Report from Lundu, October, 1907

Little of importance has occurred this month.

The coming fruit season promises to be exceptionally good, if one mauy judge by the amount of fruit now on the trees. I hear there is any amount of buah engkabang ripening in the ulu. If this is so trade may shortly be expected to go ahead a bit, as this district exports large quantities of engkabang nuts.

Haji Mat Salleh, the Imam here, complains that very few of the Malays pay him the accustomary Pitra and Zakat for services rendered to them and the Mosque. I told Haji Mat Salleh that this was a matter entirely affecting the consciences of the Malays and one over which I had no control. I therefore declined to interfere. There has before been slight friction between the Imam and Malays over this matter. If Haji Mat Salleh instead of spending half the year in Kuching spent more time amongst the Malays in this district performing the various rites required of his creed, I feel sure that alms would very readily be forthcoming.

Bit Chiang a Lui Chew and pepper planter of Prigi, Simatan, was on the 10th sentenced to two years imprisonment. Three separate charges were brought against this man on all of which he was found guilty.

One Lahir a Malay escaped from the gang on 14th. This was entirely owing to the gross carelessness of P.C. No. 68 Lani who was prison mandor at the time.

I visited Simatan once during the month:

The following are this month's trade returns:

                                     Exports                Imports
Lundu                          $2,234                  $7,554
Simatan                       $10,574                $1,786
Total                           $12,708                 $9,340

This is all I have to report to Your Highness.

F.F. Boult
Assistant Resident