1845.] THE SAGAI TRIBE. 225 



not exhibiting the picturesque lake scenery of the Curan 

 district ; large patches of cleared land, and the huts of 

 the Sagai people (Idaan or Sagai of this region) were 

 scattered along the banks, and many of the natives, now 

 no longer influenced by fear, kept pace in their canoes 

 abreast of our boats : in some cases, where they contained 

 men of importance, and known to Tuan Hadji, who was 

 now in my boat, they were permitted to come on board 

 and chat with him. About 10 o'clock, some of the 

 Sagai canoes, containing Chiefs dressed in the most 

 fantastic manner, and standing, or slightly stooping, in 

 their paddling action, began to thicken and form our 

 escort; their curiosity being evidently much excited, 

 whilst some of the principal betrayed great anxiety to 

 get on board of our boats. This, however, could not 

 be allowed, as our men were already sufficiently fatigued 

 without being further impeded by the additional strain 

 of towing their canoes. At noon we anchored to dine, 

 and dress in white, and shortly after moved on for 

 Bulungan. Some of my readers may smile at the idea 

 of our dressing just at the moment that we might be 

 expected to become engaged ; but such points of eti- 

 quette, coolly and formally carried out, serve to reduce 

 a force into a proper condition of discipline; a well- 

 dressed orderly body of men adds, moreover, very mate- 

 rially to semblance of power, exhibiting a degree of cool- 

 ness and determination ; and further, without orders being 

 issued, intimates to them, in terms generally understood, 

 that action may be looked for. It will now be seen that 

 I had not adopted these measures inconsiderately. 

 We were shortly met by a canoe containing some of 



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