_Nov. 1st._--At daylight I was up, writing out depositions, when I observed a number of men lounging near with lighted cigars; I drew my companion’s attention to the fact that these Sulus were actually smoking whilst leaning over twenty-five barrels of gunpowder. Soon after Tuanku Yasin made his appearance. He brought out the portion of the cargo which he had stowed away in his inner room, consisting of arms, guns, powder, cloths, and a number of small articles. After a good breakfast, and a friendly parting, we started. Argus pheasants were very numerous in the woods, and Sherif Yasin had constructed a large aviary under his house in which he had about ten or twelve, and he presented me with a very handsome pair. The men who manned the canoe placed at our disposal by Sherif Yasin, pulled down with the ebb at a good pace, and yet we did not reach the schooner until about ten, three hours’ rapid moving, perhaps above fifteen miles. The river winds in the most extraordinary manner; one place, divided now but by heavy drift, took us a two miles’ turn to arrive at the opposite side. We found the ship’s boats pulling up to meet us, thinking, as we had not returned that some accident had happened. Got the schooner under weigh, and then started in the cutter, reaching the steamer about seven. _3rd._--Having prepared the schooner for sea, we set off, towing her part of the way on her voyage back. A fleet of boats was reported ahead; all rushed on deck, thinking they might be the Lanuns about to attack Benggaya. I went up, and looking through the spy-glass, they appeared war-boats of large size. We steamed towards them; they drew up on the beach, and presently we saw the crews hurrying with their goods on shore; as we neared, they gradually appeared smaller and smaller; we had, in fact, been completely deceived by their looming over the waters. When abreast of them we anchored, and I went off in the gig to see who they were, intending to hail them and speak; but as we drew near our guides declared they were Baju boats, and this we soon found to be the case. They were small, neatly constructed, and fitted up for the residence of a family. As we closed with the beach we waved a white handkerchief to them, and hailed; presently three men showed themselves, and came to us. One was a Sulu; two others were Bajus. They were rather big men, featured much like the Dayaks. They came from Banguey, and were bringing new boats to sell to Sherif Yasin. I invited them to come on board; they said they were in a great state of alarm, and men, women, and children rushed into the jungle, hiding their goods, as the Sulu man thought we might be Spaniards. They afterwards came on board. We inquired about clamp shells (the _Concha gigas_). They had never seen any longer than two feet. These Bajus were going to collect pearls at Lingkabu for the sultan of Sulu, who had made a contract to furnish some, I believe, to Mr. Wyndham. These men had never lived in houses.