118 CAVES AT SUNGEI BATTT. 



softer halo on the bright crystals of the stalactites. Care- 

 fully taking away specimens of the stalactites and stalagmites 

 we wended our way back to the entrance, and only reached it 

 as the torches were nearly finished. 



There is a sort of alcove hollowed outside this entrance to 

 the right hand by nature out of the rocks. A. model cook- 

 house with its stoves, fire places and all that would be neces- 

 sary for the most fastidious Eastern cook. 



It seemed a pity to leave such a delightfully cool atmos- 

 phere for the heated exhalations without, but another attrac- 

 tion awaited us and a cry of "Durians" recalled us to the 

 most solid comforts of this life. Quantities of durians urew 

 on the trees at the base of this hill — a sure sign of good soil in 

 the Malay Peninsula — and after having a good meal of this 

 delicious fruit, after a quarter of an hour's walk in a northerly 

 direction, we were led by Mr. Syers and the Sakei to No. 2 Cave 

 called "Gua Belah " (or the divided cave.) This cave was much 

 lower in height than the last, but contained very fantastical 

 limestone formations. The bearing was N. N. E. through these 

 caverns, for about 100 yards, but there were branches which 

 might be explored if sufficient time allowed. Outside these 

 two caves were very original drawings made by the Sakei 

 with charcoal on the liriestone walls, reminding us of our 

 first efforts at making sketches of the human form, 



No. 3 Cave, "Gua Lada" (Pepper cave) called from the 

 numerous chili trees growing near the entrance, is reached after 

 another half a mile in a northerly direction. 



This and No. 2 Caves are both entered from the base of 

 the hill, no climbing required like " Gua Lambent*-" (No. 1). 

 This is planned in one vault running S. S. E., 90 yards long, 

 with two side corridors at right angles on either side, and the 

 crystalline deposits are more perfect than in No. 1 Cave, Here 

 the limestone columns have joined the stalactites, and the 

 stalagmites are more perfect. In some places, there are great 

 pulpits overhung with canopies, whose brilliant crystalline 

 fringes sparkle again in the garish glare of the torches, 

 inducing the visitor again to think of this as a great 

 church of nature. Here, fantastically carved out of the rock, 

 may be seen imitation umbrellas and cpuches and baths part- 

 ly filled with bright waters that have dropped through the 

 limestone ceiling. 



