BY THE REV. J. B. TEGISON- WOODS. 



157 



intended as an honourable demonstration, bub which looked like a 

 reception by an armed rabble of very villainous-looking pirates. 

 Every sort of excuse was invented to refuse the apology demanded- 

 The next day the lioats were brought up and the sultan admitted 

 us to his august presence. The venerable potentate was 100 years 

 old, and looked every hour of it. He was surrounded by an 

 oriental court of truly theatrical splendour, presenting a scene of 

 silks and satins, gold, silver, precious stones, feathers and tinsel 

 unequalled anywhere. His Highness objected to make any repar- 

 ation to the Governor, but the display of a little firmness by 

 Captain Bickford induced him to say he would consider it. Captain 

 Bickford said he would call again in three hours, and he departed 

 leaving His Highness in some trepidation. Long before the three 

 hours had elapsed, a royal embassy brought us a humble apology 

 from the SJultan to the Governor expressing great regret for what 

 had happened and promises of amendment for the future. 



It need hardly be said that the journey to Brunei was replete 

 with interest. It would take long to describe the interesting 

 features of the people and their singular modes of living. My 

 opportunities were but short, but still in that time I was able to 

 ohtain some information ahout the natural history which J hope 

 one day to publish. On our return to the ship we made a special 

 visit to a coal mine at the mouth of the river worked by two 

 enterprising Scotchmen — Messrs. Cowie — on a mining lease granted 

 by the Sultan. There is an immense outcrop of thick seams of 

 tertiary coal, similar in age and ap|>earance to the coal beds at 

 Lihuan, at Sarawak and the Dutch settlements on the south coast 

 of Borneo. The mines are very interesting, being worked with 

 the aid of Chinese coolies. Some trouble hid been experienced 

 from wandering tribes of Muruts at the time of our visit. 



During our stay I also visited the old coal-workings at Labuan . 

 There seems no scarcity of good coal which is going to decay, 

 together with the valuable plant of machinery, pumping gear, 

 tram-stock, loading and unloading pier, <fec. 



