rms
measured seven feet three inches across. Its head and body were of the
size of a man's, the legs being very short in proportion. This mias was
of the larger species, many being under four feet high, and some of the
females not more than three feet six inches.

We saw a frog, with large web feet and inflated body, fly from the top
of a tall tree. It was about four inches long, the back and limbs of a
shining black hue, with yellow beneath. Our friend had promised us a
rich treat at supper, and he produced a fruit which he told us was the
Durian. It was of the size of a large cocoa-nut, the husk of a green
colour, and covered all over with short stout spines. It grows on a
lofty tree, somewhat resembling the elm. It falls immediately it is
ripe; but the outer rind is so tough that it is never broken by the
fall. There are marks which show where it may be divided into five
portions; these are of a satin whiteness, and each one is filled with an
oval mass of cream-coloured pulp, in which are two or three seeds about
the size of chestnuts. This pulp is the eatable part. Its consistency
is that of a rich custard. As to describing its taste, that is more
than I can do. It is not acid, nor is it sweet, nor juicy, but yet, as
we ate it, we agreed that none of these qualities were wanting, and that
it was the most delicious fruit we had ever met with. The Mangosteen,
which comes to perfection in Borneo, is another splendid fruit of a
sub-acid flavour, better known than the Durian. But I must not stop to
give long descriptions either of the animals or fruits we met with.
Blyth and I had to return, as we could not long be absent from the brig.

Often had the now smiling plantations through which we passed been
plundered by blood-thirsty pirates, and the heads of their inhabitants
carried off. A visitor on board gave us dreadful accounts of the
atrocities committed by the pirates in the seas through which we were to
sail.

"We will show them that they had better not attack us," observed Captain
Haiselden, pointing to our guns. "The `Lily' is a match for all their
fleets put together."

"Not if the `Lily' is caught at anchor or in a calm; you may then find
that they are too much for her," was the answer. "These prahus often
carry sixty men or more, with guns and small arms, and you would find it
no easy matter, were you to be attacked, to beat them off."

"They'll not stop us; but we will keep a bright look-