272 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. xm. 



pretty. A species of dwarf palm (^Areca, sj}.), bear- 

 ing clusters of small scarlet fruits, is noticeable, and a 

 trailing plant, allied to the jasmines, bore axillary clusters 

 of white waxy flowers, each having a brown eye-like spot 

 in its centre. The perfume emitted by its blossoms was 

 delicious, and resembled that of spring hyacinths. A 

 red-fruited raspberry (Rubus rostefolius), and several 

 species of ferns and selagineUas carpeted the low shady 

 forest along our route. The only bird we saw was a 

 lyre-tailed shrike of a dark ash colour. Our dinner 

 consisted of a fowl cut up and boiled with a little rice, 

 and when it was nearly done we added a small tin of 

 Julienne soup to it, thus securing some substantial potage, 

 and we were hungry enough to appreciate it at its full 

 value. A cup of coffee and a cigar made us forget all our 

 bruises, and knowing the stiff day's work we had for the 

 morrow, we retired to our blankets early. 



August 15th.— We awoke about 5 a.m. and aroused 

 our followers. A Malay named " Jeludin," acted as 

 cook in the absence of my regular " boy," and he pre- 

 pared a very palatable breakfast of the remains of our 

 dinner, supplemented by nicely boiled rice and dried fish. 

 " Kurow " breakfasted off wild cat roasted a la Dusun, 

 and a little rice which we gave him. After breakfast he 

 sat smoking, and " Suong " came and told me that he 

 would not go up the mountain. On my asking him his 

 reason for resolving thus, he replied that he could not 

 go because he had no trowsers, nor coat, nor head-cloth. 

 I had given him a warm tweed coat previous to starting, 

 but this he had left in his house. I at once told him 

 through " Suong," that if he did not go as I had paid 

 him to do, I should tell all the headmen as we returned 

 to the coast, that he broke his bargains, and was afraid 

 to go up the mountain. This threat had the desired 



