The most important event of the month was the visit of His Highness the Rajah to this station from the 11th to 13th. Throughout his stay His Highness was accompanied by the Hon'ble the Resident 1st Division.
On the morning of the 12th His Highness received the Native Officers, also many Dyaks, Malays and Chinese who had come to pay their respects. At 4 pm. His Highness inspected the Government School and afterwards walked through the main bazaar and around the kampong.
The prisoners have made good progress in clearing the land selected by His Highness for an orange plantation. Many of the seeds planted by His Highness have come up and are thriving well. More seeds and plants will be very acceptable.
Notwithstanding the fall in price of pepper and jungle produce the Chinese have commenced to erect their new temple at the up-river end of the bazaar. This building is to be of brick and when completed will present a very handsome edifice. Some of the finest biliam obtainable is being used for the interior.
Dr. F.W. Foxworthy, botanist of the Bureau of Science, Manila, arrived here on the 7th. He has come with the intention of making a study of the woods and forests of the district before proceeding to other parts of the country.
I visited Simatan from the 22nd to 25th. whilst there Dr. Foxworthy and I climbed the Sahabat Peak at Northern end of the Poe Range. We had a most interesting trip. Shortly we hope to make an ascent up Gunong Rumput at the southern end of this same group.
On the 3rd the old Squad of Police under Corporal 81 Mat returned to Headquarters.
At the end of the month natives were still harvesting. This is owing to the fact that numbers abandone their families and went in search of illipe nuts. In consequence later on in the season they had to plant out fresh paddi.
The Malays and Chinese still continue to apply for permits to open cocoanut plantations. The registry shows that there are over 300 of these gardens now in this district. In about 5 years time the coast between Rambungan and Simatan will be one long line of plantations. Seedlings are fetching $5.00 to $6.00 per hundred.
What the natives will have to contend against is a bettle known by Malays as bru. This insect seems to attack the trees planted inland more than those planted near the sea coast. With constant clearing away of the undergrowth, and the immediate destruction of trees attacked, also an occasional smoky fire blowing over the plantations, I think, this difficulty should be easily overcome.
F.F. Boult,
Resident 2nd Class.
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