chap, ix] WILD BEES 



The Dyaks are clever at climbing tapangs, constructing a 

 sort of ladder with pegs fixed in the trunk of the tree and connected 

 with longitudinal poles. The large bee is not, however, so very 

 particular in choosing the site of its colonies, high cliffs and also 

 ordinary trees being at times selected, as is shown by the following 

 incident of painful memory, of which I was the victim. 



One day in the forest I had had a tree felled, amongst several 

 others of like size, not being aware that it had a bees' nest hidden 

 amongst its branches. This was naturally broken in the fall, and 

 the affrighted bees, swarming out in a highly irritated state, massed 

 together and attacked one of my men, Laksa by name, who was 

 dressed only in a pair of short trousers. Being at a certain distance 

 when the tree fell, I might have escaped scot free, but poor Laksa 

 in his agony rushed up to where I stood, imploring me to free him 

 from the infuriated insects, which covered his head and chest. 

 Without giving the matter a thought, I took off my jacket, remain- 

 ing about as much dressed as my man, whom I began to beat with 

 the jacket, in the hope that I might free him from the bees. But 

 crushed bees appear to give out an odour which serves only to 

 irritate their living brethren still more, and they now all turned upon 

 me. In vain I strove to free myself. I tried to escape by running, 

 attempting to get back to the house as quickly as I could, but this 

 I found impossible, for I was bare-footed, and had to cross a clearing 

 full of prostrate trunks, and the thorny rotangs tore my feet fearfully. 

 On the way I came to a deep water-hole, and in despair plunged into 

 it, hoping that the bees would leave me. But the relief was only 

 momentary, for, as soon as I put my head above the surface to 

 breathe, an infuriated swarm dashed down upon it, immense num- 

 bers having collected above me while I was under water. There was 

 nothing for it but to rush out of the water and once more make for 

 the forest, which I did, and here, fortunately, I was met by my men, 

 who, called by Laksa, had come to the rescue, armed with lighted 

 torches of green wood, which gave out plenty of smoke, and this at 

 last drove off my enemies. The Dyaks always make use of these 

 to get at the honeycombs without being stung. 



I was in a sad condition, and my face so swollen that I could 

 hardly see. Happily, I had some ammonia with me, and used it 

 freely ; this soothed the pain and caused the swelling to diminish. 

 Laksa, who would not use my remedy, was in a bad state for two 

 days. The number of stings in my skin was prodigious, especially 

 on my back, and for a good hour and more my men were occupied 

 in extracting them with tweezers. 



As is well known, a bee after stinging cannot draw out its sting, 

 and, losing it, dies. Nature, which rarely — if, indeed, ever- — is 

 quite perfect in her work, makes these insects pay a very high price 

 for the weapon with which she has provided them. That in the 



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