A TEIP TO GUNONO BLUMTTT. 91 



the coolies are given 5 clays uninterrupted holiday, but even 

 that limitation is not always strictly adhered to, for the 

 towkays can afford a little liberality in this respect, seeing 

 that anyhow they get the money of their coolies who are 

 dependent on them for supplies of all kinds the whole year 

 round. Towkays will sometimes keep on working a mine or 

 plantation after it has ceased to pay, for the sake of the 

 money they can make out of the coolies. 



We returned about 9 p. m. by Sungei Pernandi in a sampan, 

 getting glimpses in the darkness partly relieved by torchlight 

 of grand ferns drooping over the water. On reaching the 

 house we learnt that the Penghulu objected to our starting 

 next day till after the service of the "surau," i.e., till 1 p.m. 

 or 2 p. m., we agreed to this, though further delay was 

 annoying, as we did not see our way to combating such 

 an objection. 



Friday 24>th, — The second fine morning since we left 

 Singapore, though unable to start till the afternoon, we 

 resolved to get off as soon after the service as we could, so 

 we put all our things together ready for a start, including 

 3 pikuls of rice for the boatmen and coolies we should take 

 with us. All being ready, and there being 2 or 3 hours to 

 dispose of we gota"jalor ,J and went up the Pemandi, in 

 search of plants and ferns, our curiosity having been excited 

 by what we saw the night before on our trip down the stream 

 from the " kanaka." But the torchlight, effective though 

 it was from a scenic point of view, proved somewhat deceptive, 

 for with the exception of one variety of lycopodium we 

 returned empty-handed, the ferns being all common. I added 

 the names of a few plants to my vocabulary, which I always 

 seize the opportunity of doing whenever I get the chance; in 

 this direction there is still a great deal to be done, as well as 

 in a general way, but some care is necessary, as the Malays 

 sooner than confess their ignorance, will often give a wrong 

 name. As regards the general vocabulary I do not believe 

 much more than half the language has yet been recorded, 

 Logan in his journal states that he already possessed a list 

 of words exceeding that in Marsden's Dictionary, by 3,000 

 and that he was so constantly increasing his stock that he 

 did not propose at that time to take any steps with a view to 

 publication. It is much to be desired that the Society 

 should secure the vocabulary referred to. The Penghulu of 

 the place, Dato' Derasap, is a gentleman of the old school, to 



