202 EAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. [Oh. XIII. 



feet high, forms a landmark for the westerly entrance of the 

 river. To the eastward the land is low, consisting of man- 

 grove swamps and low jungle, the tops of the trees only 

 being visible. Guided by a buoy placed by the Sarawak 

 Government, the bar is crossed, and having roimded Tan- 

 jong Po, the river's banks assume for the remainder of the 

 way to Sarawak a uniform and somewhat tame appearance. 

 The shores are low and muddy, clothed with a beautiful 

 vegetation, consisting of a fringe of Nipa palm-trees (Nipa 

 fruticans), with pinnate feathery leaves, 20 feet long, arising 

 from the ground without any stem ; and these are inter- 

 mingled with low jungle trees and bushes, washed at the 

 base by the flowing stream, and afibrding in their muddy 

 creeks and hollows appropriate lairs for alligators. With 

 the exception of a Malay hut here and there, there is scarcely 

 any variation in the scenery, nor much life visible, except 

 now and then a large kingfisher, or hombill, or some long- 

 tailed monkeys chasing one another in the trees. 



At the distance of 17 miles from Tanjong Po the river 

 divides, and beyond this ships of any considerable draft 

 seldom pass. This is the Antimony Anchorage, so called 

 from the antimony stores of the Borneo Company, which are 

 located here. Here were several square-rigged vessels ; and 

 as we proceeded we met many canoes, containing two or 

 more Malays, who rested on their paddles to watch us as we 

 passed. Some larger craft also there were, having an Euro- 

 pean build (lorchas), and flying the Eajah's flag — a broad 

 cross, half red and half black, upon a buff ground. As we 

 neared Sarawak, houses became somewhat more frequent in 

 gaps or clearances by the river side, bmlt. upon piles over 

 the. mud, and covered with attaps. Notices posted up at 

 intervals, such as "Eocks, hug this shorej" indicate the 



