The higher-class people, however, are
intelligent and alert, manifesting firmness and strength of mind.
It was one o'clock before we were able to start, but circumstances
favoured us, and after dark we reached the kampong at the mouth of the
Laong River, where we made ourselves quite comfortable on the landing
float, and I rejoiced at our recent escape from an unpleasant situation.
The following day we arrived at Puruk Tjahu. After a few days' stay it was
found expedient to return to Bandjermasin before starting on the proposed
expedition through Central Borneo. A small steamer belonging to the Royal
Packet Boat Company maintains fortnightly connections between the two
places, and it takes only a little over two days to go down-stream.
CHAPTER XV
FINAL START FOR CENTRAL BORNEO - CHRISTMAS TIME - EXTENT OF MALAY
INFLUENCE - THE FLOWERS OF EQUATORIAL REGIONS - AT AN OT-DANUM
KAMPONG - THE PICTURESQUE KIHAMS, OR RAPIDS - FORMIDABLE OBSTACLES TO
TRAVEL - MALAYS ON STRIKE
Having arranged various matters connected with the expedition, in the
beginning of December we made our final start from Bandjermasin in the
Otto, which the resident again courteously placed at my disposal. Our
party was augmented by a military escort, under command of Onder-Lieutenant
J. Van Dijl, consisting of one Javanese sergeant and six native soldiers,
most of them Javanese.
