108 BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. [chap. 



water to us as we ate our tiffin. Some attempts at cultivation had 

 been made near the huts, and the soil here — as indeed elsewhere 

 upon the island — appeared tolerably rich. Some of the sugar- 

 cane was good and heavy, and tobacco also was doing well, but the 

 food of these people is chiefly fish and rice obtained from the 

 Bajaus. The only cereal grown is maize. 



Not many months after our visit to Banguey the " German 

 Borneo Company " took up 10,000 acres upon the island, with the 

 intention of growing tobacco. The manager was a German familiar 

 with tobacco -cultivation in Smnatra, where, as I have already 

 mentioned, the "wrappers" of many of the good Havana cigars 

 are grown. Labour was imported, and the prospects appearing 

 excellent, they claimed the option of selecting another 10,000 

 acres. Disturbances with the natives ensued, however, and in 

 a fracas with the coolies two of the latter were shot by the 

 whites. Wliether the venture was given up or not I do not 

 know, but the German Borneo Company appear to have since 

 transferred their attentions to Sulu Island, where they have 

 obtained land grants from the Spanish, and, in September, 1885, 

 — as stated on a former page, — they had commenced tobacco- 

 growing with every prospect of success. 



We left a few little presents with our hostesses, and struck 

 westwards through the jungle to the sea. At the edge of the 

 beach spoor of wild pig, and of, probably, the little muntjac,- was 

 abundant. During our walk we were attracted by dismal bowlings, 

 and on searching in the forest came across a small puppy who had 

 lost his way. We carried him off to add to the numljer of our 

 pets, and " Banguey," as he was afterwards named, exchanged the 

 precarious existence of a life among the Dyaks for the cerde of 

 Newfoundlands and Dachshunds on the Marchesa. With his queer 

 appearance and the absurd gravity of his manner he soon became 

 a favourite, and would play sadly with the parrots and monkeys, 

 with whom he seemed to have more in common than his own kind. 

 But he was a Bohemian and vauricn by birth, and the aviari 



