420 TWO YEARS IN THE JUNGLE. 



selves. He was not aware of this adroit flank movement until he 

 looked up and saw the naked Dyak reaching down from above to 

 grab him. The Httle fellow was thoroughly tei'rified by the mon- 

 strous aj)parition, and scrambled down in wild haste, until he landed 

 in my arms, and clung to me for protection. The Dyaks enjoyed a 

 hearty laugh at his expense. 



" November Uh. — Had a long, tiresome tramp in the forenoon, 

 over the hills and through the hollows, but saw not a thing worth 

 shooting. Myriads of leeches, however. A Dyak brought me a 

 female argus pheasant in poor plumage. Skeletonized it and ate 

 the flesh for dinner. It was palatable, but neither good nor bad. 

 It had no particular flavor, but was tender, and therefore acceptable. 



" Another Dyak brought a flj'ing dragon {Draco volans), and a 

 beautiful little tarsier [Tarsius specfrinn), alive and unhurt. Although 

 it is a monkey, it jumps like a kangaroo, which it is enabled to do 

 by means of its very long hind legs. The peculiar stnicture of its 

 cervical vertebrae j)ermits great freedom of movement with the head, 

 which it easily turns in a complete circle, starting Avith the face 

 turned directly backward. It is a vei-y erratic little creature and 

 bit me as severely as it was able when I took it out of its cage. 

 Wishing to make a drawing of it, I placed it on a pole held almost 

 perpendicular, where it hung for half an hour with its face toward 

 me as still as though conscious of the fact that I was taking its pict- 

 ure. The structure of its hands is very peculiar. Each long slen- 

 der finger terminates in a flat round disk which acts like the sucker 

 of an octopus, and enables the little animal to hold on to a limb by 

 the side pressure of its hands and without grasping, as all the other 

 monkeys do. The eyes are very large, and of a clear liquid brown 

 color, proclaiming the nocturnal habits of the animal. 



" Dobah still has fever, Perara is complaining, and would like to 

 have it also in order to escape work. Ah Kee is a jewel, cheerful 

 and companionable. He has just made me a very creditable sleep- 

 ing suit, pajamas and baju. 



" November 5th. — Three argus pheasants and a jungle cock 

 were brought in, all of which I bought and prepared. Having be- 

 come somewhat acquainted with the inmates of our house, I have 

 commenced to lecture the women on the desirability of bringing 

 their children in contact with clean water at least once a month. 

 They received my lecture as a fine bit of humor on my part, but I 

 think they were ashamed nevertheless. 



" November 6th. — Early in the morning we heard another troop 



