ervice--that impressive
and beautiful service of the Church of England.

"_8th._--Having the melancholy duty of yesterday over was a relief,
only alloyed by the sad prospect of a near recurrence. I now turned
my mind seriously to departure, having well weighed the pros and cons
of the subject.

"In the first place, the greatest advantage would result from my
accompanying the rajah along the coast of Borneo; and if I could hope
a reasonable time would leave him free to go there, I would wait spite
of the season: for it is evident that by myself I should have to form
fresh connections among the chiefs, and without that I reckon it next
to impossible to penetrate even a moderate distance from the coast in
a strange place. The next reason is, that it has been intimated to me
that a rival faction, headed by Pangeran Usop, exists in Borneo Proper,
and that that Pangeran, from my known friendship to Muda Hassim,
might endeavor to injure me, _i. e._ kill me. At any rate, during
Muda Hassim's absence, I should be obstructed in all my proceedings,
and could not do more than sketch the bare coast-line. These are
strong and cogent reasons for remaining _for a time_, if the ultimate
object be attainable; and to these may be added my own feelings--my
reluctance to quit the rajah in the midst of difficulty and distress,
and his _very very sad face_ whenever I mention the topic.

"On the other hand must be weighed the approach of the adverse
monsoon, the loss of time, and the failure of provisions, which,
though but luxuries to gentlemen which they can readily dispense
with, are nevertheless necessaries to seamen, without which they get
discontented, perhaps mutinous. There are good reasons on both sides.

"_9th._--I sent Williamson to intimate my approaching departure;
and when I went in the evening the little man had such a sorrowful
countenance that my heart smote me. When I told him I would remain
if there were the slightest chance of a close to the war, his
countenance cleared, and he gaily repeated that my fortune and his
would bring this struggle to an end, though others forsook him. I
then consented to await the issue a few days longer, and to revisit
Leda Tanah to ascertain if the news were true. It ran to the effect
that the rebels, under the Patingi and Tumangong, are fortified at
the foot of the mountain of Sarambo, on which hill are three Dyak
tribes below that of Sarambo; over them Bombak; and on the summit
the Panin