80 BORNEO— THE ORANG-UTAN. [chap. iv. 



to persuade the Chinaman and his companion to cut down 

 the tree ; but it was a very large one, and they had been 

 at work all day, and nothing would induce them to 

 attempt it. The next morning, at daybreak, I came to 

 the place, and found that the Mias was evidently dead, as 

 his head was visible in exactly the same position as before. 

 I now offered four Chinamen a day's wages each to cut the 

 tree down at once, as a few hours of sunshine would cause 

 decomposition on the surface of the skin; but, after looking 

 at it and trying it, they determined that it was very big 

 and very hard, and would not attempt it. Had I doubled 

 my offer, they would probably have accepted it, as it would 

 not have been more than two or three hours' work ; and 

 had I been on a short visit only I would have done so ; 

 but as I was a resident, and intended remaining several 

 months longer, it would not have answered to begin paying 

 too exorbitantly, or I should have got nothing done in 

 future at a lower rate. 



For some weeks after, a cloud of flies could be seen 

 all day, hovering over the body of the dead Mias ; but in 

 about a month all was quiet, and the body was evidently 

 drying up under the influence of a vertical sun alternating 

 with tropical rains. Two or three months later two 

 Malays, on the offer of a dollar, climbed the tree, and 

 let down the dried remains. The skin was almost entire, 

 enclosing the skeleton, and inside were millions of the 



