IN BORNEAN FORESTS [chap, vi 



I was obliged to postpone my return to Mattang to complete 

 the construction of my house on account of the rainy season, which 

 was now (December) at its height with the prevailing N.E. mon- 

 soon. This is also the fruit season ; and the bazaar at Kuching, 

 well provided with durians, exhaled a fearful stench of rotten 

 onions, which, though delicious to the natives, did not commend 

 itself by any means to us. At this season immense numbers of 

 flying-foxes (Pteropus) passed over Kuching every evening, flying 

 at a great height, and quite out of range, but when night closed in 

 they congregated in search of food on the fruit-bearing trees, and 

 then I was able to secure specimens, especially along the river, on 

 the " P'dada " trees (Sonneratia acida), the fruit of which they 

 devoured with avidity. 



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