58 VISIT TO THE SULTAN. [1843 



were seated on either side of His Highness, who was not 

 only surrounded by his guards, which lined both sides, 

 but out of extreme compliment, I suppose, two very 

 suspicious looking characters were posted behind my 

 chair, with rusty blunderbusses pointed towards my head. 

 I perceived, however, that they were not in fighting 

 order ; being without flints or priming, I was not much 

 alarmed by them. The business of explaining the object 

 of our visit having been duly executed by Mr. Brooke 

 and his interpreter, and the ceremonial compliments 

 passed, we were invited to a repast, in a neat little de- 

 tached chamber where it had been prepared for us, with 

 chairs and table in the European style. The repast con- 

 sisted of curries and other dishes of fowls, rice, vegetables, 

 &c., served up in very fair style ; but however good the 

 mulligatawny or currie soup in the centre vessel might 

 have proved, there was a certain want of taste in the 

 selection of the utensil, which, although like a tureen, it 

 had a cover, excited a hearty laugh, and certainly des- 

 troyed any inclination to partake of its contents. 



The Sultan, who is a nephew of the Rajah Muda 

 Hassim, appears to be about forty years of age, very 

 heavy and timid, whilst a degree of stupidity or idiotcy 

 is strongly exhibited in his features ; he has also a defor- 

 mity in the right hand, in having two thumbs. He did 

 not join us either in the room, or at table, but deputed 

 his Pangeran Usop to do the honours. 



In relation to the capital of Borneo, Mr. Adams, our 

 Assistant-Surgeon, makes the following observations : 



" Brunai is truly a city built upon the waters, and 



