54 COCKPIT HALL. [1843 



Nibon fence enclosed its atap * walls. The habitable 

 portion of our domicile was elevated on piles, four feet 

 from the ground, and consisted of three separate apart- 

 ments, with open windows, some made by ourselves, and 

 a floor made of split Nibon, covered with neat mats. 

 A ladder mounted to the door, some rude planks formed 

 our table, and our wardrobes hung around the walls. 



" Bamboo and sugar canes formed little plantations 

 around our garden, but all beyond was wild uncultivated 

 jungle. At a short distance, a dark forest upreared its 

 stately trees, where the plaintive cry of the Wou-wou 

 might be heard, and where the lively squirrel and a 

 hundred other interesting animals gamboled among the 

 branches. 



" A pleasant spring was near our house, Capsicums and 

 Pine-apples grew abundantly in our garden, and close 

 under our dining-room windows was a magnificent spe- 

 cimen of the Cassia grandis. The glories of 'Cockpit 

 Hall* are now, however, departed; the progress of 

 improvement has been fatal to its picturesque character, 

 and the total aspect of the grounds in its vicinity has 

 been changed. During the whole period of our deten- 

 tion at Sarawak, the conduct of Mr. Brooke was kind in 

 the extreme. We were ever welcome at his hospitable 

 board, his visits were frequent to the house occupied by 

 the Lieutenants, and on numerous occasions he enlivened 

 ' Cockpit Hall ' by his presence, ingratiating himself with 

 all by the winning kindness of his manner, and I am 

 sure every individual will unite with me in acknowledg- 



* Leaves of Nipa Palm. 



