140 
ACCOUNT OF EXPEDITIONS TO MT. KINABALU. 
hanging rock of syenite, similar to that I had left in the 
morning, but less large. This was the highest point the 
Dyaks {sic) had ever reached; all beyond was perfectly 
unknown.” He notes the thermometer at fifty-two degrees. 
There seems to be no doubt that this overhanging rock is 
what is known by later writers as the Pakka camp. The 
interesting point is that Low must have followed the right 
bank of the Kadamaian in order to arrive “ on the edge of 
a little torrent (the Kadamaian) and opposite,” whereas 
the path followed by others keeps along the left bank, and 
then, making a round to the west, rejoins the Kadamaian 
at Pakka still on the left bank. Whitehead mentions a 
path opposite the Pakka cave, which the natives told him 
led to Kiau. Low probably followed this. 
Low reached Pakka on March 9th, and on the 11th, at 
8 a.m., set out for the summit, of which he writes : “ The 
remainder of our ascent was very toilsome, though appa¬ 
rently not so steep as much we had passed. It was over 
the ‘ herbless granite ’ which was scaling off in large masses 
and inclined at a considerable angle, probably about forty 
degrees. Shoes here were of no avail—I was forced to 
throw them off, and then the rough rain-worn surface of 
the syenitic granite was more easily passed. . . . Finally, 
after innumerable rests, we reached the base of one of the 
jagged peaks of the hill. . . . Instead of something like a 
tableland, which I had expected to find, on the summit of 
this part of the mountain was a sharp ridge not six inches 
broad. On placing my breast against it and looking over 
the ridge, I gazed into a circular amphitheatre about eighty 
yards broad, the bottom of which, from its great depth 
and my position overhanging it, was indiscernible, though 
I imagine I could see down two thousand feet. All its 
sides were overhanging precipices, except that opposite to 
my position, where I could see the sea-line of clouds 
through a rent or opening in the rocks looking northwards. 
I found the jagged summits of the hill to consist of thin 
fragments of syenitic granite, with sharp water-worn edges 
and of most fantastic shapes. My position was between 
the bases of two of them; they were about one hundred 
and fifty feet above my head. I could not remain long 
admiring the majestic scene around me, for the frightfully 
dangerous position we had passed in the ascent made me 
quite alive to the rapid lifting of the clouds from the 
valleys, which I knew would conceal everything from our 
view, and caused me, immediately after having finished a 
