Life in the forests of the Far East (vol. 2 of 2)St. John, Spenser, Sir
History
Life in the forests of the Far East (vol. 2 of 2)
St. John, Spenser, Sir
Borneo -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Borneo; St. John, Spenser, Sir, 1825-1910 -- Travel -- Borneo
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--Bachang--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.
_August 25th, 1858._--We started, and as we pulled through the
town in the early morn crowds came to their doors to have a look at
what they no doubt considered as a doomed party.
Our route, after leaving the houses, was up the Brunei river, till we
reached a Trusan, or passage,[1] connecting it with the Limbang. We
soon left the pretty scenery near the capital, and exchanged for it low
banks, with mangrove swamp, occasionally varied by undulating dry land.
After a two hours’ pull, we passed the graves of some rajahs on the
left-hand bank; near them, it is reported, a great many bones are found
scattered about; the natives say it was the site of a battle-field;
gold ornaments are also occasionally discovered, but slightly covered
with soil; it is very probable that a village once stood here.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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