14 AN EXPEDITION TO MOUNT BATU LAWI. 
some freshly killed fish, followed by the most painful seizure of 
vomitting, such as I never wish to experience again. 
Tama Belulok apologizes for Gesang’s non-appearance and 
remarks somewhat scornfully that he does’nt believe in dreams and 
then immediately after announces cheerily that the omens were 
excellent this morning, and there is no doubt that we shall get to 
Batu Lawi all right. 1 went after pigeon in the evening in some 
secondary growth not far from the house, but could only bag two 
small “kukor” (doves, Spilopelia tigrina, Temm.). In the evening 
get some amusement out of a few parlour-tricks and trials of 
strength; one “event” consisted of laying a pole end on against 
the dividing wall of a house, then standing 2 feet away from the 
end, they pick the end up, place it on the shoulder and try to drag it 
away from the wall. They did it generally after a little struggle 
and tried from a distance of three feet but that proved too difficult. 
I initiated them into the mysteries of “ Indian wrestling ” which 
(as far as I know it) consisted in the two combatants lying down 
along-side one another, the head of one by the feet of the other, 
then with arms locked, each has to raise the leg nearest his adversary 
and with a skilful lock and adjustment of his weight, try to over- 
throw the other. ‘They took to it kindly and a succession of con-. 
tests helped to pass a pleasant evening, enlivened with a little gin, 
beating of gongs and Dayak dancing. 
May 12th: (Temp. 8 a.m. 77°). The river still all right, our 
crews out early this morning getting the baggage stored in the boats. 
After some delay we start, 15 in cne boat and 13 in the other; two 
birds “ engkrasak ” (Spider-hunters, Archnothera, sp.) fly across 
our bows from right to left; these are regarded as a very good omen 
and are hastily greeted by each Tabun with some such phrase as 
this, shouted out in a great hurry so that it may reach the birds 
before they are out of ear-shot :— 
“Kabing kong ai meching yang Batu Lawi. Naam aid,” 
which meant, as far as I could gather—“ O birds, see us safe to 
Batu Lawi, and let no sickness befall us.” 
We saw or heard other birds of good omen and everyone was in 
great spirits, paddling along with light hearts and (more impor- 
tant) with vigorous arms. What J read as good omens were :— 
(i) the appearance of the well-known leaf butterfly (Kallima 
machis buxtonr), which I saw alight on the trunk of a tree*; it is 
not uncommon in the Limbang district but rarely met with in other 
parts of Sarawak; (ii) the rare brown Papilio, P. payeni brunei, 
which flew over our heads soon after starting, and (iii) the capture 
of a fine male Amblypodia narada feeding on animal excrement 
*Vide Wallace’s ’’Malay Archipelago,‘‘ where he records the leaf butter. 
fly always settling on twigs. I have only once seen the species alight on a twig. 
but three times on the trunks of large trees. C.J.Brooks in Journ. Str. Br- 
Roy. Asiat. Soc. No. 60,1911. p. 42, makes a similar observation having captur- 
ed one on the trunk of a tree and another on a leaf. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
