24 KELANTAN AND GUNONG TAHAN. 



The hill proved to be very much higher and steeper than I 

 expected, being' in fact a mountain range 3,000' high, dividing 

 the Relai and A ring rivers, and the Malays were terribly done 

 up when they at last reached the top. While I waited for them 

 up there, I found a spur sloping gently down on the other 

 side towards the north-east, and this Ave now followed right 

 to the foot of the range, where we came across a small stream 

 and camped close by it. We had no dinner that night, but 

 there being still some tea left, we each had a cup of this before 

 going to sleep. Following the stream next day we at last 

 reached the A ring river, of which this was a tributary called 

 Patei. It was about noon when we struck the A ring, and great 

 was our joy on finding an old disused bamboo raft- lying half 

 way up on the banks. It had evidently been left there by some 

 gutta hunters, and we soon had it in the water ; luckily it was 

 just big enough to hold us and our things, and after having cut 

 some long poles to steer with, we started on our way down 

 river. 



Owing to the late heavy rains the river was in flood, and 

 this was rather in our favour, as there would be no shallow 

 places over which we otherwise would have had to haul the raft. 

 \\ T e w.ere travelling at a great rate of speed, it being impossible 

 to stop the raft, but we did not anticipate any danger, as the 

 Malays seemeed well able to steer us clear of all rocks and 

 snags. The men were all in high glee, now, at the prospect of 

 soon reaching the village, shouting, singing and chaffing each 

 other, and in their own estimation they were evidently great 

 heroes. So we went dashing down one rapid after the other, 

 the men yelling derision at them all, when just as we came 

 round a bend in the river we dashed into the stem of a huge 

 tree that had fallen across the stream and effectually blocked 

 the whole river. The thing happened so suddenly that it was 

 impossible to do anything to prevent it ; there was a great crack- 

 ing of the bamboos and down went the raft, throwing us all 

 out in the river. We all managed to scramble up on the tree, 

 and as all our things were light we fished them up again, with 

 the exception of my only pair of shoes, which 1 had taken off as 

 a precaution when Ave started, in case Ave should have to SAviin 

 for it. We also managed to haul the raft up over the tree, and 



