174 



A VISIT TO THE INDUN AHCHIPELAGO. 



well observed, **we stopped far short of tlriving them 

 to desperation, we still made tliem feel that they were 

 no longer secure from piinishment, even in their remotest 

 retreats/' 



On the 18th August the expedition again dropped 

 down the Kanowit. On their way they met some 

 twenty bangkongs from Mato, a place recently destroyed 

 by the pirates. Tliia was a detachment from a large 

 force which the Mate people had left at the mouth of 

 the river. They were handsome boats, about sixty feet 

 in length ; swift, light, and well armed. It %vas the 

 first time they ever bad the courage to enter these 

 dangerous waters, and they were not a httle dis- 

 appointed — especially as they were smarting under such 

 recent injuries- — at having to turn back without being 

 allowed to settle accounts with their oppressors. 



Among the prisoners taken in the course of tiiis 

 expedition was a Dyak boy about nine years old, whose 

 father, as well as a brother, were in the pirate balla, and 

 fell on the night of 31st July. This boy was brought 

 to the Rajah^s prahu. - He was an intelligent Uttle felloWj 

 Kiuijah by name : after a while bo appeared quite at 

 home ; smoked a dgar ; ate and chatted away as imcon- 

 cemed as possible. "ftTien the boats, on tboir return, 

 approached \\m late home, he stated that he knew where 

 some jars with many valuables had been buried : they 

 were found at tlie spot pointed out by him. The moment 

 tliey were put on board, Ranjah thought that he had 



