xin. ] RETURN TO MAROP 



all the way. On Bukit Tundon, a hill we had crossed on our 

 way out, I only collected three plants, which I found within reach 

 by the side of the path ; they proved to be three herbaceous forest 

 forms, beautiful, interesting, and new to science. 1 We rested 

 an hour to cook and eat our rice, and started off again, and after 

 another four hours' tramp we reached Kumpang in the evening, 

 having accomplished in one day what had required two when we 

 were outward bound to the lakes. I believe that the distance 

 covered must have been about eighteen miles, for we walked 

 briskly for nine hours. Even under the best conditions, and along 

 the best roads, it is difficult in Borneo to travel on foot more than 

 two miles per hour. Before we got to Kumpang we were over- 

 taken by another deluge of rain. 



Early next morning, May 22nd, we once more started in the rain. 

 On passing by the spot where I had observed the Nepenthes 

 on the way out I found my mark ; but, unfortunately, the 

 plants I wanted had vanished. Some Chinamen who had come 

 here for the gold washings had built a hut near the spot, and in 

 searching for rotang or other trailers to use as rope had evidently 

 cut the Nepenthes, whose long, thin, tough stems are often 

 used for tying. 



We reached Marop a little before midday. We had marched 

 consecutively for six hours ; but this time the distance could not 

 have been more than ten miles, for we had to travel along narrow 

 pathways on a clay soil, much trodden by Chinamen, and rendered 

 slippery by the rain. Just as we got to the Kunsi's house, my home 

 in Marop, the rain came down again in torrents. Happily, we 

 were now under good shelter, and my collections were safe. 



The species of plants collected during this excursion were about 

 120, almost all different from those which I had hitherto found in 

 Sarawak. In a country where the greater portion of the vegetation 

 is arboreal it is not in hurried trips that rich collections can be 

 formed. Even if one succeeds in getting some of the more con- 

 spicuous species occurring within hand-reach along the path, the 

 more important forms, those of the true forest type — the big trees 

 —still remain to be got ; and to collect these, as I have already 

 remarked, a long stay at different localities and during different 

 seasons is required. 



Amongst the botanic collections brought back from my excur- 

 sion to the lakes were very few Aracece, or orchids, which appear 

 to be scarce in the country I crossed. Even palms were rare, for 

 I only got the Eugeissonia already mentioned ; but I did see a few 

 rotangs. Pandani, which are usually so common in lowlands, 



1 Didymocarpus Beccarii, C. B. Clarke ; D. KompsobcBa, C. B. Clarke, 

 two fine Gesneraceae ; and Allomorphia multinervia Cogn, a Melastomacea. 



IQI 



