KINA BALU. 
101 
try and protect himself. After this conversation we retired to rest, as we should have to 
make the most of our day on the morrow. 
The next morning, after a light repast, and presenting our host with a few small trifles, 
Ave started once more inland. The Tampassuk is here a fine stream of broad clear water, 
and has to be forded directly on leaving the village, and seems icy cold to those Avho have 
been long in the plains ; once wet through means Avet all day, the river being frequently 
forded, the Avater occasionally up to one’s armpits. Jack, the dog, at first did not like these 
long sAvims in the rushing Avater, so had to be assisted halfway across, Avhen he Avould be 
carried doAvn stream nearly a hundred yards before landing; but before this dog got back to 
Labuan he used to enter the stream high up and be gradually carried to the right landing- 
place. The track to-day hardly diverged from the river’s bed, Avhich is noAv becoming more 
difficult for the buffaloes, the stones being larger and hurting their feet. Before the 
evening Ave had forded the Tampassuk seven times, the rush of water on several occasions 
being strong enough to carry us off our feet; but by crossing in parties of three or four, and 
alloAving one’s self to be carried slightly doAvn stream, all these fords Avere crossed without any 
casualties : one or two of the buffaloes missed their footing and almost disappeared, baggage 
and all, beneath the rushing waters; but as all my property Avas in waterproof bags nothing 
Avas spoilt. 
At about four in the afternoon Ave arrived at a spot where another river joins the 
Tampassuk; this is an affluent on the true left bank, and called by the Dusuns the Panataran. 
Here we encountered a large party of Dusuns from the village of Tambatuan, Avho Avere 
going to a “ tamel ” held on a small plain which we had passed at mid-day. Billio had a 
palaver Avith these people as to the state of the track, and was told that it Avould be 
impossible for coast buffaloes to travel any further. This to most of us Avas quite evident, 
the course leading up the river’s bed Avas uoav full of huge granite boulders and occasional 
blocks of serpentine Avhich had come doAvn from the sources of the Panataran. 
Here Ave Avaited until nearly 5 o’clock for the Ilanuns; most of their buffaloes had 
chipped their hoofs, and Avere consequently quite lame. Many of the Ilanuns Avere Avalking, 
a most unusual thing for an Ilanun to do, so further progress Avith buffaloes AA^as out of the 
question. A short distance off Avas a small Dusun village called Sinorob, situated on the 
slope of a hill, and for this village Ave made, resolving to stop there the night and see if the 
Sultan and his followers could get any further on the morroAv. To-day our progress has 
been extremely sIoav, the buffaloes being quite done up by the rough ground, accustomed 
as they are only to the plains ; but as the sloAvest member of a traveller’s party regulates the 
daily distances, Ave have to walk as slowly, in order to keep the party together. 
The Ilanuns have carried some slightly salted fish attached to their saddles from the 
coast, Avhich after frequent immersions in the Tampassuk has become quite rotten, and is 
followed closely by a SAvarm of large bloAvflies, but at a respectful distance by myself: the 
Ilanuns dined off this putrid fish Avith apparent relish. 
7th February.—The Sultan and his party left for the coast to-day, many of the men 
leading their buffaloes, which seem quite done up; but Avithout this little man’s assistance 
there is no doubt Ave should never haA^e succeeded in getting thus far on our journey. 
Our next job Avas to find sufficient Dusun porters to carry our baggage further inland. 
