1888.] EDIBLE birds' -NESTS IN BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 115 



that could be entered. This is a small cave, the chamber itself 

 onlv about fifty feet high, and containing both Bats' and Swifts' nests. 



I visited these caves in October 188-1 and found that only ten 

 Swifts' nests had been gathered that season. 



The Bats' nests are similar in form to those of the Swifts, but are 

 made of moss only, which the Bats pick off the limestone boulders 

 outside. 



I had Malini with me, the man who had successfully scaled the 

 interior of the Gomanton Caves ; he went down to No. 1 of these 

 Obang caves, bat unfortunately could only find a few young nests 

 just being formed in the crannies and cracks of the vault, the 

 season's nests having already been gathered. 



The tribes who inhabit this part of Borneo have a certain specified 

 law of succession as to the gatherers of the nests, and the honour 

 is taken in turn by the chiefs and their several relatives. 



It is probable that, with a little rest and freedom from intrusion, 

 the Obang Caves might become very valuable to the colony. I was, 

 I must own, somewhat disappointed with these caves after what 

 I had heard about them. I proposed to the people that, inasmuch 

 as the Government afforded them protection on the Kinabataagan 

 River, which enabled them to trade and live in security, they should 

 in return pay a tribute of one third of all birds'-nests taken out of 

 the caves. This was cheerfully assented to. ^ 



I found the yield of the month previous to my visiting the district 

 had been 150 nests, and of these 50 were at once handed over 

 to me. 



No. 8. The Tatalahan Caves, on the Padas River, West Coast, 

 are as yet unvisited by Europeans ; but I have seen white birds'- 

 nests of the best quality brought to Mempakol, the capital of Pro- 

 vince Dent. 



No. 9. BoD Narkiovf Caves. This paper, relating, as it does, 

 chiefly to the edible birds'-nest caves on the Kinabatangan River, will 

 show that that river is very rich in caves. Amongst others I may 

 briefly allude to those reported at Bod Narkiow. Though I did not 

 visit them, there is every reason to suppose they exist. The formation 

 of the country is favourable to the supposition, and the folklore of 

 the natives alludes to the fact that at Narkiow such caves are found. 



No. 10. Butong Caves. Much the same kind of obscurity hangs 

 over the history of the Butong Hiil Caves. Time would not allow 

 me to explore the district in their neighbourhood. So I contented 

 myself with offering Si 00 to anyone vrho would bring me reliable 

 information about them. 



No. 11. BuKiT Malingai, a sandstone mountain, holds birds'- 

 nest caves, but an entrance to them has not yet been discovered. 

 There is a strong smell of guano near the summit. 



No. 12. PiGTON, a limestone hill, Darvel Bay, is as yet un- 

 visited. 



