My Friends the Savages

adapted to weak digestions, and turning my back upon all domestic comfort, I started forth towards the Unknown.

[Illustration: A group of Mai Darats, called "Sakais".

p. 8.]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 1: An Italian poet who wrote many humorous verses.--Translator's Note.]

CHAPTER II

My escort--By steamer to Telok Anson--The other bank of the Perak--Towards the forest--First news--Blood-letting in the swamp--Robbed and forsaken--Revenge in due time--The Malay's instigation--My little Sam Sam's fidelity--Philosophical reflections under a heavy weight.

The kind reader who peruses these poor pages of notes and memories, accustomed to hear speak of expeditions organised for the purpose of penetrating into inhospitable lands or into regions encompassed by all the terrors of the unknown, will perhaps think that I was jesting when I gave the inventory of my luggage in the last chapter and that from sheer