William Temple Hornaday in his book Two Years in the Jungle ... gives a very good description of the government house in Sadong where Francis Farrington took up residence in 1909.
"The government house stands a hundred yards above the confluence of the two rivers, and I was surprised at finding it so well-built, roomy and comfortable. It was built to accommodate such of the government officers as might have occasion to visit this locality in the discharge of their duties. As usual the house stands on posts six feet high, and the space underneath is quite well adapted to such work as skinning and skeletonizing animals. It contains two suites of rooms, and a latticed verandah in front of each sleeping apartment, which is a capital place for keeping pet monkeys and orang-utans.
At the front of the house the steps lead up to a spacious audience room, from the door of which there is a fine view of several miles directly down the Sadong, here a mighty river half a mile wide. The house is used as a police station by a detachment of half a dozen men, whose duties consist mainly of striking the hours on a deep-toned gong which hangs in the verandah.
... The grounds in front of the house are tastefully laid out, and quite filled with flowering and curious plants from the surrounding jungle, all of which seem to thrive without care.
The virgin jungle comes up to within a hundred yards of the house at the back, and the Malay kampong nestles at its edge."
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Report from Sadong May 1909
Mr. H.B. Crocker handed to me the affairs of this district on 26th ultimo and returned to Kuching the following morning per s.l. Young Harry, en-route to take up his appointment in Upper Sarawak.
On the 8th I left for Tabekang to collect the Land Dyak Revenue. I spent two nights at Gedong and one at Peradai on my way up. At the former place there were a good many debt court cases requiring attention.
Whilst at Tabekang I received word from Mr. Crocker who was at Munggo Babi, that he would be at Lanchang on the 15th: I walked over to Lanchang that day spending the night there and returned to Tabekang the next mourning. Mr. Crocker being pressed for time, at his request I heard, at Tabekang, the case of Dari Tua of Tarat Lanchang vs. Dabong of Sigaung - Plaintiff charged defendant with setting tukak and reported that one of his people, Ganun by name, had been wounded by same, I dismissed the case and fined Dari for bringing a false charge against defendant.
The Dyaks were very slow in paying their tax, owing to the difficulty they had in exchanging old dollars for new ones. Like the natives in other parts of the country they fail to understant why they should part with the heavy dollar for a light one.
The fines imposed on the Simunjan Dyaks in connection with the recent disturbances have all been paid in.
There have been the usual number of petty cases at the Mines, illicut gambling being the chief offence. To try and put a stop to this the gambling farmer has erected special premises for playing. I have issued a notice stating that no gambling will be allowed at the Mines except in these quarters. At first the coolies boycotted the farmer at the instigation of the mandors who were making quite a nice little profit by allowing the coolies to gamble illicitly. It was only natural that the number of cases should for a time considerably increase. There have been no cases of illicit gambling reported for a fortnight.
The pressure of water down at Simunjam is very poor indeed, whilst at the Mines it is all that can be desired. Air-valves which I obtained from Mr. Grove are being placed at various intervals along the pipe line so that it will now be quite easy to flush the pipes out. This is what is really required as a lot of matter has collected in them. When the line has been thoroughly cleaned the pressure should be greatly increased.
Mr. May, General Manager of the Sarawak Collieries, arrived per s.l. Young Harry on 24th. He returned to Brooketon by the s.l. Alice Lorraine which called in here on 27th at 3:30 p.m. and left again at 5:30 p.m.
The Police Barracks at the Mines have been completed. This work was done by contract, Government supplying all the material.
The prisoners have been employed in the annual white-washing of Government buildings and in the general up-keep of the station.
During the month 5 steamers and 18 sailing vessels cleared out with coal.
The trade returns for the month ast as under:-
Exports Imports
$20,672.75 $13,434.00
F.F. Boult
Resident of Sadong
On the 8th I left for Tabekang to collect the Land Dyak Revenue. I spent two nights at Gedong and one at Peradai on my way up. At the former place there were a good many debt court cases requiring attention.
Whilst at Tabekang I received word from Mr. Crocker who was at Munggo Babi, that he would be at Lanchang on the 15th: I walked over to Lanchang that day spending the night there and returned to Tabekang the next mourning. Mr. Crocker being pressed for time, at his request I heard, at Tabekang, the case of Dari Tua of Tarat Lanchang vs. Dabong of Sigaung - Plaintiff charged defendant with setting tukak and reported that one of his people, Ganun by name, had been wounded by same, I dismissed the case and fined Dari for bringing a false charge against defendant.
The Dyaks were very slow in paying their tax, owing to the difficulty they had in exchanging old dollars for new ones. Like the natives in other parts of the country they fail to understant why they should part with the heavy dollar for a light one.
The fines imposed on the Simunjan Dyaks in connection with the recent disturbances have all been paid in.
There have been the usual number of petty cases at the Mines, illicut gambling being the chief offence. To try and put a stop to this the gambling farmer has erected special premises for playing. I have issued a notice stating that no gambling will be allowed at the Mines except in these quarters. At first the coolies boycotted the farmer at the instigation of the mandors who were making quite a nice little profit by allowing the coolies to gamble illicitly. It was only natural that the number of cases should for a time considerably increase. There have been no cases of illicit gambling reported for a fortnight.
The pressure of water down at Simunjam is very poor indeed, whilst at the Mines it is all that can be desired. Air-valves which I obtained from Mr. Grove are being placed at various intervals along the pipe line so that it will now be quite easy to flush the pipes out. This is what is really required as a lot of matter has collected in them. When the line has been thoroughly cleaned the pressure should be greatly increased.
Mr. May, General Manager of the Sarawak Collieries, arrived per s.l. Young Harry on 24th. He returned to Brooketon by the s.l. Alice Lorraine which called in here on 27th at 3:30 p.m. and left again at 5:30 p.m.
The Police Barracks at the Mines have been completed. This work was done by contract, Government supplying all the material.
The prisoners have been employed in the annual white-washing of Government buildings and in the general up-keep of the station.
During the month 5 steamers and 18 sailing vessels cleared out with coal.
The trade returns for the month ast as under:-
Exports Imports
$20,672.75 $13,434.00
F.F. Boult
Resident of Sadong
Sarawak Gazette June 1, 1909
Mr. Boult arrived from Sadong on the 29th by s.s. Sarawak. He is returning to Sadong in a say or two.
Sarawak Gazette May 1, 1909
Mr. H.B. Crocker arrived by boat from Sadong and Mr. boult by schooner from Matu on the 21st ultimo. The former has since gone to take up his duties in Upper Sarawak, while the latter has proceeded to Sadong where he is to be stationed.
Sarawak Gazette April 16, 1909
The Government Gazette of this date notifies the following appointments by his Highness The Rajah:-
Mr. H.R.A. Day to be Resident, 1st Class, Kuching; Mr. D.A. Owen to relieve Mr. Lewis in Kuching; Mr. H.L. Owen to be Resident of Bintulu; Mr. A.B. Ward to be Resident of Simanggang; Mr. F.A, W. Page-Turner to do duty in upper Rejang; Mr. F. F. Boult to be Resident of Sadong; Mr. T.S. King to do duty at Lawas; Mr. C.E. A. Ermen to do duty at Mukah and Oya; Mr. W.F, de V.Skrine to do duty at Simanggang.
Mr. H.R.A. Day to be Resident, 1st Class, Kuching; Mr. D.A. Owen to relieve Mr. Lewis in Kuching; Mr. H.L. Owen to be Resident of Bintulu; Mr. A.B. Ward to be Resident of Simanggang; Mr. F.A, W. Page-Turner to do duty in upper Rejang; Mr. F. F. Boult to be Resident of Sadong; Mr. T.S. King to do duty at Lawas; Mr. C.E. A. Ermen to do duty at Mukah and Oya; Mr. W.F, de V.Skrine to do duty at Simanggang.
Sarawak Gazetter March 16, 1909
S.S. Alice Lorraine sailed for Lundu on the 10th instant to pick up Mr. F.F. Boult, Resident Lundu. She then was to continue her voyage to Matu where Mr. Boult temporarily relieves Mr. MacPhee who comes to Kuching.
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