1880.] On the Exploration of the Caves of Borneo. 319 



caverns. The latter, however, are not without a varied Fauna of their 

 own. Besides the infinite hosts of swifts (Gollocalia) and bats of many 

 species which throng their recesses, owls, and occasionally hawks, are 

 met with. Several kinds of snakes, lizards ( Varanidce and Geckotida?), 

 fish, and Crustacea also occur, as well as spiders, crickets, and myria- 

 poda (Julidce, Geojylxilus? Folydesmus ?) The recent guano often 

 swarms with a slender yellow Bulimiis. 



Page 316. " No traditionis extant." — It has been suggested that these 

 superficial human remains are the remains of the Chinese who perished 

 in the insurrection in Sarawak (1857). Apart from the decayed con- 

 dition of the bones, this idea is inadmissible for many reasons. It is 

 sufficient to mention the general identity of the remains at Mah in 

 Brunei territory (where there is no reason to suppose any Chinese 

 were ever located) with those of Ahup in Sarawak. 



Page 316. "No tribe makes habitual use of caves." — A very wild 

 tribe of Punans, called by the natives Bock Punans, who inhabit the 

 great Tibang Mountain at the source of the Bejang Biver, are popu- 

 larly reported to live in caves, being so uncivilised as not yet to have 

 learnt to construct artificial shelters. The head of the Bejang has 

 never been visited by a European, so that this report is probably 

 incorrect. Mr. Hugh B. Low, whose knowledge of the tribes of north- 

 west Borneo is unequalled, writes in answer to my inquiries as 

 follows : — " I do not know of any tribe that buries its dead in caves. 

 Tana Nipa, of Tatan, was buried in a cave, but this was to secure him 

 from his Dyak neighbours. The Orang Kaya Sahgieng expressed a 

 dying wish that he might be buried in Lubang Danan in Ba Koiat, but 

 it was only in order that he might gain an additional claim to the cave 

 in question, the ownership of which was disputed. The ' tailed men ' 

 between Mandai and Melani are said to live in caves." 



" Note on the Collection of Bones from Caves in Borneo, re- 

 ferred to in Mr. Everett's Beport on the ' Exploration of 

 the Bornean Caves in 1878-9.' " By George Busk, F.K.S., 

 Y.P. Anth. Inst. 



With the exception of portions of the lower jaw of a small pig, and 

 two or three detached teeth of the same animal, and some fragments 

 of pottery, the collection is composed entirely of human remains. 



The bones are all more or less fragmentary and vary very much in 

 condition, some appearing as if they had lain on the surface of the 

 ground, exposed to the weather, whilst others are partially encrusted 

 with a friable, argillaceo-calcareous stalagmitic deposit, admitting of 

 very easy removal. None of the bones, though some are dry and 

 fragile, appear to be of any antiquity, and none adhere to the tongue. 



