172 IDOLATROUS MOUNTAIN TRIBES. [1846. 



other, I flattered myself the event might have produced 

 a solid and real commercial advantage, as well to the 

 nation as to the Company, and the more so, as from the 

 great probability of the Hill People being soon induced 

 also to plant, who, by receiving doth as the price of their 

 industry, would naturally increase the consumption, and 

 render our manufactures with them a necessary of life ; 

 these being by far the most numerous, and the Abo- 

 rigines of the island; another advantage accruing there- 

 from, is, that having once connected these people in 

 interest with the Company, and familiarized them to our 

 customs, the inhabitants of the sea coast would be unable 

 (were they inclined) to obstruct or molest the prosecution 

 of the Company's views. These were the motives which 

 first induced me to secure to the Company, in the treaty 

 with the Borneyans, the exclusive trade in Pepper, 

 although at that time on seemingly disadvantageous 

 terms ; how far I may have acted with propriety remains 

 with the Company to determine." 



The same writer observes: "With respect to the 

 Idaan, or Mooroots, as they are called here, I cannot 

 give any account of their disposition ; but from what I 

 have heard from the Borneyans, they are a set of aban- 

 doned Idolaters ; one of their tenets so strangely inhuman 

 I cannot pass unnoticed, which is, that their future 

 interest depends upon the number of their fellow crea- 

 tures they have killed in any engagement, or common 

 disputes, and count their degrees of happiness, to depend 

 on the number of Human skulls in their possession ; from 

 which, and the wild disorderly life they lead, unrestrained 



