93 
CHAPTER VIII. 
WAAI THE RAINS THE RAJAH NATIVE SKIFFS FISH 
“ MAZES ” AQUEOUS LIFE — DANGEROUS CURRENTS. 
1st June . 
Rain lias commenced in earnest, and we take 
rather ill with the restraint of stajdng indoors. 
The roof leaks badly, and there is scarcely a dry 
yard under the verandah. Two of the men have 
had fever, and have added to the dismal aspect 
of things by constant moaning and groaning, 
Pedros is kept in good humour with an occasional 
glass of gin. He does his clumsy best to fill the 
place of our cook, and waits on the sick, but we 
shall be glad to return to onr normal ways. 
Pedros is a very good fellow, besides being an 
excellent bird-skinner. We are anxious that he 
should go with us to Timor-laut, but lie cannot 
make up his mind to part from his family. He 
is rather fond of gin, but never gets intoxicated. 
To-day lie was picking some seeds, the contact 
