The pleasure on both sides at meeting was unfeigned, and indeed--setting aside those social ties which must bind us all, more or less, to the land of our birth--no one, witnessing the real pleasure which the return of Sir James Brooke afforded these simple people, could wonder at his preferring a country where such a reception awaited him to colder if more civilised England. With the first of the flood, our Rajah embarked in the _Mæander’s_ barge, and, quitting the ship under a salute and manned yards, attended by his picturesque fleet he proceeded up the river, the war prahus keeping up a firing of guns. After Brooke’s departure we stood out to sea, in search of the _Jolly Bachelor_. When off Tanjong Datu we hoisted out our boom-boats, sending them in all directions, standing ourselves towards St. Pierre. We afterwards met the tender off the entrance of the Sarawak River. Marryat having mistaken his orders, went in by the Santobong entrance. [Sidenote: Sept. 8.] Ran into the river. The largest ship that has ever been or likely to come up as far as the Quop. Took up my quarters in Brooke’s house; found him surrounded by a happy and contented people. [Sidenote: Sept. 11.] Preparing boats to accompany a small force to be sent by Rajah to the Sadong: twenty-five boats in all. [Sidenote: Sept. 13.] This afternoon tide brought the _Auckland_ steamer, with the July mail. [Sidenote: Sept. 14.] Went up during a stormy night with young Brooke to join his uncle; returned with the ebb. _Auckland_ having brought up our new steam tender, built at Singapore and christened _Ranee_, took a small trip in her. The engines, however, not of sufficient power. The steam launch was the astonishment of the natives. [Sidenote: Sept. 17.] Boats returned from their expedition to Sadong, which was most successful, but a sad accident had occurred. Two seamen and a marine were going on shore in a sampan, when the seamen began rocking the canoe by way of lark, and upset the small vessel, drowning the marine and one sailor. While the First Lieutenant was reporting to me the sad accident, a lad fell overboard from the _Ranee_, and sank at once, probably seized by an alligator not visible in muddy water. Very sad the number of deaths in this ship: manned by as fine a crew as ever left England. [Sidenote: Sept. 20.] Attended a grand feast given by the Datu Patinggi to the Rajah. Great preparations had been made; flags and streamers flying, gongs sounding, and salutes fired _ad libitum_ from the Datos Lelahs. We were received by the still pretty and graceful Inda, mother of Fatima, the youthful heiress to Datu Gapoor’s property. Her beauty has attained a celebrity throughout the Malayan Archipelago. The fair Fatima sprinkled us with coloured rice and gold dust, to which was added a gentle shower of rose water.