KINA BALU: SECOND EXPEDITION. 
1 T9 
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flying about amongst some rhododendrons at the foot of Low’s Gully ; I also saw a solitary 
Swift flying between the two crags. In all the crevices where plants have formed a small 
quantity of vegetable mould are to be found growing scrubby heaths [Leucoporjon, \ sp.) 
(representative Australian form), a long slender grass ( Scirpus , sp. V). and a handsome white 
hairy-leaved Potentilla with yellow flowers ; the latter, I am told, is a Himalayan species— 
P. peduncular is (Hook, til., var.). 
When I had taken my observations, I devoted my attention to the world around below. 
The scene in front of me was a view of the barren granite slopes, over which naked-legged 
Kabong was stalking, looking the more grotesque as he wore an old black office coat which 
I had given him—truly a most laughable-looking object! Kuro, who still carried the 
chicken, wore an old coat of mine, and was wandering about with the two other Dusuns in 
search of the small crystals, which they chipped oft’ the lumps of rock. In a small crevice 
below me they were very busy, having found quite a mine; Kuro had one or two fine pieces, 
the best of which—white-man like—I confiscated or bagged for myself; these I still 
preserve as a memento of this expedition. The view of the country was fairly good. I 
thought I recognized Molu at the head of the Baram Liver, also the range of mountains on 
the Lawas; more to the south a range of lofty mountains was visible ; to the west the 
Islands of Mantinani and the Tampassuk plains. The far interior of Borneo was hidden 
under a sea of clouds, which reminded me more of a huge ice-field than anything else; to 
the south-east some of the highest mountains kept their summits above the clouds, like 
islands in a sea. Directly behind me, to the N.W., Marudu Bay was visible, and in this 
direction Kina Balu had its chief interest for me. Directly below us was a sheer precipice 
of some thousands of feet, a stone tossed from our position fell to the bottom : directly in 
front was another wall of rock similar to the one on which we sat; these two Avails form a 
huge gully, which continues to and beyond the tAvo peculiar rocks at Low’s Gully, Avhere it 
is walled off by a similar precipice. The other end beloAV us is open, and it Avill be seen, on 
examining the draAving of the mountain taken from Melangkap, that the distant end beyond 
Loav’s Gully is visible from that position. The long rough-backed ridge, which cannot be 
much less than 11,000 feet high along its entire length, and runs in a northern and slightly 
eastern direction, Avas quite free from clouds ; it seems very rugged and covered Avitli curious 
piles of granite rock; the whole length of this ridge is probably more than three miles. 
Melangkap Avas visible from this any seat, and also the country traversed by us when 
collecting birds on the Panataran last year; and from Melangkap this point reached by us 
is visible, at the base of the most northerly of the three high crags. Noav came a ceremony 
of Avhich Mr. Loav must be considered the originator, the leaving of a bottle with a paper 
inside giving the names of the visitors to the mountain. The Dusuns look upon this as a 
ceremony not to be omitted, evidently believing that it is a religious rite on the part of the 
“ Orang puteh,” so I tore a leaf out of my journal and on it Avrote :— 
“11th Feb., 1888. Kina Balu. 
“ This is the highest point reached by John Whitehead, Avith Tungal and Nyhan of 
Labuan, Kabong, Kuro, and two others, Dusuns of Kiau. 
“ Height 13,525 feet, compensated Barometer (Negretti& Zambra, no. 10,465, London). 
“ 10 a.m., Uth Feb., 18S8. 
“ Thermometer 59°. John Whitehead.” 
