HI itAK TO SLIM. 57 



We were not sorry to stop, tor jungle walking is very severe. 

 I call the distance thirteen miles. 



We put up for the night in a regular hovel, the whole kam- 

 pong consisting of two wretched houses in the heart of the jungle. 

 There is here a nice stream which runs into the Slim river, 



12th February. 



G-ot away at 7.30 a.m. and went at once into big jungle. The 

 road from here to Sinn is a very good one as jungle roads go, indeed 

 about the best I know ; altogether from Songkei to Slim the road is 

 good, with the exception of a mile or two close to Songkei. 



Prom Trolah to Slim the whole way is up and down hill,f but 

 there are five hills proper, and one of them, the second from Slim, 

 is a good deal higher and larger in every way than the others. 



About four miles from Slim, in a charming spot, are some sul- 

 phur springs ; the water is quite hot, and where it bubbles out of 

 the rock you can't bear your hand in it for more than a moment. 

 The smell of the sulphur is very strong. 



The water from the hot springs runs into the stream (a con- 

 siderable one) close by, and there are fine large trees growing in 

 the middle of and around the stream ; it is a most enjoyable halting 

 place. 



The last hill, the one next to Slim, is remarkable for being 

 covered from top to bottom, on the Slim side, with large bamboos ; 

 T never saw such big ones, nor in anything like such numbers, 

 many were 18 inches in circumference. 



As you go clown the hill the bamboos get smaller in size, but 

 more in number, until you find yourself walking in a forest of bam- 

 boos with not a tree of any other description near. 



Coming from out the bamboos at the foot of this hill yon see 

 before you the confluence of two rivers, the Slim and the Grhiliting, 



t The Malays speak of this part of the road as " Bukit, fciga puloh tiga." i.e., 

 ;t the thirtv-three hills." 



