AN EXPEDITION TO MOUNT BATU LAWI. 49 
expect an up-country Kalabit to be able to swim as far, if at all; 
many of them could not swim at al] and only ventured to bathe 
quite close to the bank. 
June 8th: Our way now lies up the Tutau, as it is too dan- 
gerous to follow this river down a long and narrow gorge through 
Mt. Molu, although the Tutau runs into the Baram river further 
down and by going that way we should shorten the journey con- 
siderably, but I understand from the natives that it can only be 
done when the river is in a certain condition and then only with 
the most experienced river-men; to try with these up-country 
Kalabits is out of the question. We have to go up-river therefore 
and then across country to join another river which will bring us 
into the Tutau a little before its junction with the Baram. 
An early start is made, but ail the boats bring up above the 
first rapid and every one gets out as a matter of course. After 
what I thought was a sufficient interval for a rest, I suggested we 
might move on, but was told that Balang Katou was waiting to 
hear his omen bird; so we sit, as I write this, patiently waiting for 
this important event. Perhaps ten minutes are spent in this way 
before we move off again. Balang Katou told me that the natives 
from up-country had been in his house for one month waiting for 
favourable omens! After three or four more halts for evil birds 
which have crossed our bows or delivered a warning note on the 
wrong side of the river, we reach Long Mutan in the afternoon. 
Find several others encamped here and some dozen boats drawn up, 
left by other parties doing the journey to Claudetown. ‘The Kala- 
bits have brought a great quantity of rubber with them, with which 
to pay their tax to Government and exchange for bazaar luxuries: 
this is too much for them to carry across in one journey so they 
intend to stay some two or three davs here carrying it across by 
degrees. They say it is one day’s walk across to the Sidam stream, 
where with any luck we may find a boat. A picturesque party these 
natives make, some cooking on the broad pebbly flat below our hut, 
others drying their scanty clothes, or others bathing in the river 
flowing gently by; the interminable jungle in front, behind and all 
round, forms a pleasant frame. The natives themselves are 
picturesque enough from a European’s point of view, long-haired 
and long-eared (the lobe is pierced when they are very young and 
the hole is gradually made larger and larger, so that the lobe is 
stretched down some two inches, and ornamented with heavy metal 
ear-rings; the top of the ear is also pierced and adorned with a 
large tooth, usually a tiger-cat’s), Their garments consist of just 
a loin cloth of red or dark blue cloth, and sometimes a short coat 
(usually sleeveless) made of bark or fibre; without this coat, their 
light bronze skins, neat well-balanced figures, graceful movements, 
especially in poling a boat when each muscle shows in play, not in | 
the exaggerated way exhibited by the professional Strong Man, 
but in that far more reasonable and proportional development 
intended by Nature—altogether form a very pleasant sight, and 
R. A. Soc., No. 63, 191? 
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