It was a great relief to find that they only came to ask for a little tobacco, but some of us had been accustomed to the neighbourhood of the Seribas and Sakarang Dayaks, who on head-hunting expeditions spare none, if of a weaker party. We found they were on the look-out for some of the Tabuns, who, flying before the Kayans, had established themselves at Batu Miris, near the entrance of the Limbang river, and with whom they had an ancient feud. To show the apathy of the Bornean Government, I may mention that it permitted these skirmishes to take place close to the capital, and one day some of my men who were cutting wood near the Consulate, were startled by seeing two Tabuns rushing frantically past them; in a few minutes five Trusan Muruts appeared in full chase, and eagerly inquiring the direction taken by the fugitives, hurried at full speed on a false track purposely pointed out by my Manilla men. Another fact I may mention is that many Bisaya labourers who go over to our colony of Labuan to seek for work have actually attempted to disinter the bodies of those of our countrymen and women who have been buried there. They have tried this to the great grief and discomfort of their surviving friends, but the Bisayas have generally, if not always, been disappointed by the great depth of the graves, and their inefficient tools. It appears a disgusting thing that there should be any necessity to watch over the graves of one’s friends to prevent them being desecrated. I shall have occasion hereafter to mention the Secret Societies established by the Chinese, but as an illustration of the influence the members exercise over each other, I will tell the following story:--Perhaps those who have read my journeys to Kina Balu, and this Limbang journal, may be interested in the fate of my boy Ahtan, and I am sorry to say his conduct ultimately made me lose all interest in him. In the year 1858 the Chinese in Brunei started a Secret Society, called there a Hué; they said they were a branch of the Tienti, or Heaven and Earth Society, that has ramifications in nearly all the countries in which the Chinese have spread. At first but few joined it, but by threats and cajolery they at last induced nearly all but the head traders to enter it, and on one of the great Chinese religious feasts, Ahtan asked my permission to go to it.