rom
Sambas, with two of the sultan's sons on board; Macota in high spirits,
and my party looking rather desponding; and, in fact, I can not trust
them against Sambas. For good or for bad, for success or for failure,
for life or for death, I will act justly, and preserve the high hand
over Macota.

"After the steps I have mentioned, I determined to open a court for
the administration of justice, wherein I should preside, together with
such of the rajah's brothers as liked to assist me. As for a jury,
or any machinery of form or law, it was rejected, because it must
be inefficient, if not corrupt; and the only object I aimed at was,
keeping witnesses out of ear-shot of each other, hearing the evidence,
deciding as appeared best, and in future punishing. This simple plan
insured substantial redress; and it gave all the people confidence
in me, and a notion of what was right.

"The first case was a follower of the rajah's, of the name of Sunudeen;
and a greater villain could not exist either in this or any other
land. It was as follows: A man from Samarahan, named Bujong, had
undertaken to marry his daughter to a Sarawak man called Abdullah; but
Abdullah proving a dissolute character, and greatly in debt, Bujong
broke off the engagement before the proper authorities, and returned
the presents which Abdullah, according to custom, had made. Abdullah,
it appeared, was indebted a small sum to Matassim (Mohammed Orsin),
and, between Sunudeen and Matassim, they resolved to lay the debt
on Bujong's shoulders; in other words, to plunder Bujong under false
pretenses. Accordingly, Sunudeen, with his comrade, went to Samarahan;
and, in his capacity of follower of the rajah, demanded the debt due
by Abdullah to Matassim. Bujong having no money, Sunudeen proceeded
and seized his nephew, a boy, and a slave-man belonging to him,
as _his slaves_. Poor Bujong resisted, and recovered his nephew, but
yielded his slave; he appealed, however, to the Orang Kaya de Gadong's
sons, and they failing, a Nakodah stated the case secretly to me. I
investigated it, and ordered the return of the slave in my presence,
which was obeyed. This may give an idea of the state of the country,
and the power of every petty scoundrel hanging about the rajah to
rob and plunder at pleasure.

"_7th._--I have before mentioned that the Dyaks of Sibnow bury their
dead; but I always found a reluctance on their part to show me their
place of sepulture. Once, indeed, cha