244 THE PRIMP: MINISTER. [1845. 



fectly satisfied if you will only mention to the Governor 

 of Manila, that you heard him promise to remit the sum 

 as soon as he could earn it." The manner of performing 

 this act, added to his confidence in what he thought 

 honour would compel the Governor to do, made a much 

 stronger impression on my mind than could otherwise 

 have been conveyed, of the fine feelings which generally 

 actuated this young man. I think him quite equal, if 

 not superior, to our favourite Budduruddin, at Sarawak 

 (now at Brunai). 



The Prime Minister is also a very superior person. 

 He does not chew betel, but preserves his teeth, of a pure 

 white, and his frequent and last expressions to me, with 

 a gentle pressure of the hand, were, " I wish to be an 

 Englishman, when you come here again, bring me English 

 clothes, and I will be dressed as one." His son, is also a 

 prepossessing young man, about twenty years of age, very 

 sedate and stately, at the same time very good-natured, 

 and the handsomest Malay I have seen. All the Chiefs 

 of Gunung Taboor eclipse those of Bulungan, indeed, I 

 know not of a single friendship formed at the latter 

 place, excepting with the Sultan and Sagai Chief. 



At my last private interview with the Sultan, at which 

 he would only admit Tuan Hadji and our interpreter to 

 be present, he conveyed into my hand, suddenly closing 

 it with great mystery, what they term here the " Snake 

 Stone." This is a polished globe of quartz, about the size 

 of a musket bah 1 , which he described as of infinite value, 

 an " heir loom ;" and reported to have been extracted 

 from the head of an enchanted snake. At first, I 

 suspected it to be a Bezoar, but, on inspection, found it 



