th a singular serrated appearance that
showed along the edge of its trunk--from the ground up to the base of
its branching head. It looked as if a tall ladder was laid edgeways
along the trunk of the tree--one side of it bidden under the bark! On
drawing nearer, this appearance was explained. A ladder in reality it
was; but one of rare construction; and which could not have been removed
from the tree, without taking it entirely to pieces. On closer
examination, this ladder proved to be a series of bamboo spikes--driven
into the soft trunk in a slightly slanting direction, and about two feet
apart, one above the other. The spikes themselves forming the rounds,
were each about a foot in length; and held firmly in their places by a
bamboo rail--to which their outer ends were attached by means of thin
strips of rattan. This rail extended the whole way from the ground to
the commencement of the branches.

It was evident that this extemporised ladder had been constructed for
the purpose of climbing the tree, but with what object? Upon this head
their Dyak guide was the very man to enlighten them: since it was he
himself who had made the ladder. The construction of such ladders, and
afterwards the climbing of them, were the most essential branches of his
calling--which, as already stated, was that of a bee-hunter. His
account of the matter was as follows. A large wasp-like bee, which is
called _lanyeh_, builds its nests upon these tall tapangs. The nest
consists of an accumulation of pale yellowish wax--which the bees attach
to the under-side of the thick branches, so that these may shelter the
hive from the rain. To reach these nests, the bamboo ladder is
constructed, and the ascent is made--not for the purpose of obtaining
the honey alone--but more on account of the wax, out of which the combs
are formed. The lanyeh being as much _wasp_ as _bee_, produces a very
small quantity of honey; and that, too, of inferior quality; but the wax
is a valuable article, and of this several dollars' worth may be
procured from a single hive.

It is dearly earned money--very dearly earned, indeed; but the poor Dyak
bee-hunter follows the calling from motives not easily understood--since
almost any other would afford him a living, with less labour and
certainly with less _pain_. Pain, indeed! he never succeeds in
plundering the store of the _lanyeh_, without being severely stung by
the insects; and though their sting is quite a