chap, xv.] HOUSE HUNTING. 345 



walked on in silence for an hour, when we turned into a 

 pretty good house and I was asked to sit down. The head 

 man of the district lived here, and in about half an hour 

 we started again, and another hour's walk brought us to 

 the village where I was to be lodged. We went to the 

 residence of the village chief, who conversed with my con- 

 ductor for some time. Getting tired, I asked to be shown 

 the house that was prepared for me, but the only reply I 

 could get was, "Wait a little," and the parties went on 

 talking as before. So T told them I could not wait, as I 

 wanted to see the house and then to go shooting in the 

 forest. This seemed to puzzle them, and at length, in 

 answer to questions, very poorly explained by one or two 

 bystanders who knew a little Malay, it came out that no 

 house was ready, and no one seemed to have the least idea 

 where to get one. As I did not want to trouble the Bajah 

 any more, I thought it best to try to frighten them a little ; 

 so I told them that if they did not immediately find me a 

 house as the Bajah had ordered, I should go back and 

 complain to him, but that if a house was found me I 

 would pay for the use of it. This had the desired effect, 

 and one of the head men of the village asked me to go 

 with him and look for a house. He showed me one or 

 two of the most miserable and ruinous description, which 

 I at once rejected, saying, " I must have a good one, and 

 near to the forest." The next he showed me suited very 



