178 



A VISIT TO THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



full of natives ; one fa(*cd the river, tbo otiier was 

 eituafeed up the creeL Tliese buildings contained no 

 fewer tlian 1500 people. 



At niglit a conference was held, Tlicy codd neither 

 deny nor excuse the charge brought against them, not 

 only of being in league witli the pirates, but of occasionally 

 joining their balla ; in proof of which human heads were 

 found m tiielr houses. They were glad to get off with 

 no heavier punishment than a fine. The Kauowits are a 

 tattooed race. 



While the conference was going on, a splash was heard 

 as of a man in the water ; and the rapid current, in spite 

 of every one being on the rjui vhe, and lights at hand, 

 soon carried the object out of sight. While the Europeans 

 were jet wondering and gaping about, a young Malay, 

 called Anah Ular (snake's child), plunged into tho river, 

 and striking out down the stream, gi^asped, just m he 

 was sinking, the hand of one of the Iloj/afisfs crew. 



The Eftes, which consisted of brass guns and jars, 

 were slow in forthcoming, until some little demonstration 

 was made on the part of the llajali towards helping 

 liimBolf. 



These guns and jars were afterwards sold by public 

 auction at Sariiwak ; and the proceeds were applied to 

 rewarding the captoi-s of prisoners taken without being 

 }iviTt — a regulation of tho Eajah, and an example that 

 will have its effect in introducing a more humane system 

 of warfare. 



