For a couple of hundred yards from the shore the water was so shallow, that we were compelled to be dragged along over the sand in Mr. Wyndham’s flat-bottomed boat. Walking a few hundred yards inland to the left of the town, on the road to the race-course, we came to the house. It is surrounded by a stockade some thirty feet high; there were two long iron eighteen-pounder guns to defend the approaches, but only one was mounted, though there were two brass ones ready for service in his verandah. A wretched-looking pony, and a man with a chain round his neck pounding rice, were the most remarkable features of the place. Having mounted some high steps, we entered the house, where we found datu Daniel lying down on his bed, suffering from an attack of intermittent fever. He sat up, however, and talked a little, expressed his regret that he was unable to come on board and see the Rajah, but sent one of his people to Molok to arrange a meeting. The room we entered was large, some fifty feet long by twenty broad, with a raised recess on one side fifteen feet square. A native bed, thirty feet long and twelve broad, occupied the greater portion of the room; it was divided in two by a curtain, and resembled more a large raised room than a bed. At the end were long shelves filled with packets of goods, small boxes, and innumerable articles which I could not distinguish, while around were hung the datu’s handsome jackets, sarongs, trousers, krises, and other finery for state occasions. Four gun-cases were piled at the side of the bed, while in the recess above mentioned, and about the room, were forty or fifty boxes, containing his valuable property; there was a ladder, also, which led to the loft. Chairs were provided for us; but, with the exception of the bed covered with beautiful mats and the handsomely-ornamented pillows, the whole place had an air of discomfort, a sort of musty look. The bed itself is no doubt the datu’s chief residence; we could only just see the head of the farther half, as a blue curtain was drawn across, concealing its beauties and its treasures. Around the room were arranged several dozen brass spittoons, as if the chief were accustomed to give large parties. Some of the women and young girls came to the doors to look at us; a few were tolerably good-looking, with their dark eyes and black hair, but the generality were like the Malays. Returning, we were, as usual, very much stared at, but little followed. We walked behind some of the stockades, but saw that nothing had been done either to repair them, or to mount the guns, which lay grass-covered in every direction. As they were those captured from the English when Balambañgan was taken, it is probable they were too honeycombed to be of any use. We remained at Mr. Wyndham’s house waiting for Molok’s answer, which came at length, mentioning nine as the hour.