At four, we left the _Nemesis_ with Mr. Wyndham, to visit datu Molok, the prime minister. We pulled in for the little creek in the centre of the town, passing many new houses lately built by the Chinese. Mr. Wyndham told us that he found them very troublesome competitors; as, spreading themselves over all the neighbouring islands, they offered apparently higher prices for produce than he could possibly do; so he obtained from the sultan an order for their recall to the capital. I say apparently higher prices, for by means of false weights and the tricks usually practised by the Chinese, they were enabled to outbid the honest European. Yet I fear that in this there is much commercial jealousy, and that the injury done to the general trade by the restriction is much greater than the profit to the individual. As we passed before the fort I could see numerous guns displaying their adamantine lips through the embrasures; and I learned from our companion that the Sulus possess about 150 brass guns, besides innumerable iron ones. In the market-place, crowds of armed men were assembled, looking eagerly and anxiously at us. We landed at the little bridge, and learning that Molok was at the sultan’s palace, we proceeded thither, escorted by about half a dozen men armed with long spears, and followed by a crowd of men, women, and children. We soon arrived at the fort, and then entering the old audience hall, found it in much the same condition as before, quite as bare of ornament, with the old round table and white cloth, and the chairs arranged around. Datu Molok was present, with a few others; and we had nearly arranged about the salute when the sultan entered, and it was settled that it should be given the next day. The news of the Dutch having taken Bali made them all look at each other with marks of great disquietude, and when they heard of the amount of the Dutch force which was expected to visit Sulu, their uneasiness was clearly to be seen under their assumed quietude. The sultan appeared in better health, but the heaviness of the lower part of his face gives him a stupid look, and his long jacket of white silk did not suit his pale appearance. Having taken our leave, we retired, and returned to the ship; but Sir James Brooke, being anxious to see some of the datus that evening, sent us on shore again to arrange a meeting with Mr. Wyndham: but Molok, being then with the sultan, smoking opium, we went to datu Daniel’s.