KINA BALU: SECOND EXPEDITION. 
3 75 
much zoologically speaking, but the plants would be well worth a visit from some botanist. 
The ascent of Kina Balu, and the walk along the granite terraces of the summit, is by no 
means a difficult task. The peaks which bar the way might be ascended by ropes, and the 
view of the formation of the mountain on the other side would, in my opinion, well repay 
this ; but the shortness of unclouded daylight would in all probability destroy the explorer’s 
chances of success. The most trying parts of this climb are the forest-paths between our 
camp and Kiau, where the ridge is often narrow, the ground wet and slippery. Kiau with 
luck might be reached in three days from the coast via Tampassuk, which writers who have 
travelled also by the Tawaran route tell us is the easiest journey from the coast; from 
Iviau to the rock in “ Sunless Hole ” would take another day, to the cave another, and one 
day might be spent in the exploration and ascent of the summit. But the traveller will 
have to deal with Eastern aborigines whose ways are curious and aggravating to the white 
man ; he may see a good deal, but his policy is only to notice their transgressions when 
they become too unbearable. We reached the camp at 4.30 P M., and found Buntar all 
right, though he must have felt lonely during our absence. I do not think the Kadyans 
were disappointed with their visit, though they saw nothing of the “ Lagundi Tree ” and 
other mythical wonders which they expected to find on the summit. 
12th.—Having now the large waterproof sheet, we started building a new and spacious 
dwelling. The Dusuns caught and ate two rats during the night; they left early this 
morning. I see by my journal I have come to the conclusion that “ Kuro is a nasty 
man to deal with,” never being satisfied. 
loth, 14th.—These days have been very wet. Nyhan shot an interesting new 
Timeliine ; this bird is very small and somewhat Wren-like; its breast is white, the upper 
parts of a dark brown, with a broad bright golden-brown streak over the eye. It has been 
named Orthnocichla whitelieadi , and its nearest ally comes from Timor. This was the last 
new bird we discovered at this camp. 
15th, 16th, 17th.—I busy myself making sketches of the surrounding scenery. The 
Kadyans, as usual, go out bird-collecting. The weather is now fine and bright, with a high 
N.E. wind blowing. My constitution is beginning to suffer from the effects of this 
lengthened sojourn in “the promised land,”—tinned provisions being the chief cause of 
my troubles. 
18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd.—The men continue collecting. 1 seldom go far from the 
camp, being too unwell. Some onions Buntar has planted are doing well. The Dusuns 
came to-day, the 22nd, to see how we were; but more especially to collect my empty 
provision-tins, for which they gave me some cucumbers. 
23rd.—The Dusuns started early for Kiau; I tried to get them to carry some of my 
baggage back with them, but could not come to terms with the grasping Kuro. 
24th, 25th.—To-day we have collected twelve birds ; this means a busy time preparing 
them. Birds, I notice, in the tropics mix a good deal together, several species forming a 
small flock. In some flocks to-day I saw two Leucocercce , several Chlorocharites, and two other 
species of Flycatchers ; again, in another small party I noticed a Pericrocotus, a Cryjjto- 
loytha, and two other species of Flycatchers. These miscellaneous hunting-parties are thus 
made up owing to the scarcity of the individuals of a species, locally speaking; thus a 
