Oh. XIV.] UPPEE PAET OP SAEAWAK EIVEE. 231 



the journey. Monkeys were occasionally visible in the trees 

 as we passed, but all of small species ; for the large red 

 orangs do not frequent this river, though they are common 

 in the neighbouring river, Sadong. HornbUls screamed as 

 they flew from tree to tree, and nimierous handsome butter- 

 flies flew across our path ; but the most striking insect was 

 a dragon-fly, with wings of a metallic golden-green, which 

 glittered gorgeously in the sunlight, and was by no means 

 uncommon.* Little, scarcely visible, sandflies, also, were 

 rather too numerous, and inflicted their bites on any ex- 

 posed parts of the body Mke sharp needle-pricks. 



We halted at a sandspit for a bath, and to allow the Datu 

 (who was a zealous Mussulman) and the Hadji opportunity 

 to perform their devotions, which they did after their ablu- 

 tions, with their faces towards Mecca. Above us on either 

 side of the river we could hear voices, which we found to 

 proceed from Dyak villages almost concealed among the 

 trees upon the high banks. From the houses bamboo plat- 

 forms, supported upon poles, ran out, upon which we could 

 discern some dusky forms watching us from their shady 

 retreats ; but no particular surprise or excitement was caused 

 by the visit of white people, to whom they are all more or 

 less accustomed. 



At length we arrived at our destination, and landed just 

 as a heavy tropical shower came on. Penetrating the jungle 

 which bordered the river, under the guidance of a Dyak, we 

 very soon arrived at a spot where a seam of indifferent coal 

 cropped out from the thick layer of vegetable mould, and 



• On subsequently looking over the coUeetion of insects made by a gentle- 

 man in the island of Hong Kong, I was surprised to observe among them a 

 species similar if not identical with that above described, which he told me he 

 had frequently met with in Happy Valley. 



