XV. 



went part of the way with thorn. The first man to return came back 

 at 11.20 a.m., and all had returned by 4 p.m. In the meantime the 

 .process of repacking the boxes and sunning the bags of rice was 

 carried on. 



The next day more stores, principally rice, were sent up. Twelve 

 men said they were sick and refused to go. There was no doubt that 

 nearly all of them were malingering, so a draft composed of half an 

 ounce of Epsom salts and five grains of quinine was served out to 

 them with most salutary results. 



On tin 1 28th the coolies began going up with the rest of the 

 baggage at 7.30 a.m., and Messrs. Wray and Robinson left the camp at 

 9.30 a.m. There was very great trouble with the coolies, as none of 

 them wanted to go on to the '6th Camp. It rained heavily on the 

 way up and camp was not reached until 2.30 p.m. It rained again 

 in the evening and night ; and there was also a very high wind, which 

 brought out the defects of the hut, and had there not been some 

 water- proof sheets, the want of walls would have been much more felt 

 than it was. It was reported that both the Tahan and the Teku rose 

 very high in consequence of the rain and swept down stream a large 

 tree that had been felled two days previously. 



The camp was situated on a narrow spur, only about 12 ft. wide at 

 an elevation of 3,500 ft. above sea-level. 



The next day all hands were put on to collecting wood and palm 

 leaves, enlarging the hut and walling it in. and generally making it 

 more or less watertight. It was reported that thirteen of the coolies had 

 run away the previous evening and gone off down the river in the 

 morning, taking several boats and some of the rice, which had been left 

 at Kuala Teku for the use of the returning coolies. 



On the 30th Mr. Robinson went up to the 7th Camp, with twenty-four 

 men, taking a quantity of rice, stores, etc. This camp, which was on 

 a ridge just overlooking the lower camp, is 4,580 ft. above sea-level, 

 and was built near the remains of two huts said to have been made by 

 Mr. Skeat in his attempt to ascend Grimong Tahan in 1899. Near the 

 huts was a flag, hung on a pole, tied to a tree, marking the highest 

 point attained by the above-named gentleman. 



The remainder of the men were set to work erecting drying stages 

 for sunning the botanical specimens, building a lanti pathway outside 

 the house, as it took up all the width of the ridge, and felling a num- 

 ber of trees to let the sun in and also to allow of a good view of the 

 hills being obtained from the camp. 



On returning from the camp, all the coolies said they wanted to go, 

 and refused to proceed another stage towards the main range as 

 requested. The next day, the 31st, as there was no method of com- 

 pelling them to remain, they all left, taking some letters to be forwarded 

 to Kuala Lipis. Only four Pahang men remained ; they had been 

 engaged to stay on the hill and continue the track up towards the 

 summit. 



