A Storm--The Musquito Passage--The Samarahan--Rich Soil--The Malays--The Dayaks--The Malay Chief--The Sibuyau Village--A Pretty Girl--Dragons’ Heads--Climbing Pole--Drinking--“The Sibuyaus get no Headaches”--Force repelled by Force--Gardens--Left-hand Branch--Difficult Path--Hill of Munggu Babi--Former Insecurity--The Village--Welcome--Deer Plentiful--Walk to the Sirih Caves--A Skeleton--Illustrative Story--Method of Governing--Torches--Enter the Recesses of the Cave--Small Chambers--Unpleasant Walking--Confined Passage--The Birds’ Nests’ Chamber--Method of Gathering them--Curious Scene--The Cloudy Cave--Wine of the Tampui Fruit--Blandishments--Drinking--Dancing--Bukars Hairy--Scenery--Walk--“The Sibuyaus do get Headaches”--Lanchang--Rival Chiefs--Ancient Disputes--Deer Shooting--Wanton Destruction of Fruit Trees--Choice of an Orang Kaya--Return to Boat--The Right-hand Branch--The San Poks--Hot Spring--Tradition--Hindu Relics--The Female Principle--The Stone Bull--Superstition--Story 205 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 Débris--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