THE SINGHIE DYAKS. 293 



opposite to that they now occupy, while the men were 

 absent at their ordinary avocations, and the women and 

 children alone were in the place. They killed many of 

 the occupants, and carried upwards of 200 women and 

 children into slavery. 



It is this division of the Sow tribe, which on Mr. 

 Brooke's arrival, was found to be almost entirely with- 

 out women ; but many have since been restored to 

 them, though numbers still remain in captivity. On 

 account of the destitute state in which he found it, 

 this tribe has been the peculiar care of Mr. Brooke, and 

 under his fostering kindness, the village has been built 

 on Rat, a much stronger position than that they 

 formerly occupied, and the houses are now amongst the 

 most comfortable and well-built of any belonging to the 

 tribes of Sarawak : the people also are prosperous, and 

 their families increasing. 



Next in order, following the downward course of the 

 stream, we observe, after passing Tundong, on the 

 right, the principal station of the Chinese, employed in 

 the produce of vegetables for the use of their country- 

 men working in the neighbouring gold and antimony 

 mines; and about two miles inland, on the left-hand 

 bank of the river, the Mountain of Singhie, which is 

 occupied by the Dyaks of the same name, whose houses 

 are about one hundred and forty in number, under the 

 care of two Orang Kayas. 



This tribe has the character of being the least cultivated 

 of those of Sarawak ; they have always been able to pre- 

 serve their villages from the ravages of the Sakarran tribes, 

 though many of their people were cut off at their farms 



