& 



CH. in.] Wild Men. 43 



water and again wrung diy. We walked on rapidly, stay- 

 ing here and there in open places where the vegetation 

 was especially luxuriant to collect such plants as in- 

 terested us. About 1 o'clock we reached Kanka Ah 

 Tong, and I took the opportunity of at once having 

 another bath — not an accidental one this time — and of 

 getting into dry clothes. I also took a dose of quinine 

 in a glass of brandy-and-water, and felt no ill effects from 

 my accident and long walk in wet clothing. 



We stayed here for the night, and the next day we 

 returned to Jahore, and crossing the straits reached 

 Singapore about 6 o'clock. In returning down the 

 Scudai river we saw a slender habited pandanus bearing 

 its ciimson fruit in clusters among its long glaucus 

 leaves, and in places on the margins of the stream the 

 beautiful red-sheathed areca palm was very beautiful. 

 Although this journey was a singularly unproductive one 

 so far as the discovery of new plants of horticultural or 

 botanical interest were concerned, yet it had taught me 

 much in other ways, and gave me an msight into the 

 habits and customs of the Malays, whose language I had 

 commenced to learn as soon as I landed in Singapore for 

 the first time. 



It is unfortunate that this Puloi mountain is not more 

 readily accessible, seeing that at its summit the ah' is 

 dehciously fresh and cool, and beautiful views are obtain- 

 able. A good road thither, and a bungalow or two, are 

 all that are needed in order to make this a valuable sana- 

 torium for residents in Singapore, who are worse off in 

 this respect than the Penang people, who have a cool 

 health station, with bungalows, &c., on the " Hill," which 

 is only a pleasant pony-ride from the town. 



Apart from the Malay and Chinese inhabitants of 

 Jahore, there are tribes of wild men or Jakuns, who are 



