A PERSONAL BECONNAISANCB OF GUNONG TAHAN. 7 ( J 



visit for reconnoitring purposes and could not afford the time which 

 it would have taken to establish a depot.* 



On the evening of the 18th, at about o p.m., we entered the black 

 waters of the Tahan, invoking, as we passed, the Tutelary Spirit of the 

 River mouth (Dato Kuala), and proceeded upstream as far as Peng- 

 kalen Dato — a small hamlet on the right bank of the stream — where we 

 spent the night. Early on the second morning I hired two men from 

 the hamlet as additional carriers to accompany us to the foot of the 

 mountain (by which time the amount of rice we were carrying, some 

 twenty-six gantongs t, would be considerably reduced). They both, 

 however, turned out utterly useless and deserted us at daybreak after 

 the very first day's work. This necessitated a general rearrangement 

 of our packs, and the inen being manifestly overloaded I took over 

 the tent, which I thence forward carried up the mountain to the high- 

 est point which we reached. Still the men were very heavily burdened 

 and, although their loads of rice got lighter from day to day, this must 

 be allowed to account for our comparatively slow progress and 

 frequent stoppages over the generally difficult or broken ground. In 

 the first day we proceeded upstream by boat as far as Kuala Tenok — a 

 tributary on the right bank entering the Tahan. Here we landed (on 

 the opposite bank) and found several young lime trees growing, which 

 were said to have been planted by a previous European expedition. 

 They were from two to three feet high and were doing well, and we, in 

 our turn, planted some durian and rambutan *eeds. 



A little further up the river we crossed to the left bank and com- 

 menced our long march overland. I had decided to go on foot partly 

 because of the liability of the river at the time of year to sudden and 

 daugerous floods (such as that in which poor liecher lost his life), and 

 partly because I believed it would be quicker. £ Subsequent events 

 justified the decision, I think, on both grounds; for I was informed 

 on our return that the river had been three times in flood during our 

 absence on the mountain and had caused much anxiety as to our safety, 

 whilst from the time that it took to negotiate the rapids on our return 

 journey down stream, I am convinced that the upstream journey would 

 have taken us several days longer at least than the overland route 

 actually did. 



* Our experience shows that Mr. Skeat was right in thinking that the ascent 

 of Gunong Tahan would prove impracticable without a camp somewhere near the 

 base of the mountain. Our camp at Kuala Teku, however, was more of the nature 

 of a "flying base" as no stores were brought up, except those actually conveyed 

 by the expedition itself. The only way to ascend the mountain in safety, if any- 

 thing more than a very brief stay is intended, is to start with a large number of 

 men and progressively shed them as the hill is approached. — H. C. R. 



f Very short commons for the party for about eighteen days. — H. C. R. 



X In this Mr. Skeat made a considerable error, to which was due the great 

 hardships suffered by himself and his men. With reasonable care and in normal 

 weather, the Tahan can be ascended faster and a greater amount of baggage 

 conveyed by boat than on foot. — H. C. E. 



