is formed by two hollow trees, each
about seven feet high, placed upright, side by side, in the ground. From
the lower extremity of these, two pipes of bamboo are conducted through
a clay bank three inches thick, into a charcoal fire; a man is perched
at the top of the trees, and pumps with two pistons, the suckers of
which are made with cocks' feathers, which, being raised and depressed
alternately, blow a regular stream of air into the fire. The soil
cultivated by these people was found to be excellent. In the course of
his wanderings, Mr Brooke lighted upon a Chinese colony, who, as is
customary with our new allies, were making the most of their advantages.
The settlement consisted of thirty men, genuine Chinese, and five women
of the mixed breed of Sambas. They had been but four or five months in
the country, and many acres were already cleared and under cultivation.
The head of the settlement, a Chinese of Canton, spoke of gold mines
which were abundant in the Sar[=a]wak mountains, and of antimony ore and
diamonds; the former, he said, might be had in any quantities.

Upon his return to Sar[=a]wak, Mr Brooke opened to the rajah the
business which had chiefly conducted him to his shores. He informed his
highness that, being a private gentleman, he had no interest in the
communication he was about to make; and that, being in no way connected
with government, his words came with no authority. At the same time, he
was, anxious for the interests of mankind, and more especially for the
wellbeing of the inhabitants of Borneo, which was the last Malay state
possessing any power, that the resources of a country so favoured by
Providence should be brought into the fullest play. To this end, he
suggested the opening of a trade with individual European merchants.
Sar[=a]wak was rich, and the territory around it produced many articles
well adapted for commercial intercourse--such as bees' wax, birds'
nests, rattans, antimony ore, and sago, which constituted the staple
produce of the country. And, in return for such commodities, merchants
of Singapore would gladly send from Europe such articles as would be
highly serviceable to the people of Borneo--gunpowder, muskets, and
cloths. Both parties would be benefited, and the comfort and happiness
of the Borneons greatly enhanced. There was much discussion on the
proposal, timidity and apprehension characterizing the questions and
answers of the Rajah.

The important interview at an