Page:Sarawak Gazette 4 January 1907 Issue No 492.pdf/13

Rh new mouth, the current flowing out in the middle of the stream instead of rushing past the bank and into the old mouth of the Simunjan.

One exceptionally high tide on Hari Raya did considerable damage to roads and grounds and completely covered the old wharf, part of which carried away. The grounds were in a terrible mess after the water had receded, piles of driftwood being left all over the grass.

The weather has been very uncertain; the days exceedingly hot, with heavy rain after midday and often at night.

Obituary. — I regret to report the death of Ah Kam which took place in Kuching on the night of November 18th. He was the most influential trader in the District, having resided here for very many years. His death is keenly felt by both Natives and Chinese, with all of whom he was on the best of terms. Ah Kam was a naturalised Sarawak subject and always evinced the greatest interest in anything concerning the welfare of the District.

Agreements. – 109 have been made out during the month. Stamp duties and fees amounted to $226.13.

Court. — Fines and fees amounted to $182.75.

Mr. Boult arrived here on the 6th instant having walked over via Stungkor; he returned on the 8th, leaving Bidi at 7.40 A. M. he arrived at Lundu fort at 4.20 the next afternoon.

Dr. Wellington passed through on the 6th on his way to Bidi and returned from there to Paku; he came up again on the 20th and spent the night at Paku, from whence he visited Puak; the Government pony, from here, was lent to him for the journey.

A gardener, called Hiew Man, was found dead in his house at Singghi; as the body had a few marks on it, it was taken to Busan where Dr. Wellington viewed it, giving it as his opinion that death was due to natural causes.

Six Malay carpenters arrived on the 7th instant to do repairs required to Court House roof and floor; these men went down to Kuching to spend Hari Raya but returned again on the 19th.

I left for Kuching on the 8th returning on the 13th.

Mr. Crocker went to Kuching on the 16th to relieve the Resident 2nd Class; he returned here on the 29th instant.

I regret to have to report that trade is very bad in this district consequent upon the continual illicit sale of pepper from the gardens: this pepper should be brought in to the traders who have advanced provisions during the year on it from the many cases which have been before me I should estimate that quite one third of the pepper crop has been illicitly sold; the gardeners, of course, abscond after selling the pepper and the garden is left to be again provisioned by the trader (if he is not already bankrupt) or to go out of cultivation, unless some very strict regulations are made us to the buying and selling of pepper before next crop is ripe. The majority of gardens will have to be closed as there will be no further provisions forthcoming.

The chief event of the month is the meeting of the Ula Ai rebels Ngumbang, Bantin, Ugil and their followers-some thirty men with Mr. O. Lang at Guntor's house, S. Rakut, on November 19th.

Mr. O. Lang wrote me on November 21st that Gantor brought a message stating that Ngumbang, ete; were at Rakut and wished to meet the Native Officer Abang Haji Bua Hassan if he would come up to see them. As the Abang Haji was at Simanggang for the Hari Raya festivities. Mr. O. Lang himself went up with Pensioner Dagang, Corporal Latep, and two L. Antu Fortmen. The meeting took place in Guntor's house.. The rebels stated that they wished to "come in:" "they were tired of taking heads, and of being enemies of the Government, and moreover, their supplies were failing them."

They sent tokens that they were in earnest, and desired to meet me and Mr. Baring-Gould later on. It was further stated that if these people "came in," "all the Rejang Dynks would come in too." I have asked for an explanation of the last sentence and am informed that by the Rejang Dyaks" is meant those Kanowit (uln) people who are in the ulu B. Lupar, or else-where, still in arms.

I have sent word, through Mr. Lang, that I shall be at L. Antu on December 18th with Mr. Baring-Gould, when I shall be prepared to meet them and hear what they have to say. Mr. Lang delivered my message and they have left for their homes with memoranda (tamuku tali) of how many days must elapse before the meeting.

On November 22nd Mr. Lang sent me a despatch stating that two Dyaks from Kantu-they were formerly Sarawak subjects had been sent over from the other side with the alarming news that Apai Beti and other tuai were in the Netherlands India territory with a force of two thousand five hundred men with which they intended to attack Jawi's house in ulu Kumpang (Sarawak); and, further, that Apai Beti had asked for Ngumbang's assistance but that he had refused to assist!

As Ngumbang, Bantin, etc; were still at a hut near Gantor's house and in communication with Mr. Lang about "coming in" and had said nothing about a force of Ulu Ai being out. I could not credit. the story from the other side-it would have been too great an act of trenchery even for Ngumbang I therefore informed Mr Lang that I considered the news to be quite false, but that he would be right to warn the Kumpang people to be on the alert.

I may say that I am indignant at the constant succession of false reports about large armies of the rebels being cut to attack various places in Sarawak territory. These stories have now been going on for months and no attacks have been made since the rebels were repulsed on May 16th at P. Sumpit's hut in Lower Lemanak. There is such a thing as calling "Wolf, Wolf" too often, and wearing people out. There is also a pennity, well-known to Dyaks, for spreading what are called "False Reports."

Towards the end of November a party of twelve Dyaks were sent here by the Controleur of Smitan, they having been expelled from the Upper Kapuas by order.

I presume these Dyaks (as is their custom) have been exploiting the Upper Kapuas Natives and that it became necessary to clear them out and forbid Dyaks to live there. However, these Dyaks do not appear to have eventually benefited themselves to any extent as there were not two dollars among the party, and some had been (they said) nearly twenty years in the Upper Kapuas! Only two of these men belong to the 2nd Division, the rest were all from