106 F. A. de Roepstorif — On the inhabitants of the Nicolars. [June, 



The open seams were closed by two little sticks on each side which were tied 

 together and had a crosstree to hold them in position. The seams were 

 tightened with clay and the bottom was steadied with ribs like those of a 

 boat. This pot had been exposed to fire. After resting a little here we 

 went on and came at last to the point where we should leave the main 

 stream. Our party was by this time smaller, as two of our Laful guides 

 had gone on ahead to warn the Bengs of our approach. Where a steep 

 hill-waterfall (now dry) opened into the stream-bed, the men deposited the 

 luggage, saying that they would leave it here for the Shombengs to carry 

 up as the hills were too steep. 



This boded well, for it showed that they expected the Shombengs would 

 be friendly, that we were not very far off, and also that they put confidence 

 in the people we were going to. We then went up the side-branch and 

 ascended what in the rains must be an inaccessible fortress. The path we 

 found some 1000' up the nullah and it led us up nearly perpendicularly. 

 Along the path were creeping bamboos that were very trying. The road 

 was very steep and straight, and the distance was not proportionate to the 

 fatigue in ascending. At the top of the hill we came on an enclosed 

 village of three houses lying just on the outskirt of an extensive clearing 

 that had been made quite lately, for many of the trees were not yet dry. 

 The distance we had gone over was computed as follows : 



In canoes up the creek about 1^ mile. 



Up the stream to first Beng village 1 „ 



Up the stream to second „ 1 „ 



To where the luggage was deposited i „ 



Up the steep hills li „ 



The total was thus 5^ miles in a west, slightly south, direction. 

 Height ascended above the sea : 



Ascending the stream more than 300' 



By the hill ascent about 1200' 



Total probable ascent ... 1500' 

 The village was enclosed by a stockade consisting of split logs, a 

 horizontal piece alternately with one where the logs were in a vertical 

 position. There was no entrance to this enclosure and it had to be 

 climbed : it was about 3' high. The space inside was well cleared and was 

 planted with plantain shoots each surrounded by little protecting sticks. 

 Inside this rail were three huts of the same construction as those described 

 by the " Galathea" Expedition and as those we had seen on our way up 

 but rather bigger. These were raised 3' from the ground, 6' x 6'. The 

 posts were very thin bullies : the roof consisted of back-sheets and a few 

 rattan leaves. Only one house of three was provided with a bark cooking- 



