The Gardens of the Sun / A naturalist's journal on the mountains and in the forests and swamps of Borneo and the Sulu Archipelago

A naturalist's travel journal records journeys through the mountains, forests, and swamps of Borneo and the Sulu Archipelago, combining field observations, specimen collecting, and travel narrative. It portrays an evergreen tropical climate and luxuriant vegetation, detailed notes on animal life from orang‑utans and hornbills to mound‑building megapodes and edible‑nest swallows, and accounts of curious plants such as nepenthes and Myrmecodia with their ant associations. Ethnographic sketches describe village organization, hospitality, and subsistence tied to abundant staples like bananas, while practical travel scenes cover mountain climbs, river crossings, and camp life. Periodic reflections consider local governance and external pressures on island autonomy.