18 REPORT ON A JOURNEY FROM TUARAN TO KIAU. 
blocks of this ancient parapet. Pangeran SAHBUDIN inform- 
ed me he saw the last or fourth side of this gulf, which I 
required in order to work out the volcanic theory. A mo- 
mentary clearing of the mist had revealed the further rim of 
this crater, far below us. There must have been two great 
eruptions in former ages. The first, burst through the rim of 
the crater on our side (the southern), and left fragments now 
represented by the peaks; the second broke away the north- 
ern or further rim and reduced its height. Could not the 
smooth face of the gigantic granite slabs, all at the same 
angle, be explained by reason of friction from a mighty flow 
of lava? 
73. That Borneo or even British North Borneo has not 
been volcanic is incorrect, for Mr. Resident DAVIES has 
obtained lava specimens, and | found some ina stream on 
Mallawalli Island in 1886, which I submitted to Mr. A. H. 
EVERETT, who was on a visit up coast at the time. 
74. Iwas disappointed that Victoria Peak was inaccessible 
and when I asked for volunteers to come up with me to the 
top of St. John’s peak, I received no response and did not 
press the matter, determining to get to the top of Victoria 
Peak some other day. We hurriedly sacrificed the fowl, and 
started down when GAWANG said he would go up St. John’s 
Peak and lay my bottle and the brassware on its summit— 
which was done and he soon overtook us. 
75. When 209 feet down, the mist around Victoria Peak 
cleared away and we noticed that its side facing the East was 
at a moderate angle, and quite capable of being ascended. 
But the gruesome mist was again creeping around us and 
our empty stomachs warned us not to delay on the road, so 
we left the feat till next occasion, but not without regret. 
70. By this time my stockings were worn out but the 
granite was just rough enough to prevent sudden slips without 
wounding the feet; occasionally, in the crevices, one came 
on afew jagged fragments and a contortion of the features 
showed an unwary step, but on the whole | preferred descend- 
ing to our late toil going up. Down the steeper inclined 
slabs, the Dyaks assisted me, holding a hand a piece and only 
once, near the jungle, did I fall on my back, nearly dashing 
