14« SPORT IN ASIA AND AFRICA 



train a bridge over a small stream. The bridge 

 had no parapet, and Mr. Fraser told me that on 

 one occasion he had, while travelling by train, 

 arrived at this bridge when the stream was in 

 high flood. The bridge was completely covered, 

 and he asked the Malay engine-driver rather 

 anxiously whether the bridge was still there. 

 ** God knows," said the Malay, and started the 

 train. I think this was the most amusing instance 

 of Oriental fatalism I have ever heard of. 



At Tenom, in the Resident's house, I saw the 

 ** exhibit " of an important criminal case, which 

 had recently occurred. The Muruts in British 

 North Borneo, when I visited the country, were 

 still addicted to head-hunting, although under 

 the Company's rule the practice was being 

 steadily suppressed. Six Javanese coolies ran 

 away from a plantation in the vicinity of Tenom 

 and took refuge in a Murut village. The chief 

 of the village had, on previous occasions, taken 

 runaway coolies back to the plantation, and had 

 received rewards of three dollars per head for 

 doing so. On this occasion, however, a tempter 

 in the village had said to him, ** What is the 

 use of eighteen dollars ? Let us take their heads." 

 The chief yielded to the temptation ; and the 

 unfortunate Javanese were led into an ambuscade 

 on the following morning and murdered. The 

 murder was kept quiet for several months, but 

 rumours of foul play began to circulate, and 

 Mr. Francis, the Resident, sent for the chief 

 and questioned him. His answers were unsatis- 

 factory, and further inquiries were instituted, 

 as a result of which the chief was placed on his 



