CHAP. VI II,] 



TjME squmREis. 



133 



Bwampyj and in the wet season flooded for a considerable 

 distance, Palembang is built on a patch of elevated 

 ground, a few miles in extent, on tlxe nortU bank of the 

 river. At a spot about three miles from the town this 

 rises into fi little hill, the top of which is held sacred l.iy 

 the natives, and is shaded by some fine trees, mbabited by 

 a colony of sqttirreljs, whkh have become half tame. On 

 holding out a few crumbs of bread or any fruit, they come 

 running dovm the trunk, take the morsel out of your 

 fingers, and darfc away instantly. Their tails are carried 

 erect, and the hair, which is ringed with grey, yellow, and 

 brown, radiates uniformly around them, and looks exceed- 

 ingly pretty. They have somewhat of the motions of 

 mice, coming on with little starts, and gazing intently 

 with their lai^e black eyes, before venturing to advance 

 further. The manner in which Malays often obtain the 

 confidence of wild animals is a very pleasing trait in tbi^ir 

 character, and is due in some degree to the quiet delibera- 

 tion of their manners, and their love of repose rather than 

 of action. The young are obedient to the wishes of their 

 elders, and seem to feel none of that propensity to mischief 

 which European boys exhibit. How long would tame 

 squirrels continue to inhabit trees in the vicinity of an 

 English village, even if close to the church ? They would 

 soon be pelted and driven away, or snared and confined in 

 a whirling cage. I have never heard of these pretty 

 animals being tamed in tliis way in England^ l>ut I should 

 think it might be easily done in any gentleman's park, 

 and they would certainly be as pleasing and attractive as 

 they would be uncommon. 



After many inquiries, I found that a day's journey by 

 water above Palembang there commenced a militan' road, 

 which extended up to the mountains and even across to 

 Bencoolen, and I determined to take this route and travel 

 on till I found some tolerable collecting ground. By this 

 means I should secure drj* land and a good road, and avoid 

 the rivers, which at this season are veiy tedious to ascend 

 owing to the powerful currents, and very unproductive to 

 the collector owing to most of the lands in their vicinity 

 being under water. Leaving early in the morning we did 

 not reach Lorok, the -village where the road begins, tiQ 



