138 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



Williams began to be ill. But there was no talk of business. 

 His goods had been landed at the Council Hall, as is usual, 

 but not unpacked. The Nakodah assured him all was right. 

 He himself had a quantity of merchandise waiting under the 

 same conditions. 



So a week passed ; etiquette was satisfied, and Tamawan 

 invited him to open his bales. The chiefs squatted in a 

 semi-circle, all the population behind, in delicious expectancy. 

 The jars were brought forth — first a Gusi, the costliest 

 species, worth ^^300 to ^1000 in 'produce,' among the 

 Dyaks, had it only been genuine. This Williams presented, 

 with an air, to Tamawan. The chief glanced at it, observed 

 with Kayan frankness that for his own part he liked brighter 

 colours, and, so to speak, called for the next article. 

 Williams grasped the fatal truth when he saw how care- 

 lessly his precious Gusi was regarded, not by Tamawan 

 alone but by all. Hoping against hope, however, he brought 

 forth a Naga — a Rusa. The chiefs became impatient. ' Show 

 your good trade, Tuan,' they said. Perhaps it was lucky 

 that he had some miscellaneous ' notions ' ; but there was 

 only enough to make the needful presents. 



Utter collapse ! The foolish fellow had not thought of 

 asking whether Kayans valued these unlovely jars. Perhaps 

 the Brunei nobles could not have told him, but Nakodah 

 Rahim must have been perfectly well aware. By keeping 

 silence he had transported a cargo of his own goods to 

 Langusan at Williams' expense — without freight or charges ! 

 The victim could not quite restrain his anger, but it would 

 have been madness to quarrel. He had indeed several 

 Malays, perhaps trusty. But the crew outnumbered them, 

 and the Kayans doubtless would back the Nakodah. There 

 was nothing to be done but wait, with as much good temper 

 as he could summon, until that worthy had sold out. During 

 this time Williams hunted, explored the woods, and collected 



