OF THE SARAWAK RIVER. 405 



purchased by the Tuanku at Sadong, ran away to his 

 friends on being brought to Sarawak. 



At night these people made a great feast, to which 

 I descended, walking on gongs and other musical in- 

 struments of brass placed for the purpose, to the 

 verandah. When the dancing was to take place, I was 

 conducted to a kind of couch, which they had made of 

 bamboo, and covered with their finest cloths, as my 

 particular seat : a canopy of scarlet cloth hung over my 

 head ; by the seat were placed immense baskets of Padi 

 and rice, to which many fowls were secured, which I 

 found were all intended for me ; but which I represented 

 to them that, as I was not going any further, I should 

 not want, and refused as well as I could. I was 

 obliged, however, to take some, so chose a basket of 

 delicious fruits. The dancing was similar to that 

 described in former parts of the journal ; but my Malays 

 were requested not to come in while the girls were 

 present. As I have never seen this practised before, 

 I fancy there must be some particular reason for this 

 prohibition. I retired early, but the music and dancing 

 were continued during the night. Though a pig had 

 been killed, none of the people were intoxicated when I 

 left. 



Dec. 10th. At 9 A.M. left Sennah on our return. 

 The heavy rain last night has caused a considerable 

 fresh in the river, so that the stream being very strong, 

 and the rocks all covered we were carried down with 

 great speed, though accompanied with some danger 

 from the sunken rock. I collected a good many seeds of 



