Sarawak To Mert. BES 
The upper-viver Kayans are jealous of their brethren lower down 
working white birds’ nests, and they consider it infra dig. to work 
the inferior quality, which is all they have. The birds’ nests may 
be estimated at about fifty pikuls per annum, which at $200 per 
pikul would give $10,000. 
The Orang Kaya of the upper-river Kayans is known by the 
name of Prana Nreut, and can command about 5,000 fighting men. 
Tingir is a tributary of the Baram, running to the head of 
the Bintulu. There are now ten Chinese settled here who have 
opened a bazaar. These traders are from Bintulu. Having gone 
overland, they have, by competition and combination, pushed out 
the Brunei dealers. 
A rough estimate of the population between Bintulu and Ba- 
ram may be taken as follows :— 
Meri district. aa ee OOO 
Sibuti ,, ny ere) ; 
ivan, ., pe Ai a OOO 
Suai Fe ae ae 150 
say, 2,000 in all. 
The Kayan Chief of Tinjir, Trmatone by name, appears to be 
more or less enlightened ; he flies his own flag, erected on a regu- 
lar staff, affects looking-glasses, and encourages Chinese settlers. 
He commands about 1,000 fighting men. 
A Kayan Chief, Ovow Azir, has asked permission to settle in Bin- 
tulu, and he has moved and fixed his residence at Seping, at the 
head of the Bintulu, about eight hours’ march from TrmaLone’s 
house on the Tinjir. Report says that this movement has been 
brought about in a measure to avoid payment of a debt of 5800 
due to a Brunei Chinaman. 
The headman at Meri confirmed what we had heard before, that 
cinnabar is supposed to exist in the interior of the Baram. 
We made very slow progress to-day ; wind failed us. and we could 
make no use of our sail; the engines were out of order. 
9th May.—Off Balignian in the morning at 6 a.m. ; weather very 
hot. At 3 Pp... we were off Muka, and off the mouth of the Oya 
river about sunset. just too late to cross the bar; we, therefore, lay 
off all night. / 
