1846.] KUALA LAMA. 147 



the poor Bajows tell you " we are the poor but good 

 Bajows ; and I have met with more apparent warmth of 

 heart, amongst them than amongst Malays. Any act of 

 kindness which they perform, is with cheerfulness, not 

 grudging time or labour. If the least act, even to obtaining 

 a vessel of water, be attempted by a Malay, he carries it 

 in the very manner, with the awkwardness of pride. 



My own conviction is, that neither the Bajow nor any of 

 the mountain tribes, Dyak, Kadyan, Dusun, or Sagai, will 

 harm you, if they once comprehend who you are ; but 

 living in constant dread of their oppressive neighbour, 

 the Malay, and habitually launching their weapons at 

 any object not answering to their idea of friend, it not 

 unfrequently happens that they are excessively shy in 

 meeting Europeans, or dealing with them ; the impression 

 being, as explained to me by the Sultan of Gunung 

 Taboor : " They consider you, in being superior to the 

 Dutch, and to ourselves, as only capable of doing them 

 so much more injury." This was from an honest, clear- 

 headed Malay, a Sultan, " who wished to be English, 

 and to hoist the English Flag." When, therefore, the 

 British character is better known on the east coast of 

 Borneo I am satisfied that the visits of our vessels will be 

 courted, not avoided as pests. 



Westerly, from Kimanis, we fell in with the Memba- 

 kut, an insignificant stream ; no natives were seen. This 

 is succeeded by the Kuala-lama, termed fresh. It is 

 barred to anything above five feet draft, nearly dry at 

 low water, and rollers dangerous. At this river we met 

 with two prahus, the crews of which did not appear to 

 be friendly, they were warned off, and departed rather 



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