Sarawak appears to the natives of the western coast of Borneo what an oasis must be to the wandering Arab, and it is often visited by the people of the neighbouring countries to examine as a sort of curiosity. A party of Bugau Dayaks from the upper Kapuas once arrived in Kuching after fifteen days’ journey, merely to discover whether or not it were true that the Dayaks of Sarawak were living in comfort; but a more curious incident was the arrival of a chief from the Natunas to lay his case before the Sarawak government. A near relative of the Sultan of Linggin had yearly visited that group, which was subject to his authority, under the pretence of collecting taxes, but instead of confining himself to that, commenced a system of gross extortion. The natives submitted patiently, but not content with that, he seized their young girls, and when his passions were satisfied, sent them again ashore, and forbad them to marry, under the pretence that they must consider themselves in future as his concubines. At last he proceeded so far as, during a chiefs absence, to take up his residence in his house and to seize on his wife and family. On the orang kaya’s return, he was received with shots from his own batteries. His wife, evading the watch kept on her, rejoined him; but after vainly endeavouring to recover the rest of his family, he brought his complaints to Sarawak. As the Sultan of Linggin was under the suzerainty of the Dutch, it was impossible to interfere actively in their defence; but as there was no doubt of the truth of these representations, as they merely confirmed the accounts which had been previously received from the officers of one of our vessels which had surveyed that group, the whole case was laid before the Dutch authorities at Rhio, with an apology for the apparent interference in their affairs; but although naturally disposed to think that there was much exaggeration in the native accounts, they acted promptly, sent a vessel of war to the Natunas, whose captain fully confirmed the report forwarded, and giving the young noble an order to restore all his plunder, and come on board within an hour, they set sail with him to one of the fortresses to the eastward, where he remained several years. This energetic action had a most beneficial effect, and, although many years have passed since, I have not heard of any complaints from the inhabitants of that very lovely group.