30 BRITISH BORNEO. 
now and then an outlying house would be attacked during the 
night and the headless corpses of its occupants be found on 
the morrow. There being no forts and no organized force to 
resist attack, the houses, moreover, being nearly all construct- 
ed of highly inflammable palm leaf thatch and matting, a 
universal panic prevailed amongst all classes, when the 
Limbang people announced their intention of firing the 
town. Considerable distress too prevailed, as the spirit of 
rebellion had spread to all the districts near the capital, and 
the Brunai people who had settled in them were compelled 
to flee for their lives, leaving their property in the hands of 
the insurgents, while the people of the city were unable to 
follow their usual avocations—trading, planting, sago wash- 
ing and so forth, the Brunai River, as has been pointed out, 
producing nothing itself. British trade being thus affected by 
the continuance of such a state of affairs, and the British 
subjects in the city being in daily fear from the apprehended 
attack by the rebels, the English Consul-General did what he 
could to try and arrange matters. A certain Datu KLASSIE, 
one of the most influential cf the Bisaya Chiefs, came into 
Brunai without any followers, but bringing with him, as a 
proof of the friendliness of his mission, his wife. Instead of 
utilizing the services of this Chief in opening communication 
with the natives, the Tumonggong, maddened by his ignomi- 
nious defeat, seized both Datu KLASSIE and his wife and placed 
them in the public stocks, heavily ironed. 
I was Acting Consul-General at the time, and my assistance 
in arranging matters had been requested by the Brunai Gov- 
ernment, while the Bisayas also had expressed their warm 
desire to meet and consult with me if I would trust myself 
amongst them, and I at once arranged so to do; but, being well 
aware that my mission would be perfectly futile unless I was 
the bearer of terms from the Sultan and unless Datu 
KLASSIE and his wife were released, I refused to take any steps 
until these two points were conceded. 
This was a bitter pill for the Brunai Rajas and especially 
for the Tumonggong, who, though perfectly aware that he was 
quite unable, not only to punish the rebels, but even to defend 
the city against their attacks, yet clung to the vain hope that 
