8 AN EXPEDITION TO MOUNT BATU LAWI. 
could get no information on this point from the few older men I 
met: he late Dr. A. B. Meyer wrote to me that he had been able 
to notice a similarity between-the vocabularies of the Bornean tribes 
Bisayas and Tagals with those of the Philippine tribes, Visayas and 
Tagalogs. ‘The Bisayas are regarded with a good deal of awe by 
the up-river natives, and sinister stories are told of mysterious deaths 
of visitors to their houses, and of their great riches acquired by ques- 
tionable means. They used to live in long houses like other natives 
of Sarawak, but now that their country is peaceful they are begin- 
ning to live separately, two or three families together, although 
there are still some Jong houses to be seen. ‘Their houses are much 
better built than those of the Muruts, and a Bisaya remarked that 
the Muruts were “ like birds ” (saperti burong) hecause their houses 
would only last a year and then they had to move on and build 
another. | 
After 4 hours paddling we arrive at Empasong and enter the 
large Bisaya house there. Found a Malay in it detained by a bad 
leg. He had been with a Mr. Walker* as collector on the Kina- 
batangan in North Borneo and I should have been glad to take him 
along ; as we were in need of another experienced collector, however, 
his injured leg almost prevented him from walking at all, so we 
went on again without him, and arrived at Ukong- a little before 
3 p.m. Here we found some Chinese shops on the ‘left bank of the, 
river and in one of them we made ourselves comfortable for the 
night. No Chinese traders are allowed any further up than this 
point and consequently the little settlement here does a thriving 
trade with the neighbouring Bisayas and 'Tabuns. 
We are warned against throwing stones into the river, as that 
s certain to bring rain, which is equally certain to cause a dreaded 
« fresh ” in the river. A Dayak complains to me of bad dreams. 
and wishes to turn back, but I persuade him to try another three 
nights; if these bad dreams persist, then he may report to me 
again. From Ukong we get a good view of Mt. Buda, which is 
the name given to the northern spur of Mt. Molu, and the source 
of the Madalam river. Owing to a leaky boat some of the rice got 
wet and we had to leave three men behind to dry it for a day, while 
we went on next morning to arrange for further coolies. 
Several rumours were current here about the ravages said to 
have been committed by a -party of Dayaks two months before 
among the Adangs up-river, and opinions were divided as to how 
the aggrieved Adangs were ‘likely to receive us. Some suggested 
sending up messengers to explain the peaceful nature of our 
mission, but the uncertain state of the river was the only argument 
that weighed with me and I determined to get to the Kuala 
Madihit without any unnecessary°delay ; once there we should know 
more about the truth of these rumours and could act accordingly. 
* Author of ‘‘ Wanderings among South Sea Savages,’’ 1909. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
