138 
PALAWAN. 
enemies were wild cats, monkeys, and monitor lizards ’(“ biawaks ”), whick would sometimes 
succeed in destroying our captures. 
While wandering about in the forest one day, two otters came in a direct line for me, and 
did not discover my presence until at my feet. On another occasion a wild hoar was taking 
an afternoon stroll, and stood at a distance of ten yards surveying me for a few seconds. 
The Dusuus are reported by the Sulus as being unfriendly ; this is true, but the 
reason of their unfriendliness is that the Sulus are influencing them against us, not wishing 
us to go inland—their reason being that they believe we either wish to trade or search 
for precious stones, of which they have most remarkable and exaggerated ideas. 
5th.—To-day I went to the foot of the hills with some Sulus to visit a Dusun chief, in 
hopes of being able to persuade him to assist me; but after at first refusing to meet me, I 
sent another messenger, and in three hours the Dusun and a companion came to have a 
palaver. During this time we had been waiting about half a mile from the Dusun campong. 
When the chief approached near enough, from force of habit I held out my hand to him; he, 
being unaccustomed to such a mode of salutation, jumped back, fearing no doubt I w T as 
going to seize him by his cliawat. After a long conversation through the Sulus as in¬ 
terpreters, he said that his men would not assist or molest me, but he would not be answer- 
able for the hill Dusuns or the pig-traps set in the forests. As I have now been in Palawan 
two rveeks without any signs of assistance from the Dusuns, I am beginning to despair. 
The rain since Ave arrived has been almost incessant, and my collections Avill not keep 
Avithout being dried over a fire. 
7th to 14th.—The Aveather is very Avet; the Dusuns near Taguso will do nothing for 
us, and the Sulus do Avorse—they influence these ignorant people against us. I have tAvo 
Avild Jungle-foAvl (Gallus bankiva), caught only a fevr days ago they are already Avonderfully 
tame, feeding freely off the rice given them, and being especially fond of small red chilies. 
On the 17th I left in the Chinaman’s boat for Blegi, where I was told that the Dusuns 
Avould help us to reach the big mountain Kalamutan. We carried in this rotten little boat 
provisions for a month, and Avith the Kadyans, the Chinaman, and myself the boat Avas 
loaded Avithin a feAv inches of the Avater; as the sea Avas calm this did not matter much. 
Blegi is only tAvo hours paddle from Taguso. We sent for the Dusun chief, Avho came at 
once to talk over matters, but as everything Avas not settled he said he Avould call again on 
the folloAving morning. The mountains are only a feAv miles distant from the coast, but 
the nearest hills are cleared for paddi, so they are not good hunting-grounds. 
We Avaited patiently on the coast for three days, sleeping on the beach, but as the 
Dusuns could only muster eight men instead of the tAventy required, I set sail once more 
for Taguso ; they, however, promised to have more porters after their rice-harvest, which is 
just uoav commencing, so I shall return later in the month. The sea, on our journey back, 
A\ 7 as rather rough, and before Ave had crossed the large bay betAveen Blegi and Taguso our 
heavily-laden rotten little boat shipped several slight seas and Avas in danger of foundering— 
she would have gone doAvn like a stone ; but the Kadyans, trvo of Avhom Avere capital sailors, 
got us across the bay in safety, Avhere Ave jumped out and pulled the boat out of the breakers 
high on to the shore. I Avalked back to Taguso* not Avishing to be drowned just yet. 
23rd.—I left Taguso with five Kadyans and the Chinaman, Avho accompanied me out of 
