ITS INHABITANTS THEIR EMPLOYMENTS. 117 



condition is also seen in the appearance of their houses, 

 which, three years since, were built entirely on nibong 

 posts and of atap leaves ; but, finding that the Euro- 

 pean influence is likely to be permanent which at first 

 they feared might not be the case all the better classes 

 have, within the above-named period, raised houses on 

 posts of balean, and with wooden sides, which would 

 be considered palaces in the capital city of Bruni. 

 Roads along the town to the court-house and offices 

 of business have been constructed, so that the natives 

 can now communicate with each other by land, whereas 

 formerly the only method available was by water. 



The other classes of the inhabitants of Sarawak com- 

 prise the poor people who are free, and the slaves and 

 slave debtors. The amba raja, or followers of the 

 princes, are not known here. In Sarawak the poorest 

 man can always without difficulty ensure to himself a 

 comfortable subsistence, as at present the amount of 

 labour is not in proportion to the demand ; but as 

 the Malay is averse to working for hire, and much 

 prefers gaining a livelihood by trading, it generally 

 happens that having gained a few dollars as a 

 servant, or labourer to the Europeans, these are laid 

 out in a stock of beads, salt, and brass wire, with 

 which he starts up the country on a trading expedition 

 to the Dyaks ; and though, notwithstanding the com- 

 petition caused by so many pursuing the same course 

 of life, the profits are usually very large, and no ex- 

 penses are incurred beyond the first purchase of the 

 trading stock, as the trader always expects to be fed 



