140 
PALAWAN. 
man’s career. As Twossong was living some distance from the village, perhaps for the 
express purpose of carrying out this murder, he left his house with his wife in the night, 
and took refuge with the rest of his family in the Sulu campong. The same day we were 
advised not to go bird-collecting in the direction of Twossong’s house, as the Sulus from 
the murdered man’s campong had taken possession of it; but curiously enough, though full 
of damar, these men did not take any, nor did they do any harm to Twossong’s property 
which had been left after his hurried flight. In a few days the relations of the murdered 
man called at the store to barter some produce; they were, as usual, all “ armed to the 
teeth.” The brother of Twossong’s victim showed me the “barong” worn by his late 
relation; it had been hit by the bullet and had nearly saved the man’s life. Twossong 
used to visit the store almost daily; he was thickly padded all over the upper part of his 
body, but never seemed to be in the least afraid of the death which, in all probability, he 
will shortly meet. 
The Sulus, as a rule, do not cultivate enough rice for their wants, and consequently 
have to buy large quantities from the Chinese. Towards the rice-harvest many become 
nearly starved; and I have been offered ten dollars for a large sack of rice that cost me 
less than four in Labuan. 
On the 2nd of August we again sailed for Blegi, and the Dusuns carried our baggage 
a few miles (to the foot of the curious-shaped hill to the right of my illustration) inland. 
They are poor baggage-carriers, resting often and not using shoulder-straps, but only a 
head-band, for their packs. We reached a house belonging to the chief, which he allowed 
us to occupy, he and his family living in their paddi watch-house higher up the hill. After 
remaining here eight days—during which we made several excursions to the top of the 
hill, getting a good view of the country beyond and of Kalamutan—we returned to 
Taguso. The only bird obtained belonging to the mountain region was a Flycatcher, which 
Dr. Sharpe thought identical with Cryptolopha montis, first discovered by me on Kina 
Balu; but on closer examination the Palawan species is sufficiently distinct to warrant its 
separation, so I have named it Cryptolopha xanthopygia *. So perhaps these mountains 
when explored will yield further species allied to those inhabiting Kina-Balu. 
Our relations with the Dusuns were most friendly. They used frequently to visit us; 
and of all my possessions nothing interested them so much as part of a ham which was 
hanging up in the house. This ham became so renowned that perfect strangers on 
entering our house would at once walk straight up to it and stand discussing its merits, 
they having been told about it by their friends previously. Before I left I presented the 
remainder and the bone to the Dusun chief. 
These Dusuns are a clear-skinned people, some of them, the chief especially, being 
fine-made men. They wear a few beads round their necks, and do not file or blacken 
their teeth. All the Ivadyans and myself were laid low in this house for two or three days 
with slight attacks of fever. 
This was my last attempt to reach the highlands of Palawan, being unable to do 
anything with the Dusuns; perhaps but for the doubt occasioned by the expected return 
of the ‘ Boyalist,’ I should have made another attempt with the Dusuns near Blegi. 
* Figured p. 96. 
