dustriously circulated that I was certain
to be killed in Borneo; and next a report was propagated that 6000
Chinese were on their march from Sambas, with evil intentions. These
rumors did not serve any object, and my return has set them at rest;
but I regretted to hear that the Singe Dyaks had, contrary to my
positive prohibition, killed a Dyak of Sanpro.

"Other affairs are prosperous. Macota is to be sent out of the country,
and the rajah himself talks of returning to Borneo; and both these
events will please me greatly.

"_January 1st, 1843._--Another year passed and gone; a year, with all
its anxieties, its troubles, its dangers, upon which I can look back
with satisfaction--a year in which I have been usefully employed in
doing good to others.

"Since I last wrote, the Dyaks have been quiet, settled, and improving;
the Chinese advancing toward prosperity; and the Sarawak people,
wonderfully contented and industrious, relieved from oppression,
and fields of labor allowed them.

"Justice I have executed with an unflinching hand; and the amount of
crime is certainly small--the petty swindling very great.

"The month of January was a dreary month. A sick man in the house, and
very little medicine; and what was worse, the Royalist did not make her
appearance. Yet both these troubles disappeared nearly together; for
M'Kenzie got well, and the schooner, bringing with her Dr. Treacher,
arrived. She had been detained undergoing some necessary repairs. The
accession of a medical man is particularly valuable.

"I have nothing to say about the country, except that I have given
Pangeran Macota orders to leave, which he is obeying in as far as
preparing his boat; and I hope that in six weeks we shall be rid of
his cunning and diabolically intriguing presence.

"The Rajah Muda Hassim, his brothers, and the tag-rag following,
I also hope soon to be rid of; for although they behave far better
than they did at first, it is an evil to have wheel within wheel;
and these young rajahs of course expect, and are accustomed to,
a license which I will not allow.

"Budrudeen is an exception--a striking and wonderful instance of the
force of good sense over evil education.

"The rest of the people go on well; the time revolves quietly; and
the Dyaks, as well as the Malays and Chinese, enjoy the inestimable
blessing of peace and security. At intervals a cloud threatens
the serenity of our political atmosphere; but it speedily blows