chap, v.] SODOS AND SENNA DYAKS. 115 



see the colour of my leg, which they examined with great 

 interest. 



In the morning early we continued our descent along 

 a fine valley, with mountains rising 2,000 or 3,000 feet in 

 every direction. The little river rapidly increased in size 

 till we reached Senna, when it had become a fine pebbly 

 stream navigable for small canoes. Here again the up- 

 heaved slaty rock appeared, with the same dip and direc- 

 tion as in the Sadong Eiver. On inquiring for a boat to 

 take me down the stream, I was told that the Senna 

 Dyaks, although living on the river-banks, never made or 

 used boats. They were mountaineers who had only come 

 down into the valley about twenty years before, and had 

 not yet got into new habits. They are of the same tribe 

 as the people of Menyerry and Sodos. They make good 

 paths and bridges, and cultivate much mountain land, and 

 thus give a more pleasing and civilized aspect to the 

 country than where the people move about only in boats, 

 and confine their cultivation to the banks of the streams. 



After some trouble I hired a boat from a Malay trader, 

 and found three Dyaks who had been several times with 

 Malays to Sarawak, and thought they could manage it 

 very well. They turned out very awkward, constantly 

 running aground, striking against rocks, and losing their 

 balance so as almost to upset themselves and the boat ; 

 offering a striking contrast to the skill of the Sea Dvaks. 



12 



