IN THE BORNEAN JUNGLE. 75 



It is not necessary to carry water vessels in the jungle, for 

 there are abundant ways of obtaining all the water you 

 require, and there is hardly a place in Borneo where water is 

 not procurable. The tough, skin-like, outer leaf of the nibong 

 palm makes an excellent bucket, called " Upeh," or, failing 

 that, the bark of a tree will always serve for a water vessel. 



The cabbage of the nibong palm, known as " Umbut," is 

 quite wholesome, and very useful as a vegetable. 



When on the mountains, and unable to meet with water 

 for immediate wants, you may always quench your thirst by 

 cutting off lengths of many of the creepers, as these contain a 

 quantity of water quite fit for drinking. The Dyaks speak of 

 these creepers as " akar ai." 



The food requirements of your men on an expedition are 

 very simple, comprising rice, salt fish and salt, and tobacco to 

 smoke. The proper allowance for each man per month is as 

 follows: — Seven " ^f^,'?//A///^j' " (35 lbs.) of rice ; five ''■ katti'cs^' 

 (6 lbs.) of salt fish ; half a ^^ kattv^' (10 ozs.) of tobacco ; and 

 a small quantity of common salt. Whenever the opportunity 

 offers, the fish should be put out to dry, or it will soon get 

 soft and unpleasant. The rice should always be contained in 

 long narrow bags, as in this form a man can carry a larger 

 quantity. Cut an ordinary big rice bag down the middle 

 lengthways, and sew up the side of each half, thus making two 

 long bags, each holding about 50 lbs. of rice, which is as much 

 as a man can carry. In buying rice for your men, it is a good 

 rule to remember that eight men consvmie a big bag of rice in 

 sixteen days. 



Mosquitoes are always troublesome, but above 2,000 feet 

 they usually disappear. Sandflies are at their worst on bright 

 moonlight nights, and during the day on the rapids. Moscpito 

 curtains, ot sufficiently close texture to keep out the sandflies, 

 are always necessary on levels below 4,000 feet ; without such 

 nets, you will be so worried b}- these pcits, that sleep is out of 

 the question, and your blood will soon be in a state of fever. 

 When passing through the jungle you may often come to a 

 flat open space, measuring from ten to fifteen yards across, and 

 usually covered with moss and dead leaves. This is where the 

 cock birds of the argus pheasants do battle, and these spots 

 are called " balai kruai " by the Dyaks. It looks a very 

 inviting place to rest for a few minutes, but it is really one to 

 be shunned, for the ground is covered with small ticks from 

 the birds, which cause the traveller much annoyance, though 

 he may not be made aware of their presence till he camps for 

 night. 



