m A VESIT TO THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



found him siu'i-oundcd, as formerly, by ri l^appy ami 

 contented people. 1 1 is reception by thetiT had been most 

 gi^itifying to him : it was lata in the evening before the 

 flotilla anived, and every liouse was illuminated with 

 rows of lamps, which were reflected on the smootli surface 

 of the river for more than two nulee, having a very pretty 

 effect. 



Although %ve found Kuching greatly improved as 

 regards size and importance, it was not so in appearance. 

 We missed tlie magnificent jungle forest close to the hacks 

 of the picturesque native houses that faced the edge of 

 the river. Bare liilla, studded with black stumps of trees, 

 wMch had been burnt to make room for roads and 

 cultivation, now showed above the houses. 



Before entering into any fiirthcr description of the 

 province of Sarawak, it may be well to recapitulate, as 

 briefly as possible, what 1 stated in a former work, as to 

 the motives which first induced Sir James Brooke to visit 

 this country ; it will be useful also to glance over 

 subsequent events, up to the present time. 



"I had" observes Sir James Brooke in an early 

 journal, **for some years turned my mind to tlie 

 geography of the Indian ArcliipelagOj and cherished an 

 ardent desire to become better acquainte*! with a 

 country combining the richest natural productions with 

 an unrivalled degree of luxuriant beauty. Circumstances 

 for a time prevented my entering on this field for 

 enterprise and research ; and when the barriei^s were 



