Ran away from the Dutch : $b Or, Borneo from South to NorthPerelaer, M. T. H. (Michael Theophile Hubert)
History
Ran away from the Dutch : $b Or, Borneo from South to North
Perelaer, M. T. H. (Michael Theophile Hubert)
Dayak (Bornean people) -- Fiction
“July 16, 1824. I saw the large diamond of the Sultan of Matam
yesterday. By the extraordinary precautions taken, I could perceive
that it was the real one; for whenever the Sultan distrusts a
foreigner he shows him a fine djakoet which resembles the great
gem. It is a magnificent stone and was found in the kingdom of
Landak. It weighs three hundred and sixty-one carats. I weighed it
myself. In shape it is a pyramidal dodecahedron or double hexagonal
pyramid, broken at about two-thirds of its entire length, perhaps
while freeing it from its covering, as often occurs. Its form is
somewhat irregular and oblique. It is of the purest water; its
light hue somewhat tending toward rose-color being more due to
refraction caused by fissures, than to its want of purity. Its
longitudinal section is two and one-sixth inches, its lateral
measurement one and one-fourth inches. The short side of the
pyramid is one and one-third inches, and the longer one one and
one-half inches. In Dayak language it is called Sagima, angular; in
Malay, Danau Redjo, and it is estimated at a value of five million
two hundred and twelve guilders.”
“Five million guilders,” cried the astonished Walloon. “Five million
guilders! What wouldn’t I give to find a stone like that! I say, where
is Landak?”
“In that direction,” answered Johannes, pointing to the south-west.
“Shall we pass there?” asked the Walloon.
“What do you mean?” Johannes replied. “How shall we pass there when we
are journeying towards the north?”
“Look here,” said the Walloon, showing the tattered book. “A diamond
has been found in Landak valued at five million guilders. Suppose we
could find such a stone?”
“Bah! you hope to find a diamond worth over two million dollars! Your
aspirations are on the increase. Let us see what your book says about
that gem.”
Johannes took the manuscript and commenced to read. Having finished the
description of the jewel, he leisurely turned some of the pages,
becoming gradually more interested in their perusal.
“Where did you get this book?” he enquired of the Walloon.
La Cueille related how Harimaoung Boekit had given it to him among
other volumes for the purpose of making cartridges. The Poenan was now
questioned, and after thinking awhile remembered that he had
appropriated it during a head-hunting expedition among the Penhengs. He
also informed them that it had been profusely illustrated, but that the
children had torn out the pictures.
On further examination Johannes fancied that on the inside of one of
the covers, over which a blank leaf had been pasted, he could perceive
some writing. He carefully loosened the page and detached it from the
cover, when he read the following:
“All my companions have been massacred to-day. To-morrow it will be
my turn. God have mercy upon my soul.
“G. M.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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