NORTH BORNEO. 
27 
of break-down before one of his partners for a few moments, then with a bound he is off to 
the other end of the house : as this is considered really hard work, there are numerous 
intervals during the performance, which are occupied in administering potations to the 
supposed exhausted male performer. Ihe music consists of gongs beaten in unison, and 
the beating of the native tom-tom. The long Dusun houses are well suited to such enter¬ 
tainments, one side being clear from end to end and covered with elastic planks of unrolled 
bamboo ; as usual, the building is erected on piles. The other half of the house is divided 
into many small cubicles (like a school dormitory); these are the private apartments of 
the various inhabitants. 
On the following morning we left Patatan after having spent a most enjoyable visit, 
e embarked once more in the rotten little prahus and set sail; but the wind soon changed 
to an unfavourable quarter, so our progress was slow. All Bornean natives are of course 
ignorant and therefore superstitious, but to-day a curious coincidence happened: several 
heavy drops of rain fell on us and on the sea around without any clouds being visible; the 
men began to talk to one another, and when we inquired what they were conversing about, 
they told us it was a most unlucky sign, and that some people were being killed at the 
moment: however, we laughed at their fears ; but it was only a few hours later that 
we learned that their curious omen was actually going to prove true. At last we reached 
some small islands known as Pulo Danarwan; here we found the steam-launches anchored, 
and judged by the faces of the natives on board that something serious had taken place. 
A Dyak policeman had just arrived with bad news; he told us that Dr. Fraser had been shot 
dead, Captain de Fontaine wounded beyond hope of recovery, the Jemadhar and two 
other officers killed, and eight police wounded, some severely. The Dyak himself seemed 
in great glee, his legs being splashed with blood, and he exhibited his sword to some of his 
admirers. As I was not at Kawang, where this unfortunate affair took place, and as it has 
to do with my tale, I copy extracts from ‘ The British North Borneo Herald ’ of June 1st, 
1885:—“It appears that on the 10th inst. . . . that Captain de Fontaine . . . with a party 
of constabulary arrived at Kawang, which was selected as the most convenient and direct 
point of departure for an expedition to the village of a Murut chief, one Bandurong. 
“ Messengers were sent to Papar to bring in 50 Dusuns to act as carriers for the party, 
but only 30 came, and the Bajow headmen of Kawang were asked to supply the deficiency. 
The headmen reluctantly promised to use their influence, but it was plain that the service 
was very unpopular with the people, and thereupon the Resident announced that a fine 
would be imposed if the requisition were not complied with. The Bajows of the coast are 
noted cattle-robbers, and the Dusun carriers from Papar recognized a buffalo which 
had recently been stolen and laid their case before the Resident, who ordered the buffalo to 
be returned to its owners. This action, though of course unavoidable, had a tendency to 
further augment the ill-feeling brought about by the demand for baggage-carriers. Amongst 
the Bajows were recognized the noted cattle-thieves, Sahat and Bagul Puteh. 
“ Orang Kaya Awang, an agent of Pangeran Roup, who has been influenced by persons 
in Brunei, Avas also seen going about amongst the villagers .... On the 12th instant, as 
it was found impossible to obtain the required number of baggage-carriers, it was proposed 
to defer the departure of the expedition pending further communication with Papar. The 
