1844.] EMBARKATION OF THE RAJ AH. 171 



mouth of the river. It was highly important to the 

 success of our mission that we should have the full influ- 

 ence of the Rajah Muda Hassim, at Brunai, or we might 

 otherwise have been over-reached by the duplicity of the 

 Prime Minister Pangeran Usop, whom we well knew to 

 be the staunch friend of the pirates, and who would use 

 his utmost endeavours to frustrate any scheme, having 

 for its object an investigation into any piratical manoeuvres, 

 in which he might probably be remotely, if not directly, 

 implicated. 



On the 6th of October, the ' Samarang ' quitted Singa- 

 pore, and reaching the mouth of the Moratabas on the 

 13th, we found the 'Phlegethon' anchored, and her 

 people cutting firewood. 



The following morning, we moved on to Kuching and 

 joined our friend, Mr. Brooke, whom I found very busy 

 making the necessary arrangements for the embarkation 

 of the Rajah's family. As it would materially curtail the 

 delay, it was kindly arranged by Captain Scott, com- 

 manding the ' Phlegethon ', that he would receive 

 them on board that vessel, giving up his cabin to the 

 wives of the Rajah, and his brothers, amounting together 

 to twenty-four. Any description of the fuss and ceremony 

 of their embarkation would be tedious. As one important 

 feature, it was imperative that no inferior eye should 

 behold these fair creatures, and to obviate any such pro- 

 fanation, the awnings were spread, the after part of the 

 vessel screened off with heavy canvas, and the people 

 kept in the fore part of the vessel. Late at night, the 

 Royal barge came alongside by torch-light, and each 

 precious individual, carefully concealed by a mantle, was 



