194 SAKARRAN AND SAREBAS. 



head of the Rajah of Sarawak, and annihilating his 

 settlement. A stage for drying the much coveted 

 head has been accordingly erected, and one of their 

 rare and much valued jars has been prepared for its 

 reception. 



At the attack on the Balow village, in the height 

 of their excitement, Bulan is reported, with others, 

 to have called out to the assailed, that his only 

 wish was that a steam-ship, of which in reality they 

 have the greatest possible dread, might heave in 

 sight, as he would then have the pleasure of 

 showing the Balow people how he would treat their 

 friends, the English, previously to taking their own 

 heads. A similar cry, taunting the Princes of Borneo 

 with their relations to the English, was raised at their 

 unfortunate massacre, and the arrival of British ships 

 was in the same manner spoken of in derision ; but on 

 Admiral Cochrane's appearance in the river they 

 quickly retired from their forts. It has been before 

 stated, that while the taunting expressions above 

 recited were used by Bulan, the son and nephew of 

 this thoughtless savage were in the hands of the Eng- 

 lish : he is reported to have said, when reminded of 

 this circumstance, that his sons were clever in the 

 jungle, and that he trusted to their making their escape 

 as soon as the news reached Sarawak. 



Though from their friendly intercourse with the 

 Malays they have adopted some of the customs, and 

 have borrowed considerably from the language of that 



