CHAPTER II

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MY LIMBANG JOURNAL.

Start--Discovery of Bones and ancient Ornaments--At the Site of the Old City--At the Stone Fort--At Sarawak--The Trusan, or connecting Passage--Apathy of the Government and People--Sago--Method of preparing it for the Market--The Limbang River--The Inhabitants--Winding Stream--The Orang Kaya Upit of Kruei--Sampirs--Gadong Hill--Scenery--Molu--The Raman Palm--Delays--Cholera--Orang Kaya Napur--Panglima Prang--The Weather--State of the River--Origin of the Ponds--Native Geographical Information--The Upper Country--Cataract--Enchanted Mountain--Native Travelling--Dreams and Omen Birds--Religion of Pakatans--Cause of Head-hunting--The Wild Boar--Trouble in procuring Guides--Pengkalan Tarap--Desolation of the Country--Causes of it--Selling Children--Kayan Barbarity--Chinese at Batang Parak--Site of Burnt Villages--Posts of Houses--Two kinds of Sago Palm--Their Growth--Kayan Encampment--Cultivation--The River--Rocks--Salt Springs--Native Explanation--Anecdote--Time to halt--Birds--Rare, except in certain Districts--Monkeys--Alligators--The Man-eater--A Challenge accepted--Disappearance of the Siol Alligator--Combat with two in a Cave--Method of Capturing them in Siam--Laying Eggs in the Jungle--Ducks and Drakes--Malay Cookery--Very tasty--Blachang--How to make a Curry--Anecdotes of Bornean Rule--Attack on the Limpasong Village--Insurrection of the Aborigines--Forced Trade--Qualities necessary in a Malay Ruler--The great Mountain of Tilong--Discomfort of possessing a large Diamond--Diamonds found in Borneo 16

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