6 A TRIP TO MT. PENRISSEN, SARAWAK. 



where water was abundant and a good view readily obtainable, 

 altogether infinitely superior to our present situation; our cha- 

 grin at having- been deceived by our guides was gieat. but 

 we -decided to wait till the shooters returned from the jungle 

 round about, whither they had early that morning been sent, 

 before deciding- whether it was worth while or not staying on 

 in our present position. When eventually the hunters return- 

 ed, the results of their labours were not very interesting, ex- 

 cept the insects: of birds, a small robin-like species, dull in 

 colour (Alcippe cinerea) was the only one at all characteris- 

 tic of a mountain ornis. Mr. Cox therefore decided to visit 

 next day the actual summit of the mountain, and if much of 

 interest was seen or procured, (o stay there for 10 days or a 

 week. In accordance with this idea he and all the collectors, 

 except one. whose services I retained, departed on the 14th. 

 At mid-day 1 received word that they had reached the actual 

 summit. Up to 4.500 feet the climbing had not been particularly 

 difficult, but the last 300 feet was a sheer precipice of sand-stone 

 conglomerate with a few narrow ledges at infrequent intervals, 

 and to scale this, ladders had to be improvised : the summit 

 was found to be quite hat. about half a mile long by two hun- 

 dred yards broad, a dreary wilderness of pandanus and rotan, 

 with hundreds of huge trees in every stage of life, from full 

 and vigorous growth to absolute decay. Animal life was very 

 scarce, and as a strong wind was blowing-, bringing up a dense 

 fog. Mr. Cox decided to descend to the foot of the cliff and 

 encamp there. By the bearers of his message he sent down 

 a specimen oi the trogon. Harpectes dulitensis, and a gigantic 

 earthworm nearly eighteen inches long, 



During the next rive days I collected assidously round 

 about our hut and on the plateau already alluded to. dismissed 

 our first batch of coolies and awaited the arrival of the rest of 

 our baggage. This came up by degrees, until finally all our 

 belongings could be bestowed in our hut and kitchen. 



On the 18th, Mr. Cox sent down to say that he had moved 

 lower down the mountain on to a peak known as Mt. Prang, 

 altitude 3,900 feet, and as some most curious insect larvte 

 ( Vermileo sp. ) accompanied his letter, I determined to join him 

 and investigate the life-history of the insect as fully as possi- 



