Among some of the aborigines there is a superstition that they must not laugh at a dog or at a snake crossing their path. Should they do so, they would become stones. These Dayaks always refer with respect and awe to some rocks scattered over the summit of a hill in Sadong, saying that they were originally men. The place was a very likely one to be haunted--noble old forest, but seldom visited. They tell the following story:--Many years ago, a great chief gave a feast there, in the midst of which his lovely daughter came in: she was a spoilt child, who did nothing but annoy the guests. They at first tried to get rid of her by mixing dirt with her food: finding she still teazed them for more, they gave her poison. Her father, in his anger, went back to his house, shaved his dog, and painted him with alternate streaks of black and white. Then giving him some intoxicating drink, he carried him in his arms into the midst of the assembly, and placed him on the ground. The dog began to caper about in the most ludicrous manner, which set all off laughing, the host as well the guests, and they were immediately turned into stone. CHAPTER VIII. THE MOUNTAIN OF KINA BALU. FIRST EXPEDITION. First Ascent by Mr. Low--Want of Shoes--Set Sail for the Tampasuk--Beautiful Scenery--The Abai--Manufacture of Nipa Salt--Uses of the Nipa Palm--A Lanun Chief--Baju Saddle--Baju a Non-walker--Our ride to the Tampasuk--Gigantic Mango Trees--The Datu’s House--Its Arrangements--The Datu and his People--Piratical Expedition--A Bride put up to Auction--The Bajus--Mixed Breeds--Quarrels with the Lanuns--Effect of Stealing Ida’an Children--Fable of the Horse and his Rider--Amount of Fighting Men--Freedom of the Women--Killing the Fatted Calf--Beautiful Prospect--A new Gardinia--Pony Travelling--Difficulty of procuring Useful Men--Start--An Extensive Prospect--Cocoa-nuts and their Milk--A View of Kina Balu--Granite Debris--Our Guides--Natives Ploughing--Our Hut--Division of Land--Ginambur--Neatest Village-house in the Country--Its Inhabitants--Tatooing--Curiosity--Blistered Feet--Batong--Granite Boulders--Fording--Fish-traps--Tambatuan--Robbing a Hive--Search for the Youth-restoring Tree--Our Motives--Appearance of the Summit of Kina Balu--A long Story--Swimming the River--Koung--Palms not plentiful--Lanun Cloth--Cotton--Nominal Wars--The Kiladi--Attempt to Levy Black-mail at the Village of Labang Labang--Resistance--Reasons for demanding it--Bamboo flat-roofed Huts--Ingenious Contrivance--Kiau--Dirty Tribe--Recognition of Voice--A Quarrel--Breaking the Barometer--Opposition to the Ascent of Kina Balu--Harmless Demonstration--Thieves--Mr. Low unable to Walk--Continue the Expedition alone--Cascade--Prayers to the Spirit of the Mountain--Flowers and Plants--Beautiful Rhododendrons--Cave--Unskilful Use