57 
AN EXPEDITION TO MOUNT KINA BA LIT. 
mir way lay almost exclusively inside the bed of the river which 
(‘onsisted of a never-ending' series of foaming cataracts rushing' 
over boulders of granite, and we had to force our way tlirough 
the one and climb over tlie other. The men seemed dishearten- 
ed, and the guides recommended waiting a day for the water to 
go down. This seemed an empty excuse at the time, but a little- 
experience showed us later on how very variable the height of 
the water is in these mountainous regions. We still plodded on, 
and after many ditliculties and .some mishaps — one of which was 
the breaking of the ground glass of my camera —we reached 
at 1 p.m., a spot on the bank of the river sheltered by a huge 
slanting rock. Here we camped. Aneroid 21o0.'' 
Wednesdaij, Afaveh 22nd. I slept little during the night, 
being kept awake by the comparative cold (about 65® F.) and the 
roaring of the river. Aneroid, 6.30 a. m : 2050'. We started at 
S.25 a.m., proceeding again chiefly in the bed of the Kadamaian. 
'I'he cataracts and boulders were, if anything, worse than the day 
before. My sturdy ( 'hinese cookie got Avashed away by the 
torrent, but Avas rescued by the men. After some hours we 
linally left the riA^er, and began a steep ascent, first along a little 
l)i’(jok which came dancing down over precipices, then along 
an ordinary steep jungle path. Mosquitoes, Avhich during the 
whole journey, even in the native houses, had been scarcely 
noticeal)le, began, from about 3500', to be very troublesome 
wheneATr one Avas still. At 2.45 p.m., we reached a huge ledge 
of rock similar to the one under Avhicli Ave harl camped the pre- 
vious day. Here AA'e stopped. When changing, as I alAAmys 
did on reaching camp, I found a leach on my leg, the only one 
during the Avhole expedition, although I took no special precau- 
tions against them. Aneroid 4140'. Sunny morning, foggy 
late in the afternoon, and a little rain. 
Tlansday, ^farch 23rd. Another cold night, during Avhich, 
as in fact during the Avhole expedition, 1 enjoyed little sleep, 
feeling the cold chiefly in my joints, notAAdthstauding plenty of 
AA'arra clothing and blankets. The morning opened dismal, Avith 
drizzling rain. The guides informed me that it AA'ould now^ take 
tAvo more days to reach the cave (about 9500'), and as at that rate 
probably tAvo additional days Avould be required to reach the 
summit (13,698'), and probably as much time again to descend 
8 
