408 
THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 
[chap. 
to express one’s self on this subject, before the fossils which we 
brought home have been examined by Dr. Nathorst. 
Coal mining was stopped for the time, but orders were 
expected by every post to resume work. The road between the 
mine and the harbour town was at all events pretty well kept, 
and Mr. CoOKE, one of the directors of the company, still lived 
at the place. He showed me all possible hospitality during the 
time I remained on the north side of the island for the purpose 
of collecting fossils. The rest of the time I was the guest of the 
acting Governor, Mr. Treacher, a young and amiable man, who 
showed me several collections in natural history from Labuan 
and the neighbouring parts of Borneo, and after our return to 
EurojDe sent me a collection of leaves and fruit of the kinds of 
trees which now grow on the island. I expect that this 
collection will be very instructive in the study of the fossil plants 
we brought home with us. 
At the steep shore banks on the north coast very fine sections 
of the sandstone strata, which lie under and above the coal, are 
visible. While I went along the ' shore in order to examine 
these, I visited some Malay huts built on poles. They were 
surrounded at flood tide by water, at ebb by the dry beach, bare 
of all vegetation. In order to get inside these huts one must 
climb a ladder two to two and a half metres high, standing 
towards the sea. The houses have the same appearance as a 
warehouse by the seaside at home, and are built very slightly. 
The floor consisted of a few rattling bamboo splints lying loose, 
and so thin that I feared they would give way when I stepped 
upon them. The household articles consisted only of some mats 
and a pair of cooking vessels. I saw no fireplace; probably fire 
was lighted on the beach. I could see no reason why this place 
should be chosen as a dwelling in preference to the neighbouring 
shore with its luxuriant vegetation, which at the same time was 
not at all swampy, unless it was for the coolness which arises 
from the airy situation on the beach, and the protection which 
