CHAPTER VI

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MY LIMBANG JOURNAL--_Continued_.

Commence the return Journey--Kayan Embassy--Indian Corn--Confidence of the People--Ophthalmia--Old Jar--Gratitude rarely shown--Anecdote--Warning to Amateur Doctors--Bezoar Stones--Arrangements at Si Lopong’s--A Nightcap--Desertion of our Guides--Murut Music--Start for the Adang--Warned of Difficulties--Abundance of Rice--Cross the Adang Mountains--Active Girls--The Anœctochilus--Attack of Fever--Arrangements in case of its continuance--Loss of Chamber to Revolver--Reach the Adang--Legend--Construct four Rafts--Pleasant Movement--Trying Position of one of the Men--The first Rapid passed--Difficulties at the second--Bold Swimmer--A Whirlpool--Danger of Drowning--Our Raft tested--Abandoned--The rest wrecked--Pass the Umur--Reach the Limbang--Construct fresh Rafts--Uneasy Anticipations--Heavy Fresh--Fine Specimen of a Raft--Push off--Dangers and Troubles--The Rafts ungovernable--The Roaring of Waters--Overhanging Cliffs--The Cataract--Awe of the Men--Shoot the Cataract--Narrow Escape--Its Height--The Men recover their Voice--Ineffectual Attempts to stop the Raft--Caught in a Whirlpool--Safety--Arrival of the other Rafts--Dangers ahead--Walk--Abandon the Rafts--State of Provisions--Nearly all consumed--Ahtan’s Secret Store--Rocks--Advance over the Kalio Hills--Sparing the Food--Exhausting climbing--“Jog on”--Feed on the Cabbages of the Bengkala Palm--Almost a Mutiny--Facing the Difficulty--Reach the Summit of the Paya Paya, or “very difficult” Hills--Night on the Summit--Our Tent--The last Fowl--Molu--The greatest Difficulties passed--Country more open--Follow the Banks of the River--Distress of the Men--Improvidence--Curious Sounds in the old Forests--Cry of the Argus Pheasant--Of the Jelatuk--Rending of a Mighty Tree--Danger from Decaying Trees--Cock-fights among the Argus Pheasants 131

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