The influx of the Pamangkat Chinese gave great impetus to the search for the auriferous ore, and new reservoirs, dams, and ditches, were appearing in every direction; but yet the new-comers, being only accustomed to agriculture, did not take very kindly to gold digging. Sir James Brooke was anxious to remove a large body to some district which they could cultivate; but they were too poor to be able to support themselves while waiting for their crops. The gold company was not willing to part with these people, and promised them every assistance if they would stay at Bau. Nearly all the early efforts to assist these immigrants in developing the agricultural resources of the country had but little success. They commenced rice farms at Si Jinkat on the Muaratabas, and also at the foot of the Santubong hill; but though they were supplied with food and tools by the Sarawak government, they abandoned both attempts, and scattered themselves either among the gold-workers in the interior, or removed to the district of Lundu, where, as I have already mentioned, they made beautiful gardens. It was a matter of regret that they should have abandoned Santubong, as the soil is of a very fine description. I believe the non-success, however, arose from defective management and inefficient superintendence. Everything appeared to go on very quietly till January 1852, when a fortnight’s continued rain rather injured their reservoirs, and laid the country under water. Such a flood, they say, never before or since came upon them. At Kuching it was necessary in the Chinese town to move from house to house in boats. At Siniawan it rose to so great a height that the inhabitants had to abandon their houses, and an unfortunate Chinese, seeking safety in his garret, was drowned, being unable to force his way through the roof; and up the country we saw afterwards the dried grass left by the stream at least forty feet above the usual level of the river. In 1853, the gold company gave the government considerable trouble, and had to be curbed by a great display of armed force; but they submitted without any necessity of proceeding to extremities. The case was this: the government had issued an order to the company that they should not make any fresh reservoirs or gold-workings among the Dayak lands without obtaining permission from the authorities, as on several occasions quarrels had arisen between them and the neighbouring tribes, on account of their taking possession of the best farming ground in the country.