228 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Oh. XIV. 



turesque. Ascending the steep bank of the river, magnificent 

 limestone crags could be seen peering out through the 

 luxuriant foliage, and calling to recollection the Trossachs in 

 Scotland. The rapid river, having just descended an incline, 

 which had the steepness and swiftness of a cascade, was 

 hurrying on to the long rapid which we had that morning 

 ascended with so much difficulty. A number of Malay boys 

 in canoes were amusing themselves by dragging their boats 

 up the rocks beside the cascade, and then shooting it with 

 the utmost fearlessness and dexterity amid shouts and 

 laughter. Some exquisite butterflies flitted by every now and 

 then, affording occupation to my net, as I rambled on the 

 top of the high bank, upon which a few huts of the diamond- 

 seekers were perched, while the washers were already at 

 their work, standing in the river with their shallow dishes in 

 search of the gems. 



A heavy shower of rain having driven us to the shelter of 

 our attaps, we sat and amused ourselves with chatting with 

 the good-natured Malays who accompanied us, and who 

 were ever ready and willing^ to do us any kind offices. I 

 seized this opportunity of learning the mode of producing 

 fire, which is seldom described, but usually taJsen for granted 

 as known. My request that they would make fire was 

 answered by one of the Malays selecting from among our 

 firewood a dry stick of hardish wood, about 15 inches long, 

 which he cut with his parang into the form of a thickish 

 lath, and having also made a smaU notch on the narrow 

 edge, stick number one was ready for use. Taking a smaller 

 piece of wood of the same kind, about nine inches long, he 

 pared it into a cylindrical shape, and cut one end straight off. 

 Then placing the long stick on the ground with the flat side 

 uppermost, and setting his feet firmly upon the two ends. 



