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.