478 



TWO YEARS IN THE JUNGLE. 



was faintly hoped that, even if the cavern deposits did not reveal 

 the missing link, their fossils would at least throw some light upon 

 the point at which the human race diverged from the catarrhine 

 stock. Here was an evolutionist with his war-paint all on, and his 

 weapons in his hand — pick, shovel, and sieve. Imagine the sensa- 

 tions of a Darwinian actually searching for and finding the link 

 between man and the great apes ! Another Kohinoor would be a 

 mere glass marble in comparison. 



Mr. Everett's methods of search were so thorough and truly 

 searching that not even a bat's tooth escaped the sieves through 

 which the floor deposits of the caves were put. He found the bones 

 of bats in great abundance, all of living species, however, and one 

 skull of Simla Wurmhii in a fossil state, but, I giieve to say, no 

 traces of extinct animals nor even a prehistoric race of men. I 

 should have stated above that another and equally important object 

 with Mr. Everett was to obtain evidence, if any existed, of the occu- 

 pation of Borneo by any primitive race anterior to its being peopled 

 by the descendants of the Malays. 



Unfortunately for science, Mr. Everett's investigations were soon 

 after brought to an untimely end by the death of the Marquis of 

 Tweedale. In order to reach a new field, Mr. Everett accepted a 

 position with the North Borneo Company and went to the Kina 

 Balu district. It is to be hoped that he may soon find the time 

 and means for a thorough scientific exploration of the terra incog- 

 nita lying to the south of Kina Balu — a work which no one is better 

 fitted to accomplish than he. 



When we started from Kuching I solemnly promised myself not 

 to think " specimen " even once, much less try to collect one, but 

 when Mr. Everett showed me his beautiful specimens of Tupaia, Gym- 

 nura, Galeopilhecus, Atherura, and ten superb specimens of the most 

 wonderful bat I ever saw ( Gheiromelas torquatus), I weakened. When 

 he brought out a huge and quite perfect skull of the Bornean gavial, 

 a species which I had not before encountered (Tomistoma sclilegellii), 

 I sm-rendered unconditionally, and my last dollar was swallowed up 

 in the fearful vortex of " specimens." Crocodiles always were great 

 pets with me. 



The dawn of the following day disclosed in every direction a 

 fine view of mountain, hill, and dale — so charming a prospect, that I 

 heartily envied Everett his quarters. The little house was perched 

 exactly upon the summit of the steep cone, open on all sides to the 

 breeze, with not a tree to break the view. 



