XVI ITLNERAIiY. 



and doing any odd jobs requiring longer time than can be spared 0:1 

 week-days — such as making a sort of bread in empty paraffin-tins. 

 Some little time, too, had been spent in hunting. 



The Kurubung is a very winding and interesting creek, with many 

 rocks to be seen, and high peaks and mountains of various and peculiar 

 shapes. The course wound about so much that the same mountain 

 would at times be either in front or behind, or on the right or left. 

 Above the Seroun, the course is broken by the series of the Makrebah 

 Falls, where there is a fine extent of white quartz sand, and where also 

 we found a beautiful diminutive new species of Utricularia [U. con- 

 cinna), white with purple points. The surroundings are very beautiful. 

 Bii'ds and butterflies were numerous, and we came upon many sun- 

 bitterns in the short stretches of the windings. These are shy birds, 

 and are quickly disturbed in the open reaches of the I'iver. 



Above the landing we found a large and nicely thatched house, 

 which liad been put up as McConnell had arranged ; but there were no 

 people. ISTo doubt it was quite unreasonable to have expected them to 

 remain here waiting for us ; still, somehow, we had hoped to find many 

 in the neighbourhood, because they knew about what time we were 

 coming. It was unfortunate, for instead of takingthree days with a 

 large party of extra carriers, whom we could pay off on the other side 

 of the mountains, the trip across took seven days, with double journeys 

 for the men, over mostly a very bad track, where heavy loads could 

 not be carried. 



However, there was no help for it, and we began at once to make 

 arrangements for the start. A suitable place was found in the creek 

 for the boats, where they would he sheltered from the sweltering smi, 

 and run no chance of being stranded on the rocks by the falling water 

 in the dry weather. The men were put to getting materials and making 

 the baskets in which loads are carried on the back. This took a day, 

 for the baskets have to be carefully made not to bruise the bare skin, 

 not to project beyond the shoulders at the sides, and while resting on 

 the loins not to project above the head, so that in going through 

 narrow tracks or under branches the man should not be troubled by 

 the basket being caught in any way. Nasty falls ai'e often the residt 

 if this happens. The strings by which they are carried, one around 

 the forehead and the other across the chest, have also to be strong and 

 smooth. They are used alternately to relieve the pressure. With the 

 exception of a small part below, such baskets are open at the back to 

 receive the load, which is secured by a string run across from bottom 

 to top, a mat or broad leaves being placed under it if the objects be 

 small. The framework is strong, and has the two corner rods long 

 enough to project below for about three inches, on which the whole 

 may rest when it is let down. The hands are quite free for a gun 

 or cutlass, or for climbing, as was the case in this instance, as it 

 turned out. 



In the meantime, we sorted out the stores, so as to leave behind 

 enough for the return journey to Bartika, and for two men who would 

 be left behind to guard the provisions and look after the boats. We 

 were bound to leave two, as the situation was quite isolated; and Adam, 

 who was not yet quite strong after his bout of peccary, and another 



