Alfred Russel Wallace 



smoothly as tliey do here. We sleep with open doors and 

 go about constantly unarmed; one or two petty robberies 

 and a little private fighting have taken place among the 

 Chinese, but the great proportion of them are quiet, honest, 

 decent sort of men. They did not at first like the strictness 

 and punctuality with which the English manager kept them 

 to their work, and two or three ringleaders tried to get up 

 a strike for short hours and higher wages, but Mr. C.'s 

 energy and decision soon stopped this by sending off the 

 ringleaders at once, and summoning all the Dyaks and 

 Malays in the neighbourhood to his assistance in case of 

 any resistance being attempted. It was very gratifying to 

 see how rapidly they came up at his summons, and this 

 display of power did much good, for since then everything 

 has gone on smoothly. Preparations are now makiug for 

 building a *^ joss house," a sure sign that the Chinese have 

 settled to the work, and giving every promise of success in 

 an undertaking which must have a vast influence on the 

 progress of commerce and civilisation of Borneo and the 

 surrounding countries. India, Australia, and every country 

 with which they have communication must also be incal- 

 culably benefited by an abundant supply of good coal 

 within two days' steam of Singapore. Let us wish success, 

 then, to the Si Munjon Coal Works !— A. K. W. 



To His Sister, Mrs. Sims 



Sadong River Borneo]. June 25, 1855. 



My dear Fanny, — ... I am now obliged to keep fowls 

 and pigs, or we should get nothing to eat. I have three 

 pigs now and a China boy to attend to them, who also 

 assists in skinning ^^ orang-utans," which he and Charles 

 are doing at this moment. I have also planted some onions 

 and pumpkins^ which were above ground in three days and 



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