IN SUM Am A. 



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country. Tlie descent and ascent were made by long difficult 

 corkscrew paths cut in the face of cliffs, that were densely 

 clothed witli trees which from the steepness of tho slope 

 chmg close to its sides. Oil again gaining the level of the 

 platciin, and looking back from a little distimce, the eye 

 ranged over the chasm without perceiving aiiv trace of it 

 This scenery recalled the descriptions 1 had read of tlie 

 singular canons of the Yellowstone Uiver in Nortli America. 

 At frequent intervals over all the plateau I passed tabats or 

 lakelets of various sizes, the result probably of sligHl sTibsi- 

 dences of the ground which, curiously enough, are fuH of fish, 

 though they have often no river running out of them. The 

 same afternoon I reached Bandar, and the next day held on to 

 the village of Pagar Alam. 



From Pagar Ahim to my destination at the little village of 

 Piiu, lying 3500 feet above the sea level on tho slope of the 

 Dernpo, where it begins to raise its majestic mass more erectly, 

 was but a tbrenoon's march. The village of Pau was very 

 small, and its Balai of minute dimensions. Without an hour's 

 delay, however, I set about enlarging and rendering it habit* 

 able. By the combined efforts of the greater portion of the 

 inhabitants of two viUages which lay within a few nainutes' 

 walk, we floored the place, railed off a part for a sleeping 

 apartment and fitted a bed into it, furnished the outer portion 

 with a table and a door, wliich we made out of that blessodest 

 of all the vegetable productions of a tooUessand saw-mill-iess 

 land, tho bamboo ; and before night I had unpackefl all my 

 baggage, books, and apparatus, and settled into my neat abode 

 with feelings of tJie utmost satisfaction and contentment after 

 my thirty-five days' march, The village lay on the roaii 

 leading to Bencoolen, and as once a week a large market wm 

 held near Pagar Alam, I had an opportunity of seeing not a 

 few of the people of the districts towards tlie aea-coast, as 

 they came often to the markets in the way of trade, and 

 often passed a night in the village. As a sort of good- 

 will exhibition towards the villagers, and a return for their 

 hospitality they woidd often give a musical performance, or 

 engage in a dance. One of the latter interested me murdu 

 The dance itself was very much like the Lampong dances» 

 calm and attitudiiiai, but with the addition of lighted ttupers, 



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