60 
NORTH BORNEO. 
clothed in a loose suit of thin blue cloth, a red handkerchief tied round his head, and above 
this a large round hat made of fine strips of bamboo was placed as a protection from the 
sun; in his girdle he wore a short kris, and a long thin-shafted spear completed his weapons; 
from his shoulder was slung a small satchel in which he carried his sirih-chewing parapher¬ 
nalia; being without teeth he pounded the betel-nut in a small metal cylinder before 
chewing: this is perhaps one of the filthiest customs indulged in by Malay races, the mouth 
becoming full of bright red saliva which is spat out, without regard to cleanliness, in all 
directions. The Datu is one of the Company’s subsidized chiefs, receiving a small monthly 
payment for his services, which consist of collecting poll-tax and settling any paltry disputes 
among the people ; but the Company have also subsidized another Datu living about two 
miles distant from Tumanggong, who was at one time in open warfare with him, when they 
fortified their houses and had long shots at each other’s followers with “ badils ” when 
possible, but their enmity is now reduced to sullen hatred, consequently there is little 
harmony or justice administered by these chiefs amongst the Bajows of this river; added to 
this there are several other Ilanun chiefs who have always been enemies to, and independent 
of, the Bajows, and seem hardly inclined to recognize the selection of these rulers placed over 
them. Consequently this district is equal in lawlessness to any part of Western Palawan, 
which is not surprising considering that the population only as far back as 1845 was famous 
all round the coasts of Borneo for their piratical pursuits. At that date their villages were 
distroyed by Sir Thomas Cochrane, and the supplanting of sailing-ships by steamers utterly 
ruined their occupation. This strong buccaneering instinct now bubbles to the surface of 
their characters in the shape of buffalo-lifting, which causes much ill-feeling and occasional 
murders amongst them. 
As an instance of how subsidized chiefs are to be trusted in the administration of justice, 
the following tale will show :—I left Datu Tumanggong’s house, as I could see that we were 
unwelcome guests, so he lent me another small dwelling—used by the Bajows when watching 
their rice-fields—only a few yards distant from his more spacious residence. One night, 
shortly after dark, two Ilanuns came to our house with a buffalo which had been stolen 
from them in the morning, and which they had tracked to the house of Datu Tumanggong, 
the Company’s subsidized chief! Here it was found tied up under the old gentleman’s house, 
having been stolen a few hours previously by one of his retainers, and the next morning 
would have been miles away. The Ilanuns were highly indignant, and asked me what they 
were to do. I advised them to complain to the Datu; at which they laughed, knowing full 
well that the profits of such transactions are probably shared by him. Now, how it can 
be possible to trust such men and place them in authority over others I am unable to 
understand : as long as they have the control over those of their own religion (Mohammedan) 
matters are not so bad; but whenever they are placed over Muruts, Dusuns, and other 
heathen tribes the result is disastrous, and this, I believe, had as much as anything to do with 
the Company’s unnecessary display of severity to the Padas Muruts in the early months of 1888. 
I hope and trust that the Ivina-Balu Dusuns—who have held their own for perhaps many 
centuries against the Mohammedan coast tribes—when they are brought under the Company’s 
rule will not have to submit to this indignity. If this philanthropic company, the shares 
in which are held by rich Englishmen, cannot afford to place trustworthy European officers 
