xx] WILD ORANGES 



in such deserted regions these small vampires are so numerous. In 

 other parts of the world, as in the Bogos hills of Northern Abyssinia, 

 I subsequently found these pests abundant ; but there, at least, they 

 had cattle in large numbers from which they could quench their 

 thirst for blood. In the forests of the Rejang, however, the only 

 large animals on which they can feed are monkeys and wild pigs, 

 and these are scattered over an extensive area, though the latter, 

 indeed, at certain seasons are said to congregate in the delta in 

 great herds, coming from all parts of the country, and swimming 

 across small and big branches of the river alike. This, as I have 

 already said, takes place when the wild fruits are ripe, and the 

 ground in the forest is literally covered by them. 



On the ioth we continued our monotonous j ourney, harassed as 

 usual by myriads of mosquitoes. For two days we paddled through a 

 continuous mass of these insects. Truly, their quantity is incredible. 

 On our way towards the sea we progressed much more rapidly, and 

 the mosquitoes were less trying ; but going up the river against the 

 current it was far more difficult to rid ourselves from their attacks. 

 It may be that when a swarm has once taken possession of the boat 

 it sticks to it. To lessen their numbers I made my men smoke, 

 and throw pinches of tobacco on a small fire kept burning at the 

 prow. But this was of not much avail, and I had to remain all day 

 under my mosquito net, and not having gloves to protect my 

 hands, I covered them with a pair of socks. The night brought us 

 even worse torments than the day. Though my men had rolled 

 themselves in their sarongs, they were unable to sleep a wink. I 

 had, besides, an attack of fever, so that my condition was not a very 

 enviable one. 



Three days had now passed without our meeting a single living 

 creature, excepting, of course, the mosquitoes. At length it rained, 

 and they were less troublesome. On the 12th we had fine weather ; 

 but the current was strong, and we did not reach Sibu till the 

 13th October, and right glad were we to do so. 



I remained six days at Sibu to finish drying and arranging my 

 plants, to take some rest, and to make preparations for continuing 

 my journey across the State of Sarawak. Of those days of rest 

 and comfort, thanks to the kindness and pleasant companionship 

 of Mr. Skelton, I still retain a very pleasing recollection. And 

 this is quite unassociated with any affection for the locality ; for 

 Sibu can hardly be called a pleasant place, although there is a 

 certain grandeur in the immense extent of water, the endless forest, 

 and especially the wide expanse of horizon, which in Borneo is 

 usually so limited by the exuberance of the vegetation. 



During my stay I visited some of the Dyak houses, and made 

 several short excursions into the forest. In a locality near the 

 fort I found a species of wild orange quite abundant. The fruits 



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