36 
NORTH BORNEO. 
however, I caught numbers of fine butterflies as they settled to drink on the wet sand, ,the 
finest being a most gorgeous insect of spangled green and black, the hind wings of bright 
iridescent blue, with spoon-shaped tails (Papilio arjuna ). The fine Papilios, which are 
often difficult to catch, fall easy victims to this simple method—by catching some of the 
common species and placing them in an open place on the wet sand, a few with their 
wings open, nearly every butterfly on passing, seeing these butterflies, Avill immediately 
settle amongst them; and so fearless do they become that insects wdiich you often can 
hardly approach will allow themselves to be touched with your fingers. 
Rain is now a daily occurrence, and most of my scanty wardrobe is wet through, there 
not being sufficient sun on some days to dry my clothes; so to-day (13th) I am “ downcast and 
damp,” at least my clothes are all wet through and are hanging in a row in front of the 
camp. Camp-life is at times miserable, especially before the sun gets up, when everything 
is more or less damp. Some animal in the night bit several large holes in my hat; as it 
could hardly be nutritious, I conclude it was wilful destruction on the part of the unknown 
marauder. Our Murut says that he must return to the bosom of his family as he has work 
to do, so I willingly paid him his wages, as thi-s Mias-hunting is a delusion. By the same 
canoe that took him home, I sent W. S. to see how the two men we had left in charge of 
our rice and other provisions were getting on: in the evening he returned with the news 
that there was only sufficient rice to last for five days; as we had left nearly a sackful only 
five days ago with two men, they could not possibly have eaten this amount. Whether they 
gave my rice to the Muruts or otherwise disposed of it, I am unable to say; but from what 
I afterwards discovered respecting the characters of certain members of this expedition, I 
need no longer be in the least doubt that it was disposed of to. force my return to the 
coast, all well knowing that these half-starved Muruts had none to sell, and, being on 
monthly wages, it suited their purpose. This unfortunately forced my return to Labuan 
earlier than I intended; but it taught me one lesson, that if I would travel in this country 
I must learn Malay, as otherwise I should be a prey to my employes, who would be 
constantly doing everything in their power to cause my return to quarters more comfortable 
to them. 
14th.—We left our miserable camp and reached the house of the chief where I had 
left some of my baggage on the voyage up stream. On the following day I shot my first 
new Bornean bird —Dendropkila corall'ipes; this was a small red-legged Nuthatch, 
specimens of which at the time were lying in state in one of the glass-topped boxes of the 
South Kensington Museum mingled with a number of its near ally, D. frontalis. 
The Datu in whose house we are stopping shows us that he would sooner have our 
room than our company, so I am resolved that he shall be quit of us as soon as possible. 
I am rather sorry to leave so soon, as I find quite a number of birds and butterflies about 
this neighbourhood. I am also sorry for the Datu, as he is in a most unfortunate position, 
being married to several ladies who will not live peaceably under one roof, so he has to 
divide his attentions between two houses; and if by any undue preference he excites the 
jealousy of these ladies, he receives a warm reception, having various articles of crockery 
thrown in his direction. I am truly sorry for him, so left as soon as possible. It now 
rains in torrents every day, and this continual river-work is therefore almost unbearable ; 
