es in
prahus on a neighboring islet, and being-unarmed and apprehensive,
they lighted large fires in the evening to mislead these people, and,
as night advanced, silently put to sea, and made the best of their way
along the coast. With a heavy sea, and often high wind, they reached as
far as Labuan, off the entrance of the Borneo river; and here, being
in the utmost want, and reduced to an allowance of half a biscuit and
a cup of water per day, they were forced to put into Borneo Proper,
not without hopes of being well used, and enabled to buy provisions
and stores sufficient to carry them to Singapore or Sambas. I have
omitted to mention that, on making the land the first time, they parted
from the cutter, in consequence of the tow-rope breaking in the night;
but as they were then within sight of Borneo, and the wind fair, there
was no doubt of its making the land somewhere. This, indeed, it did
at Malludu Bay, where the native crew were seized and sold as slaves.

"The arrival of Captain Page in his long-boat caused, as may well be
imagined, considerable sensation in the campong; and they reached
the sultan's house, thinking it the best place to seek shelter and
protection. In this, however, they were soon undeceived; for neither
the one nor the other was granted, but a message sent that they must
deliver up all their property into the sultan's hands, as otherwise
he was afraid they would be plundered by his people. Accordingly,
having possessed himself of their money, some jewels, their boat,
&c., he gave them a miserable shed to live in. Here they passed the
time, and were gradually robbed of every thing they had in the world,
even to the baby-linen which Mrs. Page had prepared for an expected
infant. Sometimes, indeed, when Captain Page refused to yield to the
sultan's demands, their provisions were stopped till they could no
longer hold out; and in this way they were compelled to sign bonds
for considerable sums, with the understanding that, till these were
procured and paid, they should be detained.

"In this sad situation Mrs. Page was confined of a daughter, on
the 31st of March; and this miserable life continued from the 4th
of January, 1841, to August of the same year. Their first ray of
hope was the Royalist coming to fetch them: the steamer followed,
and they were released.

"After a stay of two or three days, the steamer once more sailed;
though I would fain have persuaded Captain Congleton to search fo