That his diffidence in this respect was groundless will, I trust, be apparent from these pages, however indifferently I may have executed my unusual task, during a long homeward sea-voyage; and, from the growing interest which has arisen throughout the country for intelligence on the subject of Borneo and the adjacent archipelago, I venture also to indulge the belief that the general information will be deemed no unfit adjunct to the story of personal adventure. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. The text of this edition has been carefully revised, and has undergone numerous verbal alterations; some portions of it have been transposed, and a few additions have been made to the work. [In the American edition, a few pages of matter, of no interest to American readers, have been omitted from the Appendix.] CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. The Chinese War having terminated, Captain Keppel in H.M.S. Dido appointed to command of the Straits station.--Meeting with Mr. Brooke.--Sketch of his life.--Mr. Brooke's outward voyage in the Royalist.--Touch at Singapore.--Arrival off the coast of Borneo.--Land at the island of Talang Talang.--Intercourse with the Bandar _Page_ 1 CHAPTER II. Progress: observations.--Description of the coast of Borneo.--Account, &c. of a Pangeran.--Arrival at Sarawak.--Meetings with Rajah Muda Hassim, and conversations.--The Town.--Interchange of visits and presents.--Excursion to Dyak tribes.--Resources and commercial products 14 CHAPTER III. Second Cruise: up the River Lunda.--The Sibnowan Dyaks.--Their Town of Tungong.--Their Physical Proportions, and Words of their Language.--Their Customs.--Skull-trophies.--Religious Ceremonies and Opinions.--Their Ornaments.--Appearance of both Sexes.--Dress and Morals.--Missionary Prospects of Conversion, and Elevation in the Social Scale.--Government, Laws, and Punishments.--Dances.--Iron Manufacturing.--Chinese Settlement.--Excursion continued 32 CHAPTER IV. Renewed intercourse with the Rajah.--Prospects of trade.--Ourang-outang, and other animals.--The two sorts of mias.--Description of the Rajah, his suite, and Panglimas, &c.--The character of the natives.--Leave Sarawak.--Songi Dyaks.--Visit Seriff Sahib.--Buyat tongue.--Attack by pirates.--Sail for Singapore 45 CHAPTER V. Summary of information obtained during this visit to Borneo.--Geographical and topographical observations.--Produce.--Various Dyak tribes.--Natural history.--Language.--Origin of Races.--Sail from Singapore.--Celebes.--Face of the country.--Waterfall 59 CHAPTER VI. Dain Matara, the Bugis.--Excursions in Celebes.--Dispute with the Rajah's son-in-law.--Baboon shot.--Appearance of the country.--Visit the Resident.--Barometrical observations.--The Bugis.--Geography.--Coral reefs.--Visit the Rana of Lamatte.--Population and products of the country 72 CHAPTER VII.