BRITISH BORNEO. 55 
sion of an important Province on the West Coast, to the 
South of the original boundary, to which the name of Dent 
Province has been given, and which includes the Padas and 
Kalias Rivers, and in the same deed of cession were also in- 
cluded two rivers which had been excepted in the first grant— 
the Tawaran and. the Bangawan. ‘The annual tribute under 
this cession is $3,100. ‘The principal rivers within the Com- 
pany’s boundaries still unleased are the Kwala Lama, Mem- 
bakut, Inanam and Menkabong. For fiscal reasons, and for 
the better prevention of the smuggling of arms and ammuni- 
tion for sale to head-hunting tribes, it is very desirable that 
the Government of these remaining independent rivers should 
be acquired by the Company. 
On the completion of the negotiations with the two Sultans, 
Baron VON OVERBECK, who was shortly afterwards joined by 
Mr. DENT, hoisted his flag—the house flag of Mr. DENT’S 
firm—at Sandakan, on the East Coast, and at Tampassuk and 
Pappar on the West, leaving at each a European, with a few 
so-called Police to represent the new Government, agents 
from the Sultans of Sulu and Brunai accompanying him to 
notify to the people that the supreme power had been trans- 
ferred to Europeans. The common people heard the an- 
nouncement with their usual apathy, but the officer left in 
charge had a difficult part to play with the headmen who, in 
the absence of any strong central Government, had practi- 
cally usurped the functions of Government in many of the 
rivers. These Chiefs feared, and with reason, that not only 
would their importance vanish, but that trade with the inland 
tribes would be thrown open to all, and slave dealing be put a 
stop to under the new regime. At Sandakan, the Sultan’s 
former Governor refused to recognise the changed position 
omattairs, but he had a resolute man to deal with in Mr. 
We baveRYER, and before he could do much harm, he lost 
his life by the capsizing of his prahu while on a trading 
voyage. 
At Tampassuk, Mr. PRETYMAN, the Resident, had a very 
uncomfortable post, being in the midst of lawless, cattle-lift- 
ing and slave-dealing Bajaus and Illanuns. He, with the able 
assistanee ot Mr. F. X. Witt, an ex-Naval officer of the 
