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ALL OVER THE WORLD LIBRARY
OLIVER OPTIC
[Illustration]
FOUR YOUNG EXPLORERS
ALL-OVER-THE-WORLD LIBRARY
By OLIVER OPTIC
* * * * *
_Illustrated, Price per Volume $1.25_
FIRST SERIES
A MISSING MILLION
Or THE ADVENTURES OF LOUIS BELGRAVE
A MILLIONAIRE AT SIXTEEN
Or THE CRUISE OF THE GUARDIAN MOTHER
A YOUNG KNIGHT-ERRANT
Or CRUISING IN THE WEST INDIES
STRANGE SIGHTS ABROAD
Or A VOYAGE IN EUROPEAN WATERS
SECOND SERIES
AMERICAN BOYS AFLOAT
Or CRUISING IN THE ORIENT
THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS
Or THE FOREIGN CRUISE OF THE MAUD
UP AND DOWN THE NILE
Or YOUNG ADVENTURERS IN AFRICA
ASIATIC BREEZES
Or STUDENTS ON THE WING
THIRD SERIES
ACROSS INDIA
Or LIVE BOYS IN THE FAR EAST
HALF ROUND THE WORLD
Or AMONG THE UNCIVILIZED
FOUR YOUNG EXPLORERS
Or SIGHT-SEEING IN THE TROPICS
_OTHER VOLUMES IN PREPARATION_ ANY VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY
LEE AND SHEPARD Publishers Boston
[Illustration: "YOUR FIRST SHOT, LOUIS," SAID SCOTT.
_Page 30._]
_All-Over-the-World Library--Third Volume of Third Series_
FOUR YOUNG EXPLORERS
OR
SIGHT-SEEING IN THE TROPICS
BY
OLIVER OPTIC
AUTHOR OF
"THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES" "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD, FIRST AND SECOND
SERIES" "THE BOAT-CLUB STORIES" "THE ONWARD AND UPWARD SERIES"
"THE GREAT WESTERN SERIES" "THE WOODVILLE STORIES" "THE
LAKE SHORE SERIES" "THE YACHT-CLUB SERIES" "THE RIVERDALE
STORIES" "THE BOAT-BUILDER SERIES" "THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
AFLOAT" "THE BLUE AND THE GRAY--ON LAND" "THE STARRY
FLAG SERIES" "ALL-OVER-THE-WORLD LIBRARY, FIRST SECOND
AND THIRD SERIES" COMPRISING "A MISSING MILLION" "A
MILLIONAIRE AT SIXTEEN" "A YOUNG KNIGHT-ERRANT"
"STRANGE SIGHTS ABROAD" "AMERICAN BOYS AFLOAT"
"THE YOUNG NAVIGATORS" "UP AND DOWN THE
NILE" "ASIATIC BREEZES" "ACROSS INDIA"
"HALF ROUND THE WORLD" ETC., ETC., ETC.
BOSTON
LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS
10 MILK STREET
1896
COPYRIGHT, 1896, BY LEE AND SHEPARD
_All Rights Reserved_
FOUR YOUNG EXPLORERS
TYPOGRAPHY BY C. J. PETERS & SON, BOSTON.
PRESSWORK BY BERWICK & SMITH.
TO
MY APPRECIATIVE AND VALUED FRIEND
FREDERICK D. RUGGLES, ESQ.
RESIDING ON A HISTORIC HILL IN
HARDWICK, MASS.
This Volume
IS RESPECTFULLY AND CORDIALLY
DEDICATED.
PREFACE
"FOUR YOUNG EXPLORERS" is the third volume of the third series of the
"All-Over-the-World Library." When the young millionaire and his three
companions of about his own age, with a chosen list of near and dear
friends, had made the voyage "Half Round the World," the volume with
this title left them all at Sarawak in the island of Borneo. The four
young explorers, as they became, were permitted to spend three weeks
there hunting, fishing, and ascending some of the rivers, while the rest
of the party proceeded in the Guardian-Mother to Siam. The younger
members of the ship's company believed they had seen enough of temples,
palaces, and fine gardens in the great cities of the East, and desired
to live a wilder life for a brief period.
They were provided with a steam-launch, prepared for long trips; and
they ascended the Sarawak, the Sadong, and the Simujan Rivers, and had
all the hunting, fishing, and exploring they desired. They visited the
villages of the Sea and Hill Dyaks, and learned what they could of their
manners and customs, penetrating the island from the sea to the
mountains. They studied the flora and the fauna of the forests, and were
exceedingly interested in their occupation for about a week, when they
came to the conclusion that "too much of a good thing" became wearisome;
and, more from the love of adventure than for any other reason, they
decided to proceed to Bangkok, and to make the voyage of nine hundred
miles in the Blanchita, as they had named the steam-launch, which voyage
was accomplished without accident.
After the young explorers had looked over the capital of Siam, the
Guardian-Mother and her consort made the voyage to Saigon, the capital
of French Cochin-China, where the visit of the tourists was a general
frolic, with "lots of fun," as the young people expressed it; and then,
crossing the China Sea, made the port of Manila, the capital of the
Philippine Islands, where they explored the city, and made a trip up the
Pasig to the Lake of the Bay. From this city they made the voyage to
Hong-Kong, listening to a very long lecture on the way in explanation of
the history, manners, and customs, and the peculiarities of the people
of China. They were still within the tropics, and devoted themselves to
the business of sight-seeing with the same vigor and interest as before.
But most of them had read so much about China, as nearly every American
has, that many of the sights soon began to seem like an old story to
them.
Passing out of the Torrid Zone, the two steamers proceeded to the north,
obtaining a long view of Formosa, and hearing a lecture about it. Their
next port of call was Shang-hai, reached by ascending the Woo-Sung. From
this port they made an excursion up the Yang-tsze-Chiang, which was an
exceedingly interesting trip to them. The ships then made the voyage to
Tien-tsin, from which they ascended by river in the steam-launch to a
point thirteen miles from Pekin, going from there to the capital by the
various modes of conveyance in use in China. They visited the sights of
the great city under the guidance of a mandarin, educated at Yale
College. Some of the party made the trip to the loop-wall, near Pekin.
Returning to Tien-tsin, with the diplomatic mandarin, who had accepted
an invitation to go to Japan in the Guardian-Mother, they sailed for
that interesting country, where the next volume of the series will take
them.
It may be necessary to say that the Guardian-Mother, now eighteen months
from New York, and half round the world, reached Tien-tsin May 25, 1893;
and therefore nothing relating to the late war between China and Japan
is to be found in this volume. Possibly the four young explorers would
have found more sights to see, and more adventures to enjoy, if they had
struck either of the belligerent nations during the war; but the ship
sailed for the United States before hostilities were begun.
Of course the writer has been compelled to consult many volumes in
writing this book; and he takes great pleasure in mentioning among them
the very interesting and valuable work of Mr. W. T. Hornaday, the
accomplished traveller and scientist, "Two Years in the Jungle." This
book contains all that one need know about Borneo, to say nothing of the
writer's trip in India among the elephants. His researches in regard to
the orang-outang appear to have exhausted the subject; though I do not
believe he has found the "missing link," if he is looking for it.
Professor Legge contributed several articles to "Chambers's
Encyclopædia," which contain the most interesting and valuable matter
about China to be derived from any work; for he lived for years in that
country, travelled extensively, and learned the language. I am under
great obligations to these authors.
The author is under renewed obligations to his readers, young and old,
who have been his constant friends during more than forty years, for the
favor with which they have received a whole library of his books, and
for the kind words they have spoken to him, both verbally and by letter.
WILLIAM T. ADAMS.
DORCHESTER, MASS.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
THE BORNEO HUNTERS AND EXPLORERS 1
CHAPTER II.
A VOYAGE UP THE SARAWAK RIVER 10
CHAPTER III.
SOMETHING ABOUT BORNEO AND ITS PEOPLE 19
CHAPTER IV.
A SPECULATION IN CROCODILES 29
CHAPTER V.
A HUNDRED AND EIGHT FEET OF CROCODILE 39
CHAPTER VI.
THE VOYAGE UP THE SADONG TO SIMUJAN 48
CHAPTER VII.
A SPIRITED BATTLE WITH ORANG-OUTANGS 58
CHAPTER VIII.
A PERFORMANCE OF VERY AGILE GIBBONS 67
CHAPTER IX.
A VISIT TO A DYAK LONG-HOUSE 77
CHAPTER X.
THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE DYAKS 87
CHAPTER XI.
STEAMBOATING THROUGH A GREAT FOREST 96
CHAPTER XII.
A FORMIDABLE OBSTRUCTION REMOVED 106
CHAPTER XIII.
THE CAPTAIN'S ASTOUNDING PROPOSITION 115
CHAPTER XIV.
DOWN THE SIMUJAN AND UP THE SARAWAK 125
CHAPTER XV.
ON THE VOYAGE TO POINT CAMBODIA 134
CHAPTER XVI.
AN EXCITING RACE IN THE CHINA SEA 143
CHAPTER XVII.
THE END OF THE VOYAGE TO BANGKOK 153
CHAPTER XVIII.
LOUIS'S DOUBLE-DINNER ARGUMENT 163
CHAPTER XIX.
A HASTY GLANCE AT BANGKOK 172
CHAPTER XX.
A VIEW OF COCHIN-CHINA AND SIAM 181
CHAPTER XXI.
ON THE VOYAGE TO SAIGON 191
CHAPTER XXII.
IN THE DOMINIONS OF THE FRENCH 201
CHAPTER XXIII.
A LIVELY EVENING AT THE HOTEL 211
CHAPTER XXIV.
TONQUIN AND SIGHTS IN CHOLON 221
CHAPTER XXV.
SEVERAL HILARIOUS FROLICS 231
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE VOYAGE ACROSS THE CHINA SEA 241
CHAPTER XXVII.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PHILIPPINES 250
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE DESCRIPTION OF AN EARTHQUAKY CITY 260
CHAPTER XXIX.
GOING ON SHORE IN MANILA 270
CHAPTER XXX.
EXCURSIONS ON SHORE AND UP THE PASIG 280
CHAPTER XXXI.
HALF A LECTURE ON CHINESE SUBJECTS 290
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE CONTINUATION OF THE LECTURE 300
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE CONCLUSION OF THE LECTURE 310
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SIGHT-SEEING IN HONG-KONG AND CANTON 321
CHAPTER XXXV.
SHANG-HAI AND THE YANG-TSZE-CHIANG 332
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE WALLS AND TEMPLES OF PEKIN 342
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
"YOUR FIRST SHOT, LOUIS," SAID SCOTT _Frontispiece_
PAGE
"WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THERE, MR. BELGRAVE?" 41
"YOU ARE NEAR ENOUGH, CAPTAIN" 99
THE BOAT ROSE GRACEFULLY ON THE BILLOWS 132
"BUT WHERE IS FELIX?" DEMANDED MRS. BLOSSOM, 161
SHE MADE A VIGOROUS LEAP INTO THE FORE-SHEETS, 267
NATIVES PREPARING TOBACCO IN MANILA 285
TEMPLE AND GARDEN IN CHINA 329
FOUR YOUNG EXPLORERS
CHAPTER I
THE BORNEO HUNTERS AND EXPLORERS
The Guardian-Mother, attended by the Blanche, had conveyed the tourists,
in their voyage all over the world, to Sarawak, the capital of a
rajahship on the north-western coast of the island of Borneo. The town
is situated on both sides of a river of the same name, about eighteen
miles from its mouths.
The steamer on which was the pleasant home of the millionaire at
eighteen, who was accompanied by his mother and a considerable party,
all of whom have been duly presented to the reader in the former volumes
of the series, lay in the middle of the river. The black smoke was
pouring out of her smokestack, and the hissing steam indicated that the
vessel was all ready to go down the river to the China Sea. Her anchor
had been hove up, and the pilot was in the pilot-house waiting for the
commander to strike the gong in the engine-room to start the screw.
Just astern of the Guardian-Mother was a very trim and beautiful
steam-launch, fifty feet in length. The most prominent persons on board
of her were the quartette of American boys, known on board of the
steamer in which they had sailed half round the world as the "Big Four."
Of this number Louis Belgrave, the young millionaire, was the most
important individual in the estimation of his companions, though happily
not in his own.
Like a great many other young men of eighteen, which was the age of
three of them, while the fourth was hardly sixteen, they were fond of
adventure,--of hunting, fishing, and sporting in general. They had gone
over a large portion of Europe, visited the countries on the shores of
the Mediterranean, crossed India, and called at some of the ports of
Burma, the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Celebes, and had reached
Sarawak in their explorations.
They had visited many of the great cities of the world, and seen the
temples, monuments, palaces, and notable structures of all kinds they
contain; but they had become tired of this description of sight-seeing.
When the island of Borneo was marked on the map as one of the localities
to be visited, the "Big Four" had a meeting in the boudoir, as one of
the apartments of the Guardian-Mother was called, and voted that they
had had enough of temples, monuments, and great cities for the present.
They agreed that exploring a part of Borneo, with the incidental
hunting, fishing, and study of natural history, would suit them better.
Louis Belgrave was appointed a committee of one to petition the
commander to allow them three weeks in the island for this purpose.
Captain Ringgold suggested to Louis that it was rather selfish to leave
the rest of the party on the steamer, stuck in the mud of the Sarawak,
while they were on the rivers and in the woods enjoying themselves.
But the representative of the "Big Four" protested that they did not
mean anything of the sort. They did not care a straw for the temples and
other sights of Siam, Cambodia, and French Cochin-China; and while they
were exploring Borneo and shooting orang-outangs, the Guardian-Mother
should proceed to Bangkok and Saigon, and the rest of the tourists could
enjoy themselves to the full in seeing the wonders of Farther India.
It required a great deal of discussion to induce the commander, and then
the mothers of two of the explorers, to assent to this plan; but the
objections were finally overcome by the logic and the eloquence of
Louis. The Blanche, the consort of the Guardian-Mother, having on board
the owner, known as General Noury, his wife and his father-in-law, had
nothing to do with this difficult question; but the general had a
steam-launch, which he was kind enough to grant for the use of the
explorers.
The third engineer of the ship was to go with the quartette, in charge
of the engine; five of the youngest of the seamen were selected to make
the venture safer than it might otherwise have been. Achang Bakir, a
native Bornean, who had been picked up off the Nicobar Islands, after
the wreck of the dhow of which he had been in command, was to be the
guide and interpreter.
The youngsters and their assistants had taken their places on board of
the "Blanchita," as Louis had christened the craft, and she was to
accompany the two large steamers down the river. But the farewells had
all been spoken, the hugging and kissing disposed of, and the tears had
even been wiped away. The mothers had become in some degree reconciled
to the separation of three weeks.
The Guardian-Mother started her screw, and began to move very slowly
down the river, amid the cheers and salutations of the officers,
soldiers, and citizens of the town. The Blanche followed her, and both
steamers fired salutes in honor of the spectators to their departure.
The Blanchita secured a position on the starboard of the
Guardian-Mother, and for three hours kept up a communication with their
friends by signals and shouts.
Off the mouth of the Moritabas, one of the outlets of the stream, the
steamers stopped their screws, and the "Big Four" went alongside of the
Guardian-Mother; the adieux were repeated, and then the ships laid the
course for their destination. Both of the latter kept up an incessant
screaming with their steam whistles, and the party on board of them
waved their handkerchiefs, to which the "Big Four," assisted by the
sailors, responded in like manner, while the engineer gave whistle for
whistle in feeble response.
When the whistles ceased, and the signals could no longer be seen, the
Blanchita came about, and headed for the Peak of Santubong on the
triangular island formed by the two passes of the Sarawak River. The
explorers watched the ships till they could no longer be seen, and then
headed up the river.
"Faix, the bridges betune oursels and civiloization are all broke down!"
exclaimed Felix McGavonty, who sometimes used his Milesian dialect in
order, as he put it, not to lose his mother's brogue.
"Not so bad as that, Felix; for there is considerable civilization lying
around loose in Borneo," replied Louis Belgrave.
"Not much of it here is found," added Achang Bakir, the Bornean.
"Is found here," interposed Morris Woolridge, who had been giving the
native lessons in English, for he mixed with it the German idiom.
"Rajah Brooke has civilized the region which he governs, and the Dutch
have done the same in portions of their territory. Professor Giroud gave
us the lecture on Borneo, and we shall have occasion to review some of
it," added Louis. "But I think we had better give some attention to the
organization of our party for the trip up the Sarawak River."
"I move, Mr. Chairman, that we have the same organization we had on
board of the Maud," interposed Felix, dropping his brogue. "That means
that Mr. Scott shall be captain, and Morris mate, while Louis and myself
shall be the deck-hands."
"Mr. Chairman, I move an amendment to the motion, to the effect that
Louis shall be captain, while I serve as deck-hand," said Scott.
"I hope the amendment will be voted down, and that the original motion
will prevail," Louis objected. "Captain Scott, in command of the Maud,
on a voyage of two thousand miles, proved himself to be an able and
skilful commander, as well as a prudent and successful leader in several
difficult situations. He is the right person for the position. Question!
Those in favor of the amendment of Mr. Scott will signify it by raising
the right hand."
Scott voted for his own motion, and he was the only one.
"Contrary minded, by the same sign," continued Louis, raising his right
hand, Felix and Morris voting the same. "The amendment is lost. The
question is now on the original motion of Felix. Those in favor of its
adoption will signify it."
Three hands appeared, the motion was carried, and the chairman informed
Scott and Morris that they were chosen captain and mate. Scott was
outvoted, and he made no further objection. Of the five seamen on board
he appointed Pitts cook and steward, in which capacity he had served on
board of the Maud. The starboard is the captain's watch; though the
second mate, when there is one, takes his place for duty, and the port
is the mate's watch.
"I select Clingman for the first of my watch," continued Scott. "Your
choice next, Morris."
"Wales," said the mate.
"Lane for the starboard," added Scott.
"Hobson's choice," laughed Morris, as he took the last man. "Clinch for
the port; the last, but by no means the least."
"I fancy the watches will have an easy time of it; for I suppose we
shall not do much running up and down these rivers, and through dark
forests, in the night," suggested Louis.
"If we lie up in the night, I shall divide them both into
quarter-watches, and have one man on duty all the time; for we may be
boarded by a huge crocodile or a boa-constrictor if we are not on the
lookout. But Achang is a pilot for these rivers. Isn't that so, Captain
Bakir?"
"I have been up and down all the rivers in this part of the island,
though I was not shipped as a pilot then," replied Achang, who had been
the captain of a dhow, and on board the ship he had been called by his
first name or the other with the title.
"All right; we shall use you for pilot or interpreter as occasion may
require; and I suppose you can tell us all we want to know about the
country and the people," added the captain.
Clinch, one of the ablest seamen on board, was steering the launch, and
Scott kept the run of the courses; but as long as the craft had three
feet of water under her, she was all right. The conversation took place
in the cabin, as the explorers called the after part of the steamer,
though no such apartment had been built there.
A frame constructed of brass rods, properly braced, extended the entire
length of the launch. A stanchion at the bow and another at the stern,
with five on each side set in the rail, supported a rod the whole
distance around the craft. Another extended from the bow to the stern
stanchion, directly over the keel, about six inches higher than those at
the sides. Ten rods led from the central down to the side rods, like the
rafters of a house.
Over the whole, of this structure above was extended a single piece of
painted canvas, serving as a roof, and keeping out both sun and rain. It
was laced very taut to the rods, and had slope enough to make the water
run off. On the sides were curtains, which could be hauled down tight.
The launch had been used by the rajah on the Ganges, and when closed in
the interior was like "a bug in a rug."
Thus closed in, the standing-room was called the cabin. It was
surrounded by wide cushioned seats, which made very good beds at night.
Between these divans was a table where the meals of the explorers were
to be served. Under the seats were many lockers for all sorts of
articles, the bedding, and the arms and ammunition.
Just forward of the cabin were the engine and boiler, with bunkers on
each side for the coal. In the middle of the craft was abundant space.
The forward part of the boat was provided with cushioned divans, where
passengers could sit by day or sleep at night; and this space was
appropriated to the sailors. In the centre of it was the wheel. Next to
it was the galley, with a stove large enough to cook for a dozen
persons, and all needed utensils.
The ship's company had looked the craft over with great interest, and
all of them were well pleased with the arrangements. The launch had been
put into the water and fitted up for use the day before. The party from
both ships had visited her, and almost wished they were to go to the
interior of the country in her.
The Blanchita continued on her course up the river. Pitts was at work in
the galley; and as soon as the launch was made fast off the "go-down,"
or business building of the town, dinner was served to the seamen, and
later to the denizens of the cabin. The afternoon was spent in examining
the place, and in obtaining such supplies as were needed; for the boat
was to sail on her voyage up the river early the next morning.
With the assistance of Achang, a small sampan, a kind of skiff, was
purchased; for the Bornean declared that it would be needed in the
hunting excursions of the party, for much of the country was flooded
with water, a foot or two in depth.