xiv. 



also, which was selected for the projected expedition of Mr. H. Clifford 

 and Sir R A. Swettenham, a track having been cut for some miles in 

 that direction, prior to the scheme being abandoned. Mr. Skeat, 

 x according to our native informants, also followed the Teku route ; but, 

 finding it impracticable, cut across the valley to the Tahan watershed, 

 reaching a point subsequently utilised as our 7th Camp, beyond which 

 he was unable to advance, owing to failure of provisions and the 

 exhaustion of his men. 



From Kuala Teku onwards the route taken was up a spur forming 

 the watershed of the Tahan on the right and the Teku on the left, this 

 watershed being followed until the main massif of Grunong Tahan was 

 reached, after which the Teku valley was followed. 



After Kuala Tenok is passed, the Tahan valley is narrow and 

 rugged, the river in many places running through a deep gorge with 

 steep rocky sides. To attempt to go up the valley by land would be a 

 very difficult matter, as at these places it might be necessary to cut a 

 track four or five hundred feet above the valley level to escape the pre- 

 cipitous sides of the ravine. The only practical way is to follow T the river 

 in small dug-out canoes with rather high sides. The river is clear of 

 timber, owing to the trees, which periodically fall into it, being 

 swept away by the heavy freshets which are characteristic of this 

 valley. 



The rocks met with were all sedimentary. There are a large series 

 of green, blue-purple and red slates, as well as sandstones and con- 

 glomerates. Neither organic remains nor economic minerals were 

 noticed. 



Beyond rotans and rubber obtained from some of the climbers 

 belonging to the genus Wittnghbeia and other nearly allied plants, 

 there does not appear to be anything of commercial importance in the 

 Tahan valley. No gutta-percha-yielding trees were noticed, and the 

 Malays stated that then 1 were none in the valley. Timber trees, 

 doubtless, are plentiful ; but it would probably be hardly feasible to 

 get the logs down a river of so rocky a nature. 



On the 25th all the rice, which had got rather wet during the 

 journey up the river, was put out in the sun to dry, on stages erected 

 for the purpose. The men, not employed on this work, were set to 

 making baskets to carry things up the hill in, as these Fahang men 

 can only carry on the back. As the baskets were made, they were 

 lined with the leaves of the daun sang palm (Teysmanma altifrem), 

 and the boxes of stores were opened and the contents packed into 

 them ready for the next morning. Up to this point the coolies had 

 worked very well, but now they began to give trouble, and a number of 

 them said they were going to return, having gone as far as the river 

 was navigable. After much talking, they set to work on the 

 baskets. 



On the 26th thirty-nine coolies and two Dvaks went off before 7 a.m., 

 with loads of stores, etc, to the next or 6th Camp. Mr. Robinson 



