A Sign of the Enemy.
[[355]]
“What a queer notion,” growled La Cueille, “to cut one’s name on a tree in the depth of a wilderness.”
“What is the matter with that tree?” asked Wienersdorf.
“The Otts have buried one of their people inside that tree,” explained Dalim. “They burn the bodies of the dead, wrap the ashes and half consumed bones in a shroud, bore a large hole in an ironwood tree and place the parcel inside. They then close the orifice with rosin and bees-wax and cover it with moss. Nature in a very short time restores the bark and the marks gradually disappear. No one would think that that magnificent tree with its slender trunk and broad crown forms the grave of a human being.”
“A new model cemetery,” observed the Walloon.
At the close of the second day the travellers arrived at the foot of Boekit Doesson, which the Poenan chief intended to climb on the following morning in order to look for some landmark by which to regulate his course.
The two Swiss, hardy mountaineers of the Alps as they were, were not satisfied to be left behind and insisted upon making the ascent with him, while La Cueille and Johannes also begged to be permitted to join the party. It was then decided that the whole company should join in the climbing excursion.
The journey was undertaken next morning. Their way led at first through forests of bamboo interwoven with rattans and other creepers, which covered the high trees and formed an almost impenetrable network, greatly impeding their march. But the higher they went the lighter this vegetation became, until ultimately it disappeared altogether. [[356]]
It was about half-past ten when the travellers reached the broad, gently-curved summit, which crowns every mountain of the Bornean central highlands. They were to rest here for a couple of hours. While, therefore, Harimaoung took his observations, Hamadoe, assisted by the Poenans, prepared a simple repast. The rest of the troop dispersed over the summit to look for rajoh, a fine specimen of moss found in the highlands which is highly prized by the Dayaks.