VII 
UP A TREE IN THE JUNGLE 
OR fully a week after the killing of the man- 
eating tiger, I devoted all my time seeing to the 
making of rough transportation cages, crates of all 
sizes, and small nets. One morning I told the Tung- 
ku of a plan I had to get some large nets made in 
a hurry. “Te-dor, bully tian” (Cannot be done, 
sir), said he, shaking his head. I then explained 
to him how I intended to work it. Clapping his 
hands to his sides he went into a fit of laughter, 
and was as pleased as a child, saying: “By tian by 
(Good, sir, good).” I have stated before 
that getting work out of a Malay was an 
art that can only be attained by close intercourse 
and complete confidence on the part of the native 
and by making work seem play or a game. To stage 
the affair in the best light I had the Tungku give 
orders for a general assembly of the men of the 
kampong, saying that the Tuan had a game he 
wanted the men to enter into, and when they were 
all assembled, I told them I was going to offer 
prizes to the men picked out and worked as crews, 
that made the best and most nets in four days,— 
one day for the cutting and washing the rattan, one 
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