-five individuals — the greatest number of that species I ever 

 saw together. I could not resist the temptation to " collect " one 

 of the handsomest specimens of the lot, and the shot started two 



