“I don’t know that,” remarked Schlickeisen, “during all our journey I have not seen a single bamboo.”
“Nor will you find any in all the lower country. The bamboos require a dry soil. Later on, however, we shall meet with plenty of them.”
In the meanwhile another Dayak mixed some lombok and salt in an earthen vessel and Johannes broiled some of the dried fish. The meal was now ready, its preparation had not cost much trouble and the viands were of the simplest, but hungry as they were after a day’s fast, they found everything most delicious.
When they had all finished they disposed themselves to sleep. The natives were soon snoring, but our Europeans could not close an eye owing to the swarms of mosquitoes which surrounded them. The southern coast of Borneo is so low that the country is inundated at each flood. As a first result of this periodical visitation, there is a constantly-increasing formation of marshes, in which myriads of mosquitoes are hatched. Our fugitives had now to cultivate the immediate acquaintance of these insects. There had been a little trouble with them at the fort; but there, [[45]]sheltered within the buildings and additionally protected by the mosquito curtains, they had been able to defy the venomous swarms and to enjoy undisturbed sleep. Here in the native woods no protection was to be found. At the imminent risk of exploding their gunpowder, the persecuted travellers kindled a large fire in their boat in the hope of repelling the aggressive insects by raising clouds of smoke. But all was in vain. Thousands upon thousands of blood-suckers came and went, and soon the faces, necks and hands of the Europeans were covered with bites, the irritation of which drove all sleep from their eyes. Finally they rose in despair, ranged themselves around the fire and endeavored by waving branches and leaves to keep their enemies at a distance.
“Ah! those cursed insects!” said La Cueille, “suppose we try a mosquito jacket.”
A mosquito jacket means in the Dutch Indies getting so intoxicated that one becomes insensible to both buzz and sting. This is really the origin of that craving for drink so commonly met with among the soldiers.
“Have you already forgotten your lesson?” Wienersdorf asked in a stern voice. “Not a drop of liquor shall you have.”
“I would rather throw it into the river,” added Johannes.
La Cueille was silenced, but a vehement shake of his branch indicated that he was not grateful for the rebuke.
“Since it is impossible to sleep,” said Schlickeisen, “we may as well review our situation which has completely changed through our being unable to escape by sea. The question now is, what are we to do next?” [[46]]