THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



149 



ONE OF SARAWAK S LIMESTONE CAVES WHICH IS A FOOD MINE 



"While some of these caverns yield quantities of birds' nests, highly prized by oriental 

 epicures, many of the recesses remain unexplored, such as the Wind Cave and the Tiger Cave, 

 near the headwaters of the Milanau River. 



settled in the bottom ; yet, notwithstand- 

 ing the mud, the water was pure and en- 

 tirely satisfactory for developing photo- 

 graphs. 



THE GOOD OMEN 



On the third morning the weather came 

 fine and clear and, although the river 

 was not falling, I got away, accompanied 

 by Tama Saging, eight of his men, and 

 my own crew. 



As we pulled away from the landing, 

 a little bird flew singing across the bow, 

 which Tama Saging assured me was a 

 very good omen for our journey. 



The flight and calls of certain birds 

 are among the most important signs that 

 the Kayans interpret as prophecy of 

 the success or failure of an undertak- 

 ing; so that when about to start on a 



journey it is very annoying to have a 

 large flock of birds whose call is un- 

 propitious make its appearance morning 

 after morning. 



In such a case the happy expedient is 

 employed of starting in the dark, before 

 daylight has awakened the birds to their 

 warnings of evil. 



At other times, when the cry of a bird 

 of ill omen would be particularly un- 

 fortunate, as on the occasion of naming 

 the son of a chief, the difficulty is over- 

 come by beating gongs so loudly that no 

 bird, or indeed any other sound, can be 

 heard ! 



It was slow work paddling up the river, 

 although we had left behind the large, 

 heavv boat in which I arrived, using one 

 of Tama Saging's that was lighter and 

 better adapted to poling up the rapids. 



