Page:Scented isles and coral gardens- Torres Straits, German New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies, by C.D. Mackellar, 1912.pdf/364

276 won by the Chinese, who pulled every one over. These sports, in which all participate, so please the natives of all sorts, and make them fond of British rule. To keep people happy and good-humoured is everything. The pity is that they are learning that there are other great nations coming forward as rivals.

The Dallas Company is here playing in San Toy and The Belle of New York. As I have travelled with them elsewhere on a mail-boat they receive me like an old friend when I see them about. I have been at all sorts of things, and out in the country, hoping to see a tiger eating four Chinamen, as I am told they do daily. These tigers swim over the Straits from Johore and come quite near the town and lunch on the Chinese— perhaps so, but I have not seen it, and they might have thought of arranging it for my benefit for one day at least.

Wright has gone, and I went out with him to the Japanese mail-boat to see him off. It lay miles out at sea. We went out in a launch, and as every one mounted the ship's gangway, I saw them all speak to a gold-laced-capped individual who stood at the top; when I got up I barely glanced at him, but said, “Steward, what time does this launch go back to the shore?”

“I am not the steward,” he answered; “I am a British naval officer come to see a friend away.” Profuse apologies from me, but I added, “Well, you should not stand at the top of the gangway just as if — were going to show every one their cabin.” He laughed, said I was right, and moved away.

Some important Chinese personage was leaving, and his womenkind were on board to see him off, and were full of curiosity, running about poking their noses in everywhere. Just as a dainty little