We spent a night at a village of the Sau Dayaks, whose long dwelling was built on a steep hill on the banks of the Sarawak river; and from thence on nearly to the borders of the Sarawak territory, was an admirable path constructed by the Chinese to facilitate their intercourse with Sambas, but unfortunately for travellers, they had not completed it to Bau. A four hours’ walk brought us to the last Chinese station, which was evidently more intended as a resting place for wayfarers than because its inhabitants were actually much engaged in gold-working there. We ascended the hills to the village of the Gombang Dayaks, and heard that a continual stream of small parties of Chinese was constantly passing within sight of their village. So there was little doubt that the Chinese population was increasing. From all the inquiries we made as to the numbers engaged directly and indirectly in gold-working, we considered there were nearly three thousand living between the town of Siniawan and the border. There were about five hundred agriculturists in Suñgei Tuñgah and its neighbourhood, and perhaps eight hundred in the town of Kuching, the sago manufactories, and the surrounding gardens; but these were soon after recruited by the three hundred fugitives from Sambas, to whom I have before referred; so that the Chinese population of Sarawak amounted to above four thousand five hundred before they rose in insurrection, and while seeking to overthrow the government, ruined themselves. CHAPTER XIII. THE CHINESE INSURRECTION.