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Show 1888.] EDIBLE BIRDS'-NESTS IN BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 113 was informed, are nearly twice as high as Madai. A stream of good water flows just below the cave. No. 5. THE BATU TIMBANG CAVES are situated at the head of the Quarmote River, a branch of the Kinabatangan River, East Coast, and are almost inaccessible when the Quarmote River is in flood, on account of dangerous rapids. During other seasons the journey from the Kinabatangan to the caves can be accomplished there and back in a fortnight. When I visited the Quarmote in September 1884 it was impossible to stem the flood. The chief, Rajah Tuah Dorkas, concurred that a road would be a great advantage, inasmuch as three seasons for gathering the nests would then be available, and the nests would all be in good order and of higher value. At present there are two seasons-one dry, when the nests are picked and in fair order; the other when the rains are on, which, percolating the limestone vaults, trickle into and damage the nests. When the rainy season lasts an unusually long time and the caves cannot be reached, the nests are left on the walls for too long a period and become black and nearly worthless. Men are frequently drowned over the cataracts. There are many vaults in these caves, and the chief told me that he had gathered 15 catties ( = 20 lbs. avoirdupois) of white nests, and one picul ( = 133j lbs.) of black nests from one vault alone during the last season. The expenses of collecting are considerable. When the collecting-season has arrived, a fleet of flat-bottomed boats start from the Kinabatangan River ; sometimes there are as many as 90 boats, and allowing five men to each boat, the force would number 450 men. As there is no currency in silver or copper, all these people are paid in birds'- nests, which come into the traders' hands and find their way to Sandakan. The Batu Timbang Caves had been abandoned for some years until the British North-Borneo Company proclaimed the Royal Charter in 1881. There are powerful tribes in the interior, the principal one being the Tingallans, who are head-hunters, and the collectors were decimated year after year. Since the advent of the British North-Borneo Company, the people have been able to work the caves without molestation. No. 6. THE SENOBANG CAVES are situated on the Upper Penun-gah River, a tributary of the Kinabatangan River, East Coast. The late much-lamented Mr. Frank Hatton, in 1882, made a gallant attempt, in the face of hostility from the Tungara tribe, to visit them. The savages were conciliated, chiefly by his pluck and tact; but the floods swept away and destroyed some of his boats over the rapids, and he was most unwillingly compelled to do that which explorers are so loath to do, viz., turn back. In October 1884 I made two attempts to reach these caves, but was overpowered by the heavy rains which swelled the river, and over a cataract I lost part of my provisions, a rifle, and all my cooking-utensils. The time will come when roads laid out by the P R O C . Z O O L . Soc-1888, No. VIII. 8 |