Every day appeared to be adding to the area of cultivation; because, as the agriculturists became more wealthy, they invited the poorer gold-workers to join them, and were thus enabled to employ many labourers. Already the effect of this increase of produce was perceptible on prices, so that vegetables, fowls, and ducks, were beginning to be bought at reasonable rates. On the other side, the right-hand bank of the river, near the little mount of Stapok, about forty Chinese had commenced gardens without any assistance from Government, and appeared to be very prosperous. To this spot a road had been cut through the forest from the town, which afterwards became memorable in Sarawak annals. Altogether, as I have before observed, there were about five hundred people assembled here engaged in a war against the jungle. Continuing our course towards the interior, we met with no Chinese houses until we reached the village of Siniawan, at that time governed by the guns of the little fort of Biledah, admirably situated on a high point jutting into the river, and on the same spot where the Sarawak Malays during the civil wars had their strongest stockade. The town was remarkably flourishing, and we here heard a confirmation of the reports that a great many Chinese were arriving from Sambas. As we were anxious to be thoroughly acquainted with the actual condition of the gold-working population, we determined to walk across from Siniawan to the head-quarters of the gold company at Bau. The paths were in very good condition, quite suited for riding over, except when we reached the bridges thrown across the deep gullies which intersect the country. From Siniawan all the way to Bau, a distance of ten miles, there was a constant succession of reservoirs and gold-workings; and judging from the new houses springing up in every direction, we felt sure the population was increasing. About a third of the way along the road, a branch path led to a place called by the Chinese “Shaksan,” where there was an excellent hot spring, over which Mr. Ruppell had built a little house. We diverged to this spot to indulge in the unusual sensation of a hot bath, and found the temperature of the water so warm that it was almost unbearable; but for any one suffering from rheumatism it would be excellent. We noticed in the neighbourhood many limestone rocks water-worn into fantastic shapes, exactly similar to those I subsequently observed near the base of the mountain of Molu. There are near the main path some large reservoirs in which very fine fish are found, and the road being led along the banks, or over the broad dams, it was very picturesque, particularly near the limestone hills of Piat, where we found a large party of Malays seeking gold in the quartz which lines the crevices and the caves of these hills. A very pretty specimen was shown us with the particles of gold sparkling as if imbedded in crystal.