_23rd._--Commenced our tour among the villages by walking over to the Purté houses: it took us two hours in the broiling sun, although in a direct line not above two miles, and by path not three, but we had to descend about fifteen hundred feet and climb that again; the slopes of the hills very steep: besides we were in no hurry, not intending to pass this village. The leech bites prevent my wearing shoes, and the way being completely open, with no shade whatever, the trunks of trees laid along to form a path were very hot, making the soles of my feet painfully sore; my followers, lazy after a five days’ rest, lagged even in this short walk, but as soon as we reached the houses, a beautiful breeze refreshed us: but even a long bath would not cool my burning feet. The village of Purté, or Sakalobang, one the name of the rivulet, the other of the buttress, is on a northern spur of the Adang range, which here bends considerably to the eastward. It consists of about forty-five families, and the houses are slightly larger than the last ones, and less confined: this village acknowledges Balang Palo as its head man, as Si Lopong was of the last, and they know the different villages by the names of the chief men, rather than by rivers or hills. After our bathe the villagers refreshed us with a sweet drink, unfermented, made from the roots of the tapioca. I notice here that deer’s horns are much used as pegs on which to hang their swords and fighting jackets. Most of the people are away planting rice, while the neighbouring villagers are burning the felled trees, and filling the air with their smoke. As we advance we obtain better views of the interior, and here the Trusan, under the name of Kalalan, is rather broad, and might perhaps float a canoe. I shall not make much remark about the country, as I have taken the necessary bearings, and shall see it all so much better from the upper villages. The lofty eastern range is gradually appearing as two, with in one place high white cliffs near the summit; it is too smoky for very good bearings. Noticed a little boy wearing brass wire round the arm from the wrist to the elbow, after the fashion of Sarawak Dayak girls, and many of the absurd brass-wire collars even on young children.