Little of importance has occurred during the month.
The farming season having commenced the Government School was closed for one month, so as to enable those boys whose parents wished them to assist on their farms to do so.
Soo Chuan, the Court Writer, was granted one month's leave from the 4th instant.
I signed 24 permits for Malays who had, before my arrival, been granted land by Abang Ahmat to open cocoanut plantations.
One Taip, a Sambas Malay, has been allowed to settle at Siroh Besar with ten doors. He informs me that others will no doubt follow later. They all wish to acquire land for planting purposes.
The oil store was completed early in the month. It is substantial building, and is sufficiently large to meet the requirements of this place for very many years to come. It is built entirely of billian and cost $242.
The Rest house at Siar, which was in a quite uninhabitable state, has been entirely rebuilt. The old site was again selected, but the shape of the building is somewhat different. As all the labour employed was done by prisoners, the cost to Government for rebuilding etc. will be very small indeed.
I visited Simatan on the 13th and returned to Lundu on the 16th instant.
The 26th being the birthday of His Highness the Raja Muda the usual public holiday was observed.
The following are the trade returns for the month.
Lundu Imports $2,488 Exports $4,242
Simatan Imports $3,235 Exports $6,964
I have nothing further to report to Your Highness on this occasion.
F.F. Boult,
Assistant Resident.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Report from Lundu, August 1906
I visited Simatan from the 7th to 10th, and Rembungan on the 27th.
Awang Omar, whose business it is to look after the channel marks at the entrance to this river, I find, has done his work in a very diiatory fashion. It being most important that these stakes should be carefully erected, I hope by the end of the coming landas to have devised some plan whereby they can be made more durable and will be more conspicuous from out at sea. I shall superintend myself the putting of them up.
Boats now running between Kuching and Lundu, and rice rersa, are doing the trip in a much shorter time than they have done for some years. This is owing to complaints which were brought to me by the Chinese and Malay traders here against what they considered to be the very unnecessary detention of their boats by the Tuah Kampong of Santubong. These complaints I forwarded to the Hon'ble the Resident, who has now forbidden Hadji Ahmat to detain any boats longer than absolutely necessary.
On the night of 22nd Tulleek, a Slakow Dyak, who escaped from this goal on 10th June 1902, was arrested at Jangkah. P.C. 62 Kromo and P.C. 92 Bujang whom I sent to arrest this man are to be highly commended for the way they executed their duties. Tulleek, I learn, has been harboured by his friends and relations ever since his escape, and I have had to severely reprimand O.K. Petor of the Slakows for his weakness in not reporting to Government, long ago, that Tulleek was in his district.
A great many Chinese have had their pepper stolen this month, both here and at Simatan and I regret that in none of the cases reported has there been any trace whatsoever that would lead to the perpetrators of these thefts being caught.
The following tragedies, I regret to report, have occurred during the month. Bakar, a Santubong Malay, who was working barking at Sungei Apong was killed by the falling of a tree, which he was felling. Deceased was hit on the head and death appears to have been instantaneous. On the 18th the Court Writer at Simatan reported that a coolie of Keh Bow's had attenpted suicide by cutting his throat; he again reported on the 31st that Lu Ah Hee, a Macau Chinaman, had committed suicide by eating tuba. I find that deceased was a very old man, and had been ailing for a long time. He evidently disposed of himself to end his miseries.
The prisoners have been employed this month in clearing the road and ditches to Stunggang and in putting gravel on the paths around the Court House.
Appended are the Lundu trade returns for this month.
Exports $2,482 Imports $3,155
F.F. Boult,
Assistant Resident.
Awang Omar, whose business it is to look after the channel marks at the entrance to this river, I find, has done his work in a very diiatory fashion. It being most important that these stakes should be carefully erected, I hope by the end of the coming landas to have devised some plan whereby they can be made more durable and will be more conspicuous from out at sea. I shall superintend myself the putting of them up.
Boats now running between Kuching and Lundu, and rice rersa, are doing the trip in a much shorter time than they have done for some years. This is owing to complaints which were brought to me by the Chinese and Malay traders here against what they considered to be the very unnecessary detention of their boats by the Tuah Kampong of Santubong. These complaints I forwarded to the Hon'ble the Resident, who has now forbidden Hadji Ahmat to detain any boats longer than absolutely necessary.
On the night of 22nd Tulleek, a Slakow Dyak, who escaped from this goal on 10th June 1902, was arrested at Jangkah. P.C. 62 Kromo and P.C. 92 Bujang whom I sent to arrest this man are to be highly commended for the way they executed their duties. Tulleek, I learn, has been harboured by his friends and relations ever since his escape, and I have had to severely reprimand O.K. Petor of the Slakows for his weakness in not reporting to Government, long ago, that Tulleek was in his district.
A great many Chinese have had their pepper stolen this month, both here and at Simatan and I regret that in none of the cases reported has there been any trace whatsoever that would lead to the perpetrators of these thefts being caught.
The following tragedies, I regret to report, have occurred during the month. Bakar, a Santubong Malay, who was working barking at Sungei Apong was killed by the falling of a tree, which he was felling. Deceased was hit on the head and death appears to have been instantaneous. On the 18th the Court Writer at Simatan reported that a coolie of Keh Bow's had attenpted suicide by cutting his throat; he again reported on the 31st that Lu Ah Hee, a Macau Chinaman, had committed suicide by eating tuba. I find that deceased was a very old man, and had been ailing for a long time. He evidently disposed of himself to end his miseries.
The prisoners have been employed this month in clearing the road and ditches to Stunggang and in putting gravel on the paths around the Court House.
Appended are the Lundu trade returns for this month.
Exports $2,482 Imports $3,155
F.F. Boult,
Assistant Resident.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Special Report on Lundu, 21st July, 1906
Public Works - The roads, where there are mowers, are in excellent order, except at the bridges, nearly all of which require strengthening or rebuilding before it would be wise to ride over them.
The road from the bungalow to Stunggang, where there is a large Malay Kampong, which is about 1 1/2 miles, is also in want of repairs. For the first mile it is not so bad and I would try with prisoners to put that much in good order. The last 1/2 mile which passes through the Kampong and on to the S.P.G. Mission is in a far worse state and I would ask Your Highness to allow me to call out the Malays and Dyaks who live close by to put this last piece in order. If they all turn out together the whole thing would soon be accomplished. This is a most useful thoroughfare and I would strongly recommend its being kept up.
On my arrival here I had all boats put in good repair. The small Govt. Beda, which is quite unsafe when used for any length of time, will be sold for what it can fetch. I have already ordered a hull for a new one. The hull will be of penyau. The boat-shed has practically been rebuilt and all is now in good and serviceable order.
A Chinese carpenter who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment has been a great boon. He has done many repairs inside the bungalow and has saved my getting outside labour.
The white-washing was finished at the end of May. This year I had the buildings all scraped. I understand this had not been done for a great many years. The Chinese I ordered to white=wash and tar their shops. This has not been done since Mr. Kickpatrick left; everywhere is now looking nice and clean.
An oil store which is to be made entirely of bilian will be erected at a convenient and suitable site near the bazaar, within the next six weeks. I received 12 tenders for this job and accepted that of Aw: Mild.
Education - The Government school which I am constantly inspecting has now 31 boys on the register. I am hoping to get this number raised to the school's full complement of forty. Considering the very short time that this school has been open the progress made by the boys is exceedingly good, many of whom show marked intelligence and are most keen to learn. Soo Chuan, the school master, takes great pains with his pupils, I have had to impress very firmly on a few of the parents the necessity of their children being more regular in their attendance. The Government, I point out, is giving them a good education free and they should make the most of the opportunities afforded them. If they will not comply with the school rules, I have informed them that their children will be dismissed, they themselves will be fined and that they will be charged with the full cost of their children's education since the date of their entry into the school.
Plantations - There are now a great many cocoanut plantations along the coast, all of which are doing well. They range from one to seven years old and are mostly owned by Malays. The newest of these gardens have been and are being opened from S. Simatan towards S. Poi. Since my arrival I have issued 30 permits to open cocoanut plantations on the coast. Those persons whose gardens have not long been opened are having a good deal of bother with the wild pigs, and complaints have also reached me that the Simatan cattle do a great deal of damage. I have told the people they should enclose their gardens with stout fences.
The reason for the cattle giving trouble is, I fancy, at low water they wander so far along the shore that their return journey is cut off by the rising tide, and they are forced to make their way home inland and thus smash through the very shoddy fences erected by the Malays. If Govt. would fence in the cattle for good and all the trouble would at an end, but the cattle would suffer considerably, as the cattle grounds could never supply sufficient grass to feed that large herd.
Trade - This being a pepper planting district, trade is being seriously effected by the large low prices now offered for that product. There is in consequence a marked decrease int he Exports and Imports for the first half of this year as compared with those of last. The Chinese and Malays all hope that before long Gutra Estates will be opened and that things will then go ahead a bit. Many hundred of Malays and Dyaks in this district find employment by working bark for the Cutch Company at Santubong. A good worker can easily collect sufficient bark to bring in between $25 and $30 a month.
The Stunggang boat building is still a flourishing trade.
General and Miscellaneous - The health of the district is good and crime is scarce. The recent raids on Chinese in these parts has resulted in a great many vagabonds running over to Dutch Territory. All of them belong more or less to the coolie class.
It is my intention to pay frequent visits to Rombongan and Simatan, especially the latter place, where up-river there is a large Chinese population.
In the event of Your Highness visiting this station I would remind your Highness that there is now nothing fit to ride. The pony 'John' died about 9 months ago, leaving 'Fanny' who is old and in a very broken down condition. It would be very useful if Your Highness could see your way to send another younger and stronger pony here.
The prison gang having slightly increased I am now able to get the ornamental grounds into a better condition.
This is all I have for the present to report to your Highness and trust Your Highness will be satisfied with the state of this district.
F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident.
The road from the bungalow to Stunggang, where there is a large Malay Kampong, which is about 1 1/2 miles, is also in want of repairs. For the first mile it is not so bad and I would try with prisoners to put that much in good order. The last 1/2 mile which passes through the Kampong and on to the S.P.G. Mission is in a far worse state and I would ask Your Highness to allow me to call out the Malays and Dyaks who live close by to put this last piece in order. If they all turn out together the whole thing would soon be accomplished. This is a most useful thoroughfare and I would strongly recommend its being kept up.
On my arrival here I had all boats put in good repair. The small Govt. Beda, which is quite unsafe when used for any length of time, will be sold for what it can fetch. I have already ordered a hull for a new one. The hull will be of penyau. The boat-shed has practically been rebuilt and all is now in good and serviceable order.
A Chinese carpenter who was sentenced to three months' imprisonment has been a great boon. He has done many repairs inside the bungalow and has saved my getting outside labour.
The white-washing was finished at the end of May. This year I had the buildings all scraped. I understand this had not been done for a great many years. The Chinese I ordered to white=wash and tar their shops. This has not been done since Mr. Kickpatrick left; everywhere is now looking nice and clean.
An oil store which is to be made entirely of bilian will be erected at a convenient and suitable site near the bazaar, within the next six weeks. I received 12 tenders for this job and accepted that of Aw: Mild.
Education - The Government school which I am constantly inspecting has now 31 boys on the register. I am hoping to get this number raised to the school's full complement of forty. Considering the very short time that this school has been open the progress made by the boys is exceedingly good, many of whom show marked intelligence and are most keen to learn. Soo Chuan, the school master, takes great pains with his pupils, I have had to impress very firmly on a few of the parents the necessity of their children being more regular in their attendance. The Government, I point out, is giving them a good education free and they should make the most of the opportunities afforded them. If they will not comply with the school rules, I have informed them that their children will be dismissed, they themselves will be fined and that they will be charged with the full cost of their children's education since the date of their entry into the school.
Plantations - There are now a great many cocoanut plantations along the coast, all of which are doing well. They range from one to seven years old and are mostly owned by Malays. The newest of these gardens have been and are being opened from S. Simatan towards S. Poi. Since my arrival I have issued 30 permits to open cocoanut plantations on the coast. Those persons whose gardens have not long been opened are having a good deal of bother with the wild pigs, and complaints have also reached me that the Simatan cattle do a great deal of damage. I have told the people they should enclose their gardens with stout fences.
The reason for the cattle giving trouble is, I fancy, at low water they wander so far along the shore that their return journey is cut off by the rising tide, and they are forced to make their way home inland and thus smash through the very shoddy fences erected by the Malays. If Govt. would fence in the cattle for good and all the trouble would at an end, but the cattle would suffer considerably, as the cattle grounds could never supply sufficient grass to feed that large herd.
Trade - This being a pepper planting district, trade is being seriously effected by the large low prices now offered for that product. There is in consequence a marked decrease int he Exports and Imports for the first half of this year as compared with those of last. The Chinese and Malays all hope that before long Gutra Estates will be opened and that things will then go ahead a bit. Many hundred of Malays and Dyaks in this district find employment by working bark for the Cutch Company at Santubong. A good worker can easily collect sufficient bark to bring in between $25 and $30 a month.
The Stunggang boat building is still a flourishing trade.
General and Miscellaneous - The health of the district is good and crime is scarce. The recent raids on Chinese in these parts has resulted in a great many vagabonds running over to Dutch Territory. All of them belong more or less to the coolie class.
It is my intention to pay frequent visits to Rombongan and Simatan, especially the latter place, where up-river there is a large Chinese population.
In the event of Your Highness visiting this station I would remind your Highness that there is now nothing fit to ride. The pony 'John' died about 9 months ago, leaving 'Fanny' who is old and in a very broken down condition. It would be very useful if Your Highness could see your way to send another younger and stronger pony here.
The prison gang having slightly increased I am now able to get the ornamental grounds into a better condition.
This is all I have for the present to report to your Highness and trust Your Highness will be satisfied with the state of this district.
F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Report from Lundu June 1906
The p.s. Kaka arrived here at 11 a.m. on the 3rd, bringing a large picnic party.
By kind permission of Your Highness a portion of the band of the Sarawak Rangers accompanied the visitors. In the evening the band played.
Crowds of Natives, both Malays and Dyaks, collected on the spot, many of whom had never heard a brass band or seen so many Europeans together at one time. All the visitors returned per p.s. Kaka next day at 9 a.m.;
Your Highness' birthday falling on a Sunday, Monday the 4th was observed as a public holiday, when the Government Offices and school were closed.
During the month the p.s. Adeh made one trip to Simatan. She took back twenty-one head of cattle.
Mr. Staples who came down expressly to examine the cattle reports very favourably on them.
During the month I sent the Native Officer to the coast to enquire into some boundary disputes.
On the 20th Abang Ahmad and O.K. Baja left for Kuching to attend the Council Negri.
The Dyaks have been paying in their revenue and the Chinese their assessment and pepper vine tax this month.
The 2 prisoners have been employed during the month in weeding the paths and cleaning the ditches in the Government compound.
I left here at 9 p.m. on the 23rd for Kuching to obtain medical advice, having been seedy for some time.
The following are the trade returns for the month:
Exports $4,148
Imports $2,157
I have nothing further to report to Your Highness on this occasion.
F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident
By kind permission of Your Highness a portion of the band of the Sarawak Rangers accompanied the visitors. In the evening the band played.
Crowds of Natives, both Malays and Dyaks, collected on the spot, many of whom had never heard a brass band or seen so many Europeans together at one time. All the visitors returned per p.s. Kaka next day at 9 a.m.;
Your Highness' birthday falling on a Sunday, Monday the 4th was observed as a public holiday, when the Government Offices and school were closed.
During the month the p.s. Adeh made one trip to Simatan. She took back twenty-one head of cattle.
Mr. Staples who came down expressly to examine the cattle reports very favourably on them.
During the month I sent the Native Officer to the coast to enquire into some boundary disputes.
On the 20th Abang Ahmad and O.K. Baja left for Kuching to attend the Council Negri.
The Dyaks have been paying in their revenue and the Chinese their assessment and pepper vine tax this month.
The 2 prisoners have been employed during the month in weeding the paths and cleaning the ditches in the Government compound.
I left here at 9 p.m. on the 23rd for Kuching to obtain medical advice, having been seedy for some time.
The following are the trade returns for the month:
Exports $4,148
Imports $2,157
I have nothing further to report to Your Highness on this occasion.
F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident
Concert and Dance at Astana
On Monday evening, July 9th, 1906, a large number of guests assembled at the Astana, by kind invitation of His Highness the Rajah, when a most successful Concert followed by a small and enjoyable Dance took place.
Punctually at 9 p.m. the Concert was opened by Mrs. Sharp with a pianoforte solo, and from the first item to the last the appreciation of those privileged to be present was shown by the loud and long applause which greeted each performer. As we remarked last year we do not set up to be a musical critic, and therefore do not intend to criticise any particular performance, but we should like to express our thanks, in which we feel sure all those who were present on the occasion will join, to those ladies who came over from Singapore and gave us the great pleasure of hearing them sing. The fame of Mrs. Salzmann and Miss MacGlenchy had frequently reached Sarawak and all looked forward forward eagerly to the Concert when it was known that these two ladies had kindly consented to take part in it. We hope to hear them sing again on some future occasion, and feel sure that Sarawak will Heartily welcome them again.
The following was the full programme.
1. Pianoforte Solo ... Mrs. Sharp
2. Song ... "A May Morning" (Miss MacGlenchy) ... Denza
3. Song ... "The Light-House Keeper" (F.F. Boult) ... Molloy
4. Piccolo Song ... "The deep blue sea" (Band-Surgt Aice)
5. Song ... "Love the pedlar" (Mrs. Salzmann) ... German
6. Song ... "The Scout" (Mr. Slade) ... Campana
7. Song ... "Winter" (Mrs Lovell) ... Scott Gastty
8. Clarionet solo ... "Lucretia Borgia" (Bandsman Pedro Salosa)
9. Song ... "The Carnival" (Miss MacGelnchy) ... Molloy
10. Song ... "Jock o Hazeldean" (Mrs Salzmann)
Encores were aldo given by Miss MacGlenchy ("Under the Deodar"), Mrs Salzmann ("Comin' through the Rye"), Mrs, Lovell ("Darby and Joan") and Mr. Slade ("On the Road to Mandalay")
At the conclusion of the Concert, the platform and chairs being cleared away, a a small programme of eight dances was speedily got through and owing to the presence of so many ladies proved most enjoyable.
The ladies present by His HIghness' invitation were Mrs. Salzmann, Miss Salzmann, Mrs. Lovell, Miss Leask, Miss Tarbet and Misds MacGlenchy from Singapore, and Mrs. C. Hose, Mrs Ellis, Mrs. Sharp, Mrs. Grove, Mrs, Wellington, Mrs. Gate, Mts. Service, Mrs. Waddell, Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. Staples, Miss Beattie, Miss Johns, Mrs. Zehnder and Miss Bristowe.
Punctually at 9 p.m. the Concert was opened by Mrs. Sharp with a pianoforte solo, and from the first item to the last the appreciation of those privileged to be present was shown by the loud and long applause which greeted each performer. As we remarked last year we do not set up to be a musical critic, and therefore do not intend to criticise any particular performance, but we should like to express our thanks, in which we feel sure all those who were present on the occasion will join, to those ladies who came over from Singapore and gave us the great pleasure of hearing them sing. The fame of Mrs. Salzmann and Miss MacGlenchy had frequently reached Sarawak and all looked forward forward eagerly to the Concert when it was known that these two ladies had kindly consented to take part in it. We hope to hear them sing again on some future occasion, and feel sure that Sarawak will Heartily welcome them again.
The following was the full programme.
1. Pianoforte Solo ... Mrs. Sharp
2. Song ... "A May Morning" (Miss MacGlenchy) ... Denza
3. Song ... "The Light-House Keeper" (F.F. Boult) ... Molloy
4. Piccolo Song ... "The deep blue sea" (Band-Surgt Aice)
5. Song ... "Love the pedlar" (Mrs. Salzmann) ... German
6. Song ... "The Scout" (Mr. Slade) ... Campana
7. Song ... "Winter" (Mrs Lovell) ... Scott Gastty
8. Clarionet solo ... "Lucretia Borgia" (Bandsman Pedro Salosa)
9. Song ... "The Carnival" (Miss MacGelnchy) ... Molloy
10. Song ... "Jock o Hazeldean" (Mrs Salzmann)
Encores were aldo given by Miss MacGlenchy ("Under the Deodar"), Mrs Salzmann ("Comin' through the Rye"), Mrs, Lovell ("Darby and Joan") and Mr. Slade ("On the Road to Mandalay")
At the conclusion of the Concert, the platform and chairs being cleared away, a a small programme of eight dances was speedily got through and owing to the presence of so many ladies proved most enjoyable.
The ladies present by His HIghness' invitation were Mrs. Salzmann, Miss Salzmann, Mrs. Lovell, Miss Leask, Miss Tarbet and Misds MacGlenchy from Singapore, and Mrs. C. Hose, Mrs Ellis, Mrs. Sharp, Mrs. Grove, Mrs, Wellington, Mrs. Gate, Mts. Service, Mrs. Waddell, Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. Staples, Miss Beattie, Miss Johns, Mrs. Zehnder and Miss Bristowe.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Report from Lundu May 1906
On the 1st instant I arrived here, having been appointed to take charge of this district.
The following day I checked the Government cash and found all correct.
Owing to the absence of an European Officer for some time I have been fairly busy in both Police and Debt Courts this month. None of the cases, however, call for any special comment, those in the Police Court being of a petty nature.
On the 11th instant I left Lundu for Simatan and Sampadi, spending the night at the latter place, and reaching the former at noon the next day. During my stay here there were several cases in both Courts.
The Simatan cattle, although lean, are in excellent condition but I have already written to Your Highness concerning this matter and have obtained Your Highness' sanction to make whatever alterations are necessary to provide better accommodations for these beasts. The herd is now well over 110 head.
I returned to Lundu on the 16th instant, bringing with me $150 from the Simatan Treasury, as I considered that for so small a place there was far too big a balance kept.
Orang Kaya Boja reported to me on the 18th instant that one Layang, a Dyak, had been caught by a crocodile at Munggoh Rawan. Layang's friends made a search for his body, but only succeeded in finding a piece of flesh and a bit of the brain. It looks as if Layang had been the victim of more than one crocodile!
On the 19th instant I received a very important letter from the Hon'ble the Resident, 1st Division, ordering me to arrest Cheu Ang Boo of Rambungan, Tan Cheng Tong and Tan Chong Seng of Simatan, all said to be concerned with a Chinese Secret Society. These people have all been successfully arrested. The following is an outline of how the arrests were effected.
I left here on the morning of 23rd instant, having obtained private information as to the exact whereabouts of those whom I wished to arrest. The Court Writer accompanied me, as it was absolutely necessary to have someone with me upon whom I could rely and who could read and write Chinese thoroughly.
It was my intention to arrive at Rambungan about 8 p.m. but owing to the difficult entrance to this river, and the pitch darkness of the night, we were unable to do so. Three times we tried to make the mouth but failed. Finally we put into Pulo Sampadi where Inchi Bakar kindly found me a Pilot; this was at 11 p.m. We reached the Tuah Kampung;s house (Haji Bakri) at 1:30 a.m. and got up to Tan Ang Boo's place at 2:30 a.m. when I arrested Tan Ang Boo and his wife Ou Ah Chat, a Macau. A thorough search, with splendid success, was made lasting until 7:30 a.m. Any amount of incriminating papers were found in this man's possession. These have all been forwarded to the Hon'ble the Resident with several others from another source.
At 10 a.m. on 24th instant, just as I was preparing to leave for Simatan, Mr. Everett of the Cutch Company arrived per s.l. Saraktan! As he was leaving again almost directly for the same place as myself, he very kindly offered me a lift and towed my bandong across. This was most fortunate, as it completely spoilt any chance there might have been of word reaching Simatan previous to my arrival. Simatan was reached at 7 p.m.
At 10 p.m. we walked to Siroh Besar which is almost 3 hours from the Bungalow. Here I raided Tan Cheng Tong's house but could find no evidence to incriminate him in any way with a Secret Society. However, Tan Cheng Tong has been placed on remand at Lundu pending further enquiries. We got back to Simatan at 4 a.m. on the 25th inst.
At 12 noon, the same day, we left for Sariann to arrest Tan Chong Seng. This place is 3 hours paddle from the Bungalow on a flood tide.
Mr. Everett accompanied us, he being anxious to see what kind of soil there was in that district. I arrested Tan Chong Seng, also Tek Nyup. Hong Heng and Ah Koon who were living in Chong Seng's house. Tek Nyup, I regret, made good his escape fro the Government Bungalow the same night owing to the carelessness of P.C. Sulai and the flimpsy condition of the Simatan stocks. I could find absolutely no evidence against this man, who has not been heard of since. Various incriminating papers were found in the possession of the other three men. Ah Koon, I have since learnt, is an absconder from Santubong.
On the 29th instant Ou Ah Chat (f), Tang Ang Boo, Tan Chong Seng, Hong Heng and Chua Ah Koon were sent to Kuching under escort, in charge of Corporal Dolut, per Sut's bandong.
During the month Ling Bong, a silversmith, absconded, taking with him several things the property of persons for whom he had been working. His effects, when sold, realised $2.81. Awang Mataram, a Malay, also absconded. He had some row with is wife, which ended in his giving her a severe beating. Mataram, fearing arrest, then bolted.
The following are the trade returns for the month.
Exports $3,280
Imports $2,637
I have nothing further to report to Your Highness on this occasion but hope shortly to present to your Highness a fuller report of the affairs of this district generally,
F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident
The following day I checked the Government cash and found all correct.
Owing to the absence of an European Officer for some time I have been fairly busy in both Police and Debt Courts this month. None of the cases, however, call for any special comment, those in the Police Court being of a petty nature.
On the 11th instant I left Lundu for Simatan and Sampadi, spending the night at the latter place, and reaching the former at noon the next day. During my stay here there were several cases in both Courts.
The Simatan cattle, although lean, are in excellent condition but I have already written to Your Highness concerning this matter and have obtained Your Highness' sanction to make whatever alterations are necessary to provide better accommodations for these beasts. The herd is now well over 110 head.
I returned to Lundu on the 16th instant, bringing with me $150 from the Simatan Treasury, as I considered that for so small a place there was far too big a balance kept.
Orang Kaya Boja reported to me on the 18th instant that one Layang, a Dyak, had been caught by a crocodile at Munggoh Rawan. Layang's friends made a search for his body, but only succeeded in finding a piece of flesh and a bit of the brain. It looks as if Layang had been the victim of more than one crocodile!
On the 19th instant I received a very important letter from the Hon'ble the Resident, 1st Division, ordering me to arrest Cheu Ang Boo of Rambungan, Tan Cheng Tong and Tan Chong Seng of Simatan, all said to be concerned with a Chinese Secret Society. These people have all been successfully arrested. The following is an outline of how the arrests were effected.
I left here on the morning of 23rd instant, having obtained private information as to the exact whereabouts of those whom I wished to arrest. The Court Writer accompanied me, as it was absolutely necessary to have someone with me upon whom I could rely and who could read and write Chinese thoroughly.
It was my intention to arrive at Rambungan about 8 p.m. but owing to the difficult entrance to this river, and the pitch darkness of the night, we were unable to do so. Three times we tried to make the mouth but failed. Finally we put into Pulo Sampadi where Inchi Bakar kindly found me a Pilot; this was at 11 p.m. We reached the Tuah Kampung;s house (Haji Bakri) at 1:30 a.m. and got up to Tan Ang Boo's place at 2:30 a.m. when I arrested Tan Ang Boo and his wife Ou Ah Chat, a Macau. A thorough search, with splendid success, was made lasting until 7:30 a.m. Any amount of incriminating papers were found in this man's possession. These have all been forwarded to the Hon'ble the Resident with several others from another source.
At 10 a.m. on 24th instant, just as I was preparing to leave for Simatan, Mr. Everett of the Cutch Company arrived per s.l. Saraktan! As he was leaving again almost directly for the same place as myself, he very kindly offered me a lift and towed my bandong across. This was most fortunate, as it completely spoilt any chance there might have been of word reaching Simatan previous to my arrival. Simatan was reached at 7 p.m.
At 10 p.m. we walked to Siroh Besar which is almost 3 hours from the Bungalow. Here I raided Tan Cheng Tong's house but could find no evidence to incriminate him in any way with a Secret Society. However, Tan Cheng Tong has been placed on remand at Lundu pending further enquiries. We got back to Simatan at 4 a.m. on the 25th inst.
At 12 noon, the same day, we left for Sariann to arrest Tan Chong Seng. This place is 3 hours paddle from the Bungalow on a flood tide.
Mr. Everett accompanied us, he being anxious to see what kind of soil there was in that district. I arrested Tan Chong Seng, also Tek Nyup. Hong Heng and Ah Koon who were living in Chong Seng's house. Tek Nyup, I regret, made good his escape fro the Government Bungalow the same night owing to the carelessness of P.C. Sulai and the flimpsy condition of the Simatan stocks. I could find absolutely no evidence against this man, who has not been heard of since. Various incriminating papers were found in the possession of the other three men. Ah Koon, I have since learnt, is an absconder from Santubong.
On the 29th instant Ou Ah Chat (f), Tang Ang Boo, Tan Chong Seng, Hong Heng and Chua Ah Koon were sent to Kuching under escort, in charge of Corporal Dolut, per Sut's bandong.
During the month Ling Bong, a silversmith, absconded, taking with him several things the property of persons for whom he had been working. His effects, when sold, realised $2.81. Awang Mataram, a Malay, also absconded. He had some row with is wife, which ended in his giving her a severe beating. Mataram, fearing arrest, then bolted.
The following are the trade returns for the month.
Exports $3,280
Imports $2,637
I have nothing further to report to Your Highness on this occasion but hope shortly to present to your Highness a fuller report of the affairs of this district generally,
F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident
Appointment to Lundu
In The Sarawak Gazette May 4, 1905:
His Royal Highness the Rajah has been pleased to make the following appointment:
F.F. Boult, Esq. Assistant Resident, to be Officer in Charge of Lundu, to date from 1st May 1906.
He left for Lundu on Young Harry at 2 pm on May 4.
His Royal Highness the Rajah has been pleased to make the following appointment:
F.F. Boult, Esq. Assistant Resident, to be Officer in Charge of Lundu, to date from 1st May 1906.
He left for Lundu on Young Harry at 2 pm on May 4.
This 1952 structure now stands where F.F. Boult's office once was in 1906
These cannon holders are the last remnants of Brooke rule
Silent reminders of what once was
This is the view that FF Boult saw from his offices
First leave
On January 31, 1905, F. F. Boult, left Sibu for Hong Kong for six weeks leave, his first in three years. Mr. Cutfield arrived from Kuching to take over his duty in Sibu.
On May 4, 1905, Francis arrives from Singapore on Rajah of Sarawak. On May 15, he leaves for Sibu on the Alice Lorraine.
On May 4, 1905, Francis arrives from Singapore on Rajah of Sarawak. On May 15, he leaves for Sibu on the Alice Lorraine.
Appointment to Assistant Resident
The Sarawak Gazette May 3, 1905, Appointments:
His Highness the Rajah has been pleased to make the following appointments:
Mr. F.F. Boult to be an Assistant Resident to date from the 1st April 1905.
This meant a change in salary as well. Francis now had a monthly salary of about $200 in Straits Dollars, almost twice what he had made as a Cadet.
His Highness the Rajah has been pleased to make the following appointments:
Mr. F.F. Boult to be an Assistant Resident to date from the 1st April 1905.
This meant a change in salary as well. Francis now had a monthly salary of about $200 in Straits Dollars, almost twice what he had made as a Cadet.
Responsibilities in Sibu
The published reports provide valuable glimpses into some of Francis' responsibilities.
The November 3, 1904 report of Charles Hose, Resident of the 3rd Division:
" ... Mr. Boult, the Magistrate of the court of Requests Sibu, left for Sarikei on the 27th, and he will be away several days at Sarikei and Binatang, and settle cases in the Debtors Court at these villages."
The March 2, 1905 report of Charles Hose, Resident of the 3rd Division:
" ... Mr. Boult returned from Belaga on the 9th bringing down with him several Dyaks who had been causing trouble in the head water of the Rejang."
The November 3, 1904 report of Charles Hose, Resident of the 3rd Division:
" ... Mr. Boult, the Magistrate of the court of Requests Sibu, left for Sarikei on the 27th, and he will be away several days at Sarikei and Binatang, and settle cases in the Debtors Court at these villages."
The March 2, 1905 report of Charles Hose, Resident of the 3rd Division:
" ... Mr. Boult returned from Belaga on the 9th bringing down with him several Dyaks who had been causing trouble in the head water of the Rejang."
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Duty at Sibu
After about a year and a half of service in Limbang, Francis is transferred to Sibu.
The Sarawak Gazette of August 4, 1903, under Appointments:
His Highness the Rajah has been pleased to make the following appointments:
Mr. F. F, Boult to do duty at Sibu.
It appears that Francis didn't leave for Sibu until July 9, 1904. He left on the La Fee.
The Sarawak Gazette of 1904 show several trips to and from Sibu. On September 14, F.F. Boult arrives in Kuching from Sibu onboard La Fee. On September 16, he sails on La Fee for Sibu via Sadong.
The Sarawak Gazette of August 4, 1903, under Appointments:
His Highness the Rajah has been pleased to make the following appointments:
Mr. F. F, Boult to do duty at Sibu.
It appears that Francis didn't leave for Sibu until July 9, 1904. He left on the La Fee.
The Sarawak Gazette of 1904 show several trips to and from Sibu. On September 14, F.F. Boult arrives in Kuching from Sibu onboard La Fee. On September 16, he sails on La Fee for Sibu via Sadong.
Appointment to Limbang
His Highness the Rajah has been pleased to make the following appointments to date from the 1st January, 1902:
F. F. Boult, Esq., to be Cadet in the Sarawak Service to date from the 5 ultimo, to do duty at Limbang.
As a Cadet which was the lowest rank of the Brooke administrators, Francis earned a monthly salary of between $100 and $120 Straits Dollars. Under his terms of service, he would be eligible for two years of leave at half pay after 10 years of employment.
Limbang was a fairly recent acquisition of Rajah Charles Brooke. In 1890 he was finally able to purchase Limbang from the Chartered Company of British North Borneo. He had shown interest in the cession of the Baram area to Sarawak from as early as 1868 when he became Rajah.
The area was a fertile one but exorbitant taxes by the Brunei pangirans and senseless killings had driven many of the native tribes out of Limbang into the areas controlled by Sarawak. For Rajah Charles Brooke, it was a matter of waiting for the right moment to bring Limbang into the fold of Sarawak, and sending his Sarawak Service men Like FF Boult to administer these once hostile regions.
On February 2, 1902, Francis left for Limbang on the Kaka, arriving at his destination on February 4.
F. F. Boult, Esq., to be Cadet in the Sarawak Service to date from the 5 ultimo, to do duty at Limbang.
As a Cadet which was the lowest rank of the Brooke administrators, Francis earned a monthly salary of between $100 and $120 Straits Dollars. Under his terms of service, he would be eligible for two years of leave at half pay after 10 years of employment.
Limbang was a fairly recent acquisition of Rajah Charles Brooke. In 1890 he was finally able to purchase Limbang from the Chartered Company of British North Borneo. He had shown interest in the cession of the Baram area to Sarawak from as early as 1868 when he became Rajah.
The area was a fertile one but exorbitant taxes by the Brunei pangirans and senseless killings had driven many of the native tribes out of Limbang into the areas controlled by Sarawak. For Rajah Charles Brooke, it was a matter of waiting for the right moment to bring Limbang into the fold of Sarawak, and sending his Sarawak Service men Like FF Boult to administer these once hostile regions.
On February 2, 1902, Francis left for Limbang on the Kaka, arriving at his destination on February 4.
Arrival in Kuching, Sarawak
Francis Farrington Boult arrived in Kuching from Singapore on the ss Vorwarts on January 11, 1902. What Francis thought of the first glimpse of the land which would be his home for the next 31 years has been lost to time but it probably was not much different from those of Ranee Margaret in her autobiography "My Life in Sarawak":
" ... It was the most beautiful I had ever seen. The tide was on the turn, and the morning mist was still hanging about the watery forests on the banks and about the high mountains of the interior, and as it swept across the river it brought with it that curious, sweet, indefinable smell, half-aromatic and half-sickly, making one think unaccountably of malaria. I remember I felt very cold, for everything I touched was dripping with dew. I could see the high mountain of Santubong, a great green cliff rising almost out of the water to a height of about three thousand feet, covered to its summit with luxuriant forests. At the foot of the mountain was a great expanse of sand, over which enormous brown boulders were scattered, as though giants had been disturbed at a game of ninepins. At the back of the sandy shore grew groves of Casuarina trees (the natives call them "talking trees" from the sound they make when a breeze stirs their lace-like branches), looking as though the slightest puff might blow them all away in clouds of dark green smoke."
" ... It was the most beautiful I had ever seen. The tide was on the turn, and the morning mist was still hanging about the watery forests on the banks and about the high mountains of the interior, and as it swept across the river it brought with it that curious, sweet, indefinable smell, half-aromatic and half-sickly, making one think unaccountably of malaria. I remember I felt very cold, for everything I touched was dripping with dew. I could see the high mountain of Santubong, a great green cliff rising almost out of the water to a height of about three thousand feet, covered to its summit with luxuriant forests. At the foot of the mountain was a great expanse of sand, over which enormous brown boulders were scattered, as though giants had been disturbed at a game of ninepins. At the back of the sandy shore grew groves of Casuarina trees (the natives call them "talking trees" from the sound they make when a breeze stirs their lace-like branches), looking as though the slightest puff might blow them all away in clouds of dark green smoke."
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
The Early Years
Francis' father, Farrington Holker Boult, was born in Bath on June 12, 1852. Farrington's father, Edmund Holker Boult, was a surgeon at the Bath Eye Infirmary. He had previously worked as a surgeon in the Bengal Army and was stationed in India. Boult family roots were deep in the Chester region of Cheshire but a job after his retirement from the Bengal Army had brought Edmund to Bath.
Farrington's mother, Margaret Anne Farrington, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, while her father, Henry Maturin Farrington was stationed there. Hers was an ancient family who traced their roots back to Alfred the Great and beyond. Her grandmother, Elizabeth Colden, gave them a connection to Colonial America. Elizabeth's grand father was Cadwallader Colden, a Scotsman who was the last Royalist lieutenant governor of New York, who died in 1776 just as America became a new nation.
Francis' mother Mina was a woman of her own means. She was the daughter of Edward Francis Wallerstein, a German Jew from Frankfurt, who moved to Costa Rica in 1836, where he made his fortune in coffee, and became known as one of the "coffee barons." He has been documented as introducing the cultivation of coffee to Costa Rica. When Mina was born, Wallerstein had been appointed Consul General of Costa Rica in London. Mina's mother was an English woman named Elizabeth Gaze from Dilham, Norfolk, whose family appeared to travel to South and Central America with some regularity. Perhaps Elizabeth Gaze, who was almost twenty years younger than Walllerstein, had met on one of those excursions.
Farrington and Mina's marriage was a short lived one. He died of consumption on May 21, 1882, in Marylebone, London, just shy of his 30th birthday. Francis was two-years-old when his father died.
Not much is known about Francis Farrington's early childhood. The 1881 census shows him living in Dover, Kent, with a family who was caring for him. By 1900 he is a shipbroker's clerk living at 11 Kelvin Grove, Sydenham, London.
How did he learn about Sarawak and the Brookes? Both the Boult and Brooke families had a presence in Bath and in London, and their paths could have crossed at any point. By February 1902, at the age of 21, Francis Farrington Boult, had arrived in Kuching, Sarawak, to begin his life in the Brooke administration. He would give 31 years of his life in service to Sarawak and retained a deep love of the country.
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