And, as they were under no limits as to time, they could adopt such a rate of speed as the nature of the paths would permit.

On this score there was neither apprehension nor uneasiness; there might have been about provisions, as the cured hams of the wild boar could not possibly last longer than a week; and what were they to eat after these were consumed?
Saloo set their minds at rest on this matter, by telling them that the interior forests of Borneo--which he did not know--if they at all resembled those of Sumatra--which he did know--would be found full of fruit-bearing trees; and, besides, numerous chances would arise for killing or capturing birds and other small game, even if a deer or a second wild boar did not present himself.

In order to be prepared for any such that might come in his way, as well as to save their ammunition, of which they had but a limited supply, Saloo had spent the last few days of their sojourn upon the coast in the manufacture of a weapon well suited for such a purpose, even better than musket or rifle.
It was the "Sumpitan," or blow-gun.

This the Malay had made, along with a complete set of "sumpits," or arrows, and a quiver to contain them.

The sumpitan itself--eight feet in length--he fashioned from a straight sapling of the beautiful _casuarina_ tree, which grows throughout the islands of the Malayan Archipelago; while the little arrows, only eight inches long, he obtained from the medium of the leaflets of the _nibong_ palms, many of which were found near the spot where they had encamped.