ying rivers and coasts, where the
people were not as advanced in civilization as those at the capital. Now
the six months had passed away, were they prepared to assent to the law?
They again expressed their cordial approval of the abolition of slavery,
but recommended three months more delay before it was enforced on the
out-stations. In the same _Gazette_ I noticed a letter from the Resident
at Bintulu, one of the farthest stations from Kuching, in which he
speaks of a Malay noble, warmly attached to the Sarawak Government, who
claimed all the inhabitants of a large district as his slaves. It was
merely a nominal claim, as they did no work for him, but he said they
belonged to him. Still, when he was assured by Mr. De Crespigny[14] that
such a claim would not be allowed by the Rajah, he submitted without
complaint. We may hope that such will be the universal acceptance of
the new law, but it is easy to see that forty years of past repression
and discountenance, and the strong influence of English opinion on the
subject of slavery, has effected what would doubtless have caused strong
opposition and estrangement if attempted hastily.

[Footnote 13: "Sarawak, its Inhabitants and Productions," by
Hugh Low.]

[Footnote 14: The Resident.]

I have just received a _Sarawak Gazette_, dated July 1st, which contains
an account of a further cession of territory from the Sultan of Bruni to
Rajah Brooke of Sarawak.

This is the passage:

"On Saturday, the 10th June, his Highness the Sultan signified
his willingness to cede to the Rajah of Sarawak, and his heirs,
all the country and rivers that lie between Points Kadurong and
Barram, including about three miles of coast on the east side of
Barram Point. Negotiations about the sum to be paid for this
hundred miles of coast continued for three days, when the deed
of cession was finally sealed and delivered. This deed of
cession, sealed with the respective seals of his Highness the
Sultan of Bruni and the Rajah of Sarawak, was read out in full
court on the 10th June. After which his Highness the Rajah
addressed a few words to the people, telling them that he
intended going to the river Barram towards the end of this moon,
for the purpose of choosing a site whereon to erect a fort, and
establishing a government there, to be a nucleus of trade. He
added that all those who wished to trade there might now do so