CHAP. XXIV.] MY COTTAGE IN THE SUBURBS. 37 



inquired for a house outside of the village ou the road to 

 the coal mines, and was informed by the Secretary that 

 there was a small one belonging to the Sultan, and that 

 he would go with me early next morning to see it. 



We had to pass one large river, by a rude bu.t substan- 

 tial bridge, and to wade through another fine pebbly stream 

 of clear water, just beyond which the little hut was situated. 

 It was very small, not raised on posts, but with the earth 

 for a floor, and was built almost entirely of the leaf-stems 

 of the sago- palm, called here " gaba-gaba." Across the river 

 behind rose a forest-clad bank, and a good road close in 

 front of the house led through cultivated grounds to tlie 

 forest about half a mile on, and thence to the coal mines 

 four miles further. These advantages at once decided me, 

 and I told the Secretary I would be very glad to occupy 

 the house. I therefore sent my two men immediately to 

 buy " ataps " (palm-leaf thatch) to repair the roof, and the 

 next day, with the assistance of eight of the Sultan's men, 

 got all my stores and furniture carried up and pretty com- 

 fortably arranged. A rough bamboo bedstead^ was soon 

 constructed, and a table made of boards which I had 

 brought with me, fixed under the window. Two bamboo 

 chairs, an easy cane chair, and hanging shelves suspended 

 with insulating oil cups, so as to be safe from ants, com- 

 pleted my furnishing arrangements. 



In the afternoon succeeding my arrival, the Secretary 



