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
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