SEA TRAGEDY OF THE JUNGLE FOLK 139 
and legs wrapped around each other, completely 
terrified. 
The natives danced and yelled. Through the 
clouds of smoke that drifted over us, I could see 
their black bodies flashing, arms waving, and lips, 
stained crimson with betel-nut, wide open. The din 
was terrific. For several minutes I just stood there, 
unable to move. 
The orang-outangs, high up in the tree, were 
huddled together, swaying back and forth. Omar 
‘tame with the message that the space was cleared 
for the tree to fall; I ordered the net carried to 
position and sent the two headmen to place the 
matives at their posts. 
Dense clouds of smoke rolled up from the 
smudges, enveloping the tree completely and hid- 
ing the orang-outangs, who perched aloft, scream- 
ing and coughing. I could get occasional glimpses 
of them, as they sat there, hugging each other. 
The big rattan nets were in place, with the men 
holding them ready to cast when the tree came 
down. Other men, armed with sharp-pointed poles, 
stood behind, to pin the beasts down if the nets did 
not fall in the proper position. They were so ex- 
cited that I spent several minutes in casually walk- 
ing about, talking with them and calming them. Ali 
trudged a few feet behind me, carrying my express 
rifle. 
We cleared away the litter of tree trunks and 
creepers from the spot where the big tree was to 
