1844.] POET VICTORIA. 185 



produce too much concussion to their fragile dwellings, 

 we gave our parting salute' of twenty-one guns. The 

 river was in a state of great animation with canoes, and 

 some so frail, that the undulations caused by our paddles 

 swamped them. Many tried their speed alongside of us, 

 but steam prevailed, and by the time we had reached the 

 end of the main street, we were alone in our black cloud. 

 On passing the Island of Cherimon, I really felt, much 

 as the compliment was flattering to our Flag, that the 

 utter demolition of the batteries, which presented rather 

 a pleasing feature in the landscape, was almost too great 

 an exhibition of humility. We reached the ' Samarang ' 

 off Labuan, the same evening, and having executed 

 the necessary details of the southern face of this group, 

 before sunset, the ship was moved to the passage between 

 the islands leading northerly, and before dark safely 

 anphored in the new harbour, which, in honour to our 

 Gracious Queen, and under the impression that ere long 

 the Flag of Great Britain would proudly wave over it as 

 her territory, I named, " Port Victoria."* 



Great exertion was now in force to complete this 

 channel, and make the necessary search for coal ; accom- 

 panied by - Mr. Brooke, we traced the eastern side of 

 Labuan, and discovered seams at one or two of its north 

 eastern extremities, which promised a more abundant 

 supply beneath. These seams amounted to eight and ten 

 inches in thickness, the dip of the main ones inclined at 

 angles of twenty to forty degrees southerly, or towards the 



* This has at length been realized, Capt. Mundy, of the ' Iris ', 

 having formally taken possion of it. Vide Newspaper reports, and 

 letter at p. 34. 



