328 BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 



birds'-nest, which is obtained in small quantities on the West 

 eoast, and adjacent islands, but is chiefly supplied from the 

 Gomanton caves on the East coast. The following description 

 of these caves is condensed from an account lately published in 

 the Straits Times. The caves are situate on the Kinabatangan 

 river, near the village of Malapi, which is some fifty miles from 

 the mouth. The chief entrance Simud putih (white entrance) 

 is on the Gomanton hill at an elevation of 500 feet, and is 

 about 30 feet high by 50 feet wide. The ascent to it is very 

 steep, in some parts almost perpendicular, but the nature of the 

 jagged hard lime-stone rocks, affords holding points for one's 

 hands and feet. From this entrance the ascent to the summit 

 of the hill, is another 500 feet, and at the top is a smallish hole 

 which leads into the great Simud putih caves below, going 

 straight down about 850 feet. Down this the natives descend 

 by rattan ladders, fastened to the circumference of the hole, 

 right into the abyss below, in search of the nests. At nightfall 

 a remarkable sight is to be seen at the entrance, viz , the return 

 of the swallows (Collocalia esculentaj to their nests, and the 

 departure of the bats. With a whirring sound, multitudes of 

 bats wheel round in spiral columns from the summit of which 

 detachments break off and wheel away rapidly towards the 

 mangrove swamps and the nipa palms. Amongst them the 

 white bats are very conspicuous, and are termed by the natives, 

 the Rajah, his wife and child. Soon after the bats emerge from 

 the caves, the swallows return in countless numbers. Each 

 morning the process is reversed, the swallows going out and the 

 bats returning home. On entering the mouth of the cave as 

 described above, the floor for the first part of the way slopes 

 down at an angle of twenty-five degrees, to an enormous cave 

 with several smaller ones leading out of it. From the side of this 

 cave rises a high dome, from the top of which you can see the 

 opening before-mentioned, some 850 above. The average height 

 of the cave before coming to the dome is 150 feet. The next 

 cave Simud item (black entrance) is on a level with the river 

 bank. The entrance is by a magnificent porch of 250 feet in 

 height, opening out into a large and lofty chamber, beyond 

 which an open space is reached, from which looking up can be 

 seen the Simud putih. 



