Indian Archipelago. 2119 



of men, which may he accounted for by the fact that few explorers have as yet tra- 

 versed the woods where the Mias is to be found, and that the forest is little used to be 

 disturbed, and not apprehensive of danger. Some of the animals are exceedingly tall 

 and powerful, being more than a match for a full-grown and strong man. The me- 

 thod adopted by the Dyaks when they wish to catch one is as follows. Having dis- 

 covered the animal in a tree, they approach without noise, and as quietly as possible 

 cut down all the trees around the one he occupies. Being previously provided with 

 poles, some with nooses attached to the ends and others forked, they fell the isolated 

 tree, when the Mias, confused and entangled, is beset by his pursuers, noosed, forked 

 down, and seized without much further difficulty. Mr. Brooke, in his recent series of 

 journals, states, that the Mias wanders about a good deal during the full of the moon, 

 but remains sluggish while the moon is young. The natives attribute this to a fever 

 which seizes these animals at the new moon. 



The ' wa wa,' or long-armed ape, is the most beautiful of the monkey tribe. It is 

 very gentle, with soft bright eyes. Its colour is gray, with the exception of the face, 

 hands and feet, which are jet black. This pretty little animal is exceedingly delicate, 

 living on herbs and flowers. It is abundant in the jungles of Sarawak, where it may 

 be heard, early in the morning, uttering that strange note which has been compared 

 to the noise made by water being poured out of a bottle. The affection of these ani- 

 mals when domesticated is remarkable ; they lie back when they see any one who has 

 been kind to them, leap upon his breast, and throw their arms around his body, just 

 as a child will embrace its mother. If suffered they will remain in this position for 

 hours, and they utter a plaintive cry when removed. 



The moniet is a pretty little monkey, with a long tail and grayish fur : it is easily 

 tamed, and when domesticated its antics are exceedingly amusing. 



The long-nosed or proboscis monkey has seldom or never been brought alive to 

 Europe. It may be considered almost as the most curious of its species. In size it 

 approaches the ourang-outang, though far less repulsive in appearance : it is furnished 

 with a long tail and remarkably fine and soft fur, of a fawn colour : its eyes are small 

 and bright ; its teeth sharp and long ; but the most curious feature in its face is the 

 nose, which is long and fleshy, and not unlike a very large specimen of the human 

 nose : indeed the whole face bears a great resemblance to the face of a man. 



There are innumerable other specimens of the monkey tribe to be met with in 

 Borneo, including a disgusting short-tailed baboon. All kinds of these animals are 

 destructive to agriculture, as they pillage and destroy the rice crops, throw the fruits, 

 and commit all manner of devastation in the Dyak farms. The consequence of this 

 is an unremitting war between monkeys and men. As evening approaches, the banks 

 of every river absolutely swarm with monkeys, leaping from bough to bough with in- 

 cessant noise, while underneath, the natives — aimed with every conceivable weapon 

 of destruction — assault their enemies, both for the purpose of getting rid of them, and 

 also to procure their flesh, which is highly esteemed as an article of food. 



Alligators abound in every river and creek of Borneo : some of them are of an 

 enormous size, and extremely destructive. Every one is too well acquainted with the 

 outward appearance of these animals to need a description here. We shall, therefore, 

 content ourselves with describing a few of its peculiarities as observed on this island. It 

 is a most destructive animal. Men, dogs, monkeys and cats are alike its prey, for which 

 reason the natives of Borneo use every possible means to destroy it. The usual method 

 is to attach a cat or monkey to a stick floating on the surface of the water, and above the 



