I am going to try and perform the journey in my own garei, as I can find no more sampirs at these villages to buy or borrow, and with a little extra trouble she will do, and be twice as comfortable for me. Were we to be utterly stopt, the men say we can make some bark canoes for those that cannot get into the sampirs. Pangkalan Tarap is becoming an important village, as by orders of the Pañgeran Tumanggong the people are collecting there to show a better fight to the Kayans, and now number “two hundred men who can hold a shield.” The detached house system, so progressive with security, does not answer in a country exposed to periodical incursions. It is lamentable to see this fine district, once well cultivated, now returning to brushwood; formerly, when the population extended a hundred miles beyond the last village at present inhabited, the supply of provisions was ample for Brunei; now that the Muruts are decreasing, while Brunei is perhaps as numerous as ever, the demands made are too great even for native forbearance, and in disgust they are gradually abandoning all garden cultivation; already brushwood is taking the place of bananas and yams; few of either can now be had. The people say it is useless for them to plant for others to eat the whole produce. The aborigines must gradually disappear from this river if the same process continues, as with food becoming daily scarcer, the area of cultivation continually lessened, as they fear to move far from their houses except in large armed parties, on account of the head-hunting Kayans, their powers of natural increase must be stopped; add to this their losses from cholera, small-pox, and the enemy, and we have sufficient data to speculate on their eventual extermination from the Limbang. They are gradually retreating down the river; twenty miles of bank have been abandoned during the last two years. Nor must it be omitted, that as the nobles are yearly less enabled to obtain supplies from them, they are selling their children by dozens into slavery, which enables Brunei to keep up its population. Directly they arrive there, they are circumcised, and from that moment care no more for their tribes, whom they despise as infidels, and they then may be said to have joined the ranks of the oppressors. No lad could well refuse to turn Mahomedan; he would be teased to death by his companions, and if he long retained any affection for his family, he would be ashamed to show it. Generally they are taken away young, and the girls added to the numerous concubines of the rajahs: after a year or two they get tired of them, and give them in marriage to their followers. At the back of this village is a large pond, and beyond there is another of far greater extent, which they consider a great protection against surprise. I am nursing my feet, much knocked about in ascending Kina Balu, so do not land to examine. Obtained two pikuls more of sago.