P.UHAK TO SLIM. 55 



1 was told if I went up the Bidor river I should be two, if not 

 three, nights on the way, that I should then have to walk to Songkei, 

 a long day's walk, from there to Slim, two days' hard walking, and 

 Slim to TTlu Bernam two nights, from TJlu Bernam down the river 

 two or three days, that is, ten or eleven days in all, and lastly that 

 Mash ob is nof at Bidor. Whereas if I went up the Songkei, instead 

 of the Bidor river, I must save one or two days. Accordingly I 

 determined to go to Songkei instead of Bidor. 



We entered Kwala Songkei at 5 p.m., and stopped at a clearing 

 at 5.30 for the night, sleeping in the boat. 



9th February. 



Took down all the kajangs* and started poling at (5.30 a.m. 

 The river was dreadful, just like the Labu, only a little clearer, and 

 not so many thorns ; the day broiling hot, and we got the full 

 benefit of the sun as we had no kajangs. Our men worked very 

 well, and we reached Songkei at 5.30 p.m., about fifteen miles in all, 

 I should think. For the last mile or two the river was much wider 

 and more open, and we were able to put up the kajangs, and it 

 was well for us that it was so, for at 4.30 p.m. there came on one of 

 the heaviest storms of rain I have seen, with thunder and lightning. 



At Songkei there are some three or four detached houses. 



Jaafae, the old boatman, who turns out better on acquaintance, 

 told the Pengulu he was to send me on with men. It appears, 

 however, that vre are still a day's journey, either by land or river, 

 from the beginning of the Slim road ; so we shall have to settle 

 to-morrow morning how we are to go. I should prefer the boat, as 

 we shall have plenty of walking, but the river is difficult and the 

 water low. 



We slept very comfortably in an empty house on shore. 



* Pieces of portable thatching with which boats ave roofed. 



