I have generally found that those Chinese who come direct from their own country are better adapted to succeed with the native chiefs than those who have resided long in our own settlements, where they acquired an independence almost amounting to lawlessness. I once nearly lost my life through the reckless conduct of one of these Singapore Chinese, who had been accustomed to treat the Malays there with great contumely. When he arrived in Brunei, he did the same thing with a crazy man belonging to the Pablat section of the town, and the Chinese quarter was thrown into confusion. I sent both men to the sultan, but in the meantime the report spread among the Malay’s relatives that the Chinese had ill used him, and 150 men immediately came down, shouting that they would run amuck among the Chinese. A respectable Bornean trader came hastily into my room, saying, if I did not immediately go down to the scene, there would be a massacre. I caught up my sword and hurried to the Chinese village, to find the Pablat men in the act of assaulting the strangers; and had one wound been given, there would have been no stopping the mischief. I need not dwell on all the particulars, but it was with the greatest difficulty I turned the Malays back from their purpose. To me they behaved with great civility, after the first excitement was over; but the glare their chief gave me, when I put the hilt of my sword to his breast to prevent him using his spear on an unfortunate Chinese trader, who had nothing to do with the quarrel, was a very savage one. His hand in a moment sought his kris; but on my saying, in a very quiet tone, “Don’t draw your kris on me,” he dropped his intention at once, and although his followers drew their weapons and urged him to the attack, he began to explain to me the reason of his coming with that force at his back. I knew if I could check the rush for five minutes, things would be safe, as by that time some friends, who were staying at the house, would be down with all my armed followers; and so it proved. But the insolence of the Chinese was effectually checked by this demonstration, and I had no further trouble with them, as they thought I might not always be there to stand between them and death.