The Malays and Dyaks of Siling all turned out early in September and remade the road which runs through their Kampong. The Dyaks also erected a substantial bridge over Sungei Siling.
On 5th September I left for Ulu Passir spending the night at Beawak and returning to Lundu the next day. The Dyaks had one or two complaints to lodge, all of which have been reported in the official diary. These natives of Passir are without exaggeration quite the dirtiest and filthiest people it has ever been my lot to come across.
From the 11th to 15th September I was away along coast, and I visited the Ulu Sampadi and Ulu Rambungan where I inspected all the gambier gardens. At the latter place I was informed that it is very many years since any European Officer had passed through that district. Both at Rambungan and Sampadi there is abundance of land for those who wish to plant on a large scale.
During the month of September no less than three coconut plantations were seriously damaged by fire, Nacodah Ahmat of Rambungan and Awang Bujang of Bandang Lundu each having some 700 plants, averaging from 6 to 10 years, destroyed Nacodah Ahmat's case is still sub judice but the one of Aw. Bujang vs. Lamit and others has been dismissed as it was conclusively proved that defendants had given full and sufficient notice to plaintiff that they intended to burn their clearing. Plaintiff himself was present the day his estate caught fire, which was entirely due to his own negligence. At the same time Malays and Chinese, more particularly the latter, are far too callous in the matter of burning off their clearings and as often as not fail to give due warning to their neighbours that they are about to have a burn.
One Soon Lee, a Chinaman of Settuh, who has rented Inche Bakar's cocoanut plantation at Puloh Sampadian complains that large boats often stop off the island, the occupants of which he strongly suspects of stealing his cocoanuts. One night he had over 500 gathered cocoanuts stolen. Soon Lee further reports that on the 23rd August a schooner owned by Tuanku S'mail, a Puloh man, anchored off Sampadian and took on board as many as 14 passengers, persons living on the main-land at Rambungan and Settuh, several of whom were Cutch Coy debtors. I have issued a warrant for Tuanku S'mail's arrest and I hope it will not be long ere he visits Sarawak again.
Many of the bandong men here have complained of the treatment that they have received at the hands of one or two of the Customs' Officials at Santubong. This matter was duly reported to the Superintendent of Customs and I have since learnt from him that the two men implicated have been sentenced to six months imprisonment.
At 3.30 P.M. on 25th September the ss. Alice Lorraine arrived from Kuching. I received orders to proceed to Sadong to temporarily relieve Mr. Crocker. After handing over to the Court Writer I left at daylight on the 26th September for Kuching via Simatan. The s.s. Alice Lorraine brought $2,500 Straits dollars and returned with $2,500 old ones, also 25 head of Simatan cattle.
At about midnight on 4th October Goi Soo Chuan the Court Writer was awakened by a noise coming from his kitchen, on getting up to see he found same was alight. Fortunately the night was calm so the fire was quickly extinguished. Soo Chuan says he distinctly saw someone disappear into the darkness but was quite unable to recognize who it was. He therefore suspects this was the work of an incendiary. The Native Officer and Corporal Sohn Singh both examined the kitchen and are of the opinion that the fire originated from the outside.
There have been an unusual number of petty thefts reported these last two months and many of the Hokkien Chinese have been caused annoyance by finding in front of their shops of a morning large baskets of rubbish. Some also have had bricks on planks placed against their doors, all of which open inwards, so that the chances are that when the door is opened some one will receive a nasty blow. As shops owned by Khehs and Leochews have been left unmolested the conclusion is obvious. There has of late been quite an influx of Kheh Chinese into this bazaar; many of the new arrivals I feel sure are bad characters, no doubt the general depression in trade causes these undesirables to flitter about from one district to another in search of ill-gotten gains.
I am glad to be able to report that the engkabang tree, the fruit of which was such a godsend early in the year, it is very heavily in flower again this season. It is sincerely to be hoped that a large crop of nuts will follow and that natives will seize the opportunity of gathering them; and at the same time refrain from adulterationj. Although no cases of the kind are brought before thi scourt I have good grounds for knowing that some traders did resort to this seemingly smart practice. The people have been duly warned and anyone being proved to have committed such an offence will receive a very sharp lesson, as such methods of trading cannot be conducive to the prosperity of the country.
The Hon'ble the Resident and Mr. Crocker arrived at 2.30 P.M. on 8th October per s.s. Alice Lorraine from Kuching, returning in the same steamer the next morning at 11 A.M.
The s.l. La Fee arrived from Kuching on 14th october, Mr. E.L. Grove and myself were passengers by her; she returned to Kuchingh on 15th October at 8 A.M. Mr. Grove taking passage by her.
Each of the following days were observed as public holidays, when all Government Offices and school were closed - His Highness the Rajah Muda's birthday, September 26th, Her Highness the Ranee's birthday, October 9th, and Hari Raya, October 27th.
Three prisoners in October were forwarded to Kuching to complete their sentences. Those left here have been employed in the general up-keep of the station.
F.F. Boult
Resident 2nd Class.
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