Took leave of my good friends the Dents. Also the kind Admiral. Embarked on board _Formosa_, P. and O. steamer, for passage to England, with option of landing and coming on when and how I like. Flagship manning rigging and cheering on passing. My _Raleigh’s_ officers on board, with others, to wish me good-bye!!! * * * * * [Sidenote: P. and O. _Formosa_, Aug. 26.] Once more on the wide and open sea, but in the novel position of passenger. Dr. and Mrs. Parker and my worthy friend and old shipmate Crawford of the party. [Sidenote: Sept. 4.] 10 A.M.--Arrived in New Harbour, Singapore. Kindly taken in by Blundell at Government House. Read Clarence Paget’s friendly explanation of my recall in the House of Commons. [Sidenote: Singapore, Sept. 5.] Found Charlie Grant, wife and child, going to Sarawak. [Sidenote: Sept. 6.] Dined with the Blundells--their daughters, Jane and Anne, particularly nice girls. [Sidenote: Sept. 7.] _Emperor_ steam yacht in the Roads requiring a foremast--time for her to take me to Sarawak and return while mast getting ready. Pleasant and convenient arrangement. News from India; slight improvement, but Delhi still untaken. [Sidenote: Sept. 8.] Captain Sidney Grenfell, senior officer in Malacca Straits, cancelled the orders already given. The Emperor of Japan’s yacht is not to go with me to Borneo! There is a difference between being _in_ and _out_ of office. [Sidenote: Sept. 9.] Dined with Colonel Liardet at the mess of 21st N.I. [Sidenote: Sept. 10.] Lord Elgin arrived from Calcutta in _Ava_, P. and O. Co’s steamer. Breakfasted with Harvey, meeting Greenshields and Paterson, with their wives. [Sidenote: Sept. 11.] Many good fellows in Lord Elgin’s staff, George Fitzroy one of them. Dined at home (Government House) to meet Lord Elgin. [Sidenote: Sept. 12.] Mail in from England. Turnour and Prince Victor promoted. I senior captain on the list. Many letters of congratulation on Fatshan Creek. Met Lord Elgin and party at dinner. [Sidenote: Sept. 13.] Embarked on board Emperor of Japan’s yacht. [Sidenote: Sept. 15.] Rounded Taujong Datu. In evening anchored off Taujong Poe. [Illustration: _A Malay Kampong._] CHAPTER LXVIII SARAWAK--INDIA--ENGLAND [Sidenote: 1857. Sarawak, Sept. 16.] Piloted the yacht as far as the Quop. Up in the gig to Sarawak. How altered! Extended but not improved in appearance. Miss the attap roofs; tiles look heavy. Miss the jungle, and, most of all, the Rajah, who is at Brunei. [Sidenote: Sept. 17.] Brooke Brooke and Charlie Grant are here with their wives, and each owns a child. How many happy associations of bygone days. Must wait Rajah’s return. Dine with the Bishop. Took a stroll in the jungle with Alderson’s rifle. Jungle too magnificent. Found the walking bad, and the gun heavy, to say nothing of the wood-leeches that adhered to and feasted off my legs, in spite of my trousers being tied like bloomers round the ankles.