Having Finally Put Mats On Upright Saplings Over The Boats, As Shade Against The Sun And Protection Against Rain, We Were Off, But It Was Not Altogether A Pleasant Two Days' Journey.

My heavily laden prahu, having been out of use for some time, leaked badly, so one of the five men had all he could do to throw out the water which poured in through the holes of the rattan fastenings.

The man who was bailing sat opposite me in the middle section, and for want of space I had to hold my feet up, with one leg resting on either side of the prahu. I wore a pair of London Alpine boots with thick soles and nails, weighing eight pounds, which I had found too heavy for walking, but which were excellent for wear in wet boats. When, in order to change my uncomfortable position, I placed both legs on one side, the edge of the prahu nearly touched the water and the Dayaks would cry out in warning. I have not on other rivers in Borneo met with prahus quite as cranky as these. At the Bugis settlement I bought fifty delicious pineapples at a very moderate price and distributed them among us.

CHAPTER XI

DEPARTURE FOR BANDJERMASIN - A PLEASANT STEAMSHIP LINE - TWO HEAD-HUNTERS - AN EXPEDITION TO LAKE SEMBULO - SAMPIT - THE ORANG-UTAN - STORMY WEATHER - A DISAGREEABLE RECEPTION

In Tandjong Selor I was exceedingly busy for three days getting boxes and packing the collections, and early in June I departed for Bandjermasin, on S.S. De Weert.

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