Notebook from Colin Thornton June 1945 - Part 1

Thornton

To AI.
Track Notes and
General Information
on task.
from T3

Thornton

Track Details
28 Jun. Long Muea to Long Pepilong 
Long Muea is on Sth side of 
PASIA river - cross by canoe 
to Nth and follow an excellent 
track near river for 1 hr 
where cross PASIA by canoe 
again to Sth side. This 
brings you to Long Pasia 
which is on the western 
junction of PASIA & PADAS 
rivers

From Long Pasia track 
runs Sth adjacent to PADAS 
for 2 hours to Long Buyore 

This track is fairly narrow 
and overgrown in places -
also very winding.

Ambush possibilities on 
Long Muea to Long Pasia 
are good as track is wide 
and has many straight 
streches with good cover 
on at least the northern side 
of Track.

No really suitable places 
in last 2 hrs for ambush

Neither the PASIA or PADAS 
rivers are fordable in this 
area being up to 20' deep 
with strong currents. The 
enemy would have to 
provide own means of 
crossing or use the few 
native canoes available

N.B. Natives should hide canoes 
on news of enemy approach

Leaving Long Buyore cross 
PADAS by canoe and follow 
fairly good but narrow 
track along the PADAS for 

1 hour during which you 
cross 3 streams.

Climb a small hill, on 
top of which is good ambush 
site. During this second hr 
the track is good and 
crosses another 3 streams

The 3 hours walking is 
along a very slippery and 
difficult track - cannot make 
any pace. The track here 
follows the PADAS very closely.

Wade PADAS at it's junction 
with a fair sized stream (3' deep)

to the last bank.

Then along a good track 
swinging slightly East of 
the PADAS to the PAMATONG 
river. Wade the latter 
to reach Long Pepilong.

Total walking time from 
Long Muea = 6½ hours

29 Jun.

From Long Pepilong to Pepini hunting 
camp in forest.

400x along a narrow track 
to 60' suspension br. by which 
you cross PAMATONG river

Climb steadily for 5 hours 
during which time cross 
Nuruong R. then Bara and 
later cross river Planook 
5 times (the latter approx 2'6" 
deep at crossings

After 6 hours reach Mt 
Naluk Palad (approx 5000') and 
move along ridges to Mt 
Batu Linenit (on boundry 
of British & Dutch Borneo).

On direction shown by 
guides Mag. bearing of 190o to 

Long Blowit.

Track decends from here 
crossing the following streams 
Kalitan, Yentrop, Leaobu.

Track then runs close to 
Pani river for short distance 
then across Ritynack River 
to arrive at Long Pepini 
(which is merely a hunting 
lean-to).

The whole of this section 
of track is fairly difficult 
and the numerous leeches 
slow down the porters 
making good time impossible.

Total time 10½ hours. 
The rain forest is fairly open 
and does not present 
many good ambush sites.

30 January.

Leave L Pipini for L. Masam 
Track cross Raya river 3 times 
and the Nuat and Papuan 
rivers in the first hour

Cross Raya again twice 
- last one by 60' fallen tree 
This ends 2^nd hours walk

During the 3^rd hr 
you cross the following 
streams Isit Kadang, Talingan 
Lyun & Larkun Salidan.

The 4^th hour cross the 
Lyun again and 3 small 
unmarked streams to 
reach Ruan Aricluan.

The track then follows 
valleys and saddles on 

a down grade - always 
in the vicinity of the 
Raya river.

Then wade down the 
Luran river for approx 
½ mile - cross the 
Palabo river twice and 
then the Minyet river at 
its junction with the 
Raya.

Pass the Sibu river 
on the opposite bank of 
the Raya. The track here 
closely follows the East 
bank of the Raya crossing 
the Bambyun, per Masang, 
Taka & Bada streams - end 
7 hours. Then 1 hr to 
L. Masam on E. bank of Raya. 

The whole of todays track 
was fairly indistinct, slippery, 
narrow and once again 
leech ridden.

Rain forest with a 
fair amount of secondary 
growth provided several 
good ambush sites especially 
during the last 3 hrs. However 
the narrow trail would 
entail a fairly large 
ambush party to cover 
any decent sized enemy 
patrol who would of 
necessity be in single 
file.

1 Jun.

Leave Long Masam for 
Long Pamatong.

Cross to West bank of 
Raya by footbridge - cross 
Tapatikan river and after 
1½ hours of winding trail 
through secondry growth 
cross the Manit river 
twice - then 2 small 
streams, the Manit and 
another small stream.

After that cross the 

Manit river 5 times in 
quick succession then 
wade up the Manit for 
200x - cross the Pepin river 
and wade a further 200x

up the Manit. The track 
then follows the west bank 
of the Manit to its source.

This brings you to a 
saddle between the ridges 
of the range in 3 hours 

Track then runs down 
crossing the Maja twice, 
then follows along the 
Batong river for 1½ hours. 
Up till now track has 
not been good.

Then follow a good 
newly cleared track for 2 
hours to reach L Pamatong 
which replaces the old Long 
Salipa (location totally different)

Total time = 6½ hours.

2 Jun.

Leave L. Pamatong for 
Long Blowit.

Cross stream near house 
and follow a very indistinct 
and swampy trail for 
2½ hours crossing the 
following streams - Colio, 
Parad, Dapa, Blatas swamps, 
and Maras.

Then come out onto
really good track which
cross the Bawang river
to arrive at Long Bawang
buildings after 4 hours.
Then a further hour 
to Long Blowit along good 
track.

Ambushes excellent from 
point where good track 
is reached to L. Bawang.

See over for Remarks.

Remarks & Notes as result 
of Long Muea - Long Blowit 
trip via ranges and Long 
Masam.

(I) I consider that enemy 
would not attempt any 
large scale move at over this 
trail on a/c of difficulties 
thereof.

(II) Long Masam covers 
only one leg of track 
which branches to Sth East 
after crossing ranges

(III) This track could be 
covered by men at Long 
Neut - penghulu from there 
reported to be on his way 
to see A.I.

(IV) Enemy more likely to 
use Long Semidoe trail 
to escape down Trusan 
and further Sth West 
towards the coast.

(V) Will draw sketch map 
showing as accurately as 
possible tracks as followed

Details of Kampongs.

Long Buyore.

Only 4 men as follows

Sakai - very old - married

Tokat - about 35 - married.

Penegran Api - about 30 - married.

Larkong - 18 - single.

7 women and 4 children.

Larkong good soldier possibility, 
keen and active - told him 
to go to M2 whom he 
knows.

Labour:- As a very new long 
house all people busily 
engaged clearing ground, 
finishing buildings etc