428 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



morning of May 30th the Teniong Dayaks arrived to take us 

 down the mountain. After breakfast the task of breaking camp 

 was soon accomplished ; one last tap at the creeper for a longi- 

 corn and we set off for the descent. On arriving at the village 

 we were led to the house of the Panglima, as that of the Orang 

 Kaya or chief, was closed ("pantang") to strangers for eight 

 days, owing to the birth of a child. 



The head-house was strong and roomy here ; in the evening 

 we were treated to the usual entertainment. The Temong 

 Dayaks went one better than their neighbours in producing a 

 beverage called tuach, not an unpleasant intoxicant made from 

 fermented rice. Some dozen ladies of various ages assailed us 

 in the evening, each armed with a bottle of this in one hand 

 and a glass or cup in the other. These latter had seen cleaner 

 days, and the health of each fair offerer had to be drunk ! A 

 trading Chinaman happened to have arrived that afternoon, and 

 from him we obtained some beads, rings and bracelets, with 

 which we rewarded the dancers as the evening proceeded. 



Next day requests for old trousers, coats, shoes, tobacco, 

 empty tins and bottles were good-naturedly offered and attended 

 to as far as possible. Some 30 ft. of dark purple cloth were 

 divided between the two head men, and small quantities of 

 tobacco portioned out to some of the others. Most of the men 

 wear two " garments " only, viz. the head-cloth and loin-cloth ; 

 in one or two instances we noticed the latter was made from 

 bark-cloth. 



We took some time getting off, but eventually started about 

 9 a.m., and after some two hours' walking struck the Sadong 

 river again and later stopped at the Dayak house of Bugu. 

 This was built near the river at the foot of Mt. Sepedang, a big 

 hilly mass rising to about 2000 ft. and more or less joined to 

 Mt. Pennssen, which rises to over 4000 ft. slightly to the south- 

 west of Sepedang. We stayed here for a meal and change of 

 carriers. Some doubts were entertained as to the extent of the 

 whiteness of B's. skin, and some amusement was caused by an 

 enquiring female turning down the collar of his coat to make 

 sure for herself. This was fully in accord with Wallace's 

 experiences, so no doubt B. would not have wished it 

 otherwise. 



