152 
MISSION TO KA1LEOBAR. 
face of the cliff by a steep wooden trap-stair, 
which I observed was of dark redwood, its sides 
elaborately sculptured with alligators and liz- 
ards, and surmounted by a carved head on each 
side. On entering I saluted those near the 
gate, but we were rather coldly received. As we 
proceeded up the centre of the village, two 
elderly men, evidently intoxicated, rushed at us 
with poised spears, gesticulating and shouting 
to those around to oppose us. The tumult 
brought out the Orang-kaya, whose approach 
prevented any immediate act of hostility, and to 
him my guide explained the object of our visit. 
Having shaken hands with us — a sign of friend- 
ship — he, accompanied by the older men, con- 
ducted us to his house, through the door-hole of 
which I ascended with the uneasy feeling of 
entering a trap. My proposals being fully ex- 
plained to them, they were received at first 
with little opposition, till my intoxicated friends 
joined the circle. One was evidently a man of 
some importance in the village, and at once 
opposed the project in a spirit of hostility, which 
gradually spread to the others. As no palaver 
is ever conducted without profuse libations, raw 
palm-spirit, distilled by themselves, was passed 
round in cocoa-nut shell-cups, and I was expected 
