lies, and other insects, and that
these should be treated according to his instructions, and should be
from time to time, as occasion offered, sent down to him in large cases
to Singapore. To the two midshipmen the chief gave krises of the finest
temper.

"I have no presents to give you worthy of your acceptance," he said;
"but you know that I shall never forget you, and always regard you as
brothers. I intend to send twelve of my young men down to Penang, there
to live for three years and learn useful trades from your people. The
doctor has advised me also to send Bahi, and has promised to find a
comfortable home for her, where she will learn to read and write your
language and many other useful things. It is hard to part with her;
but it is for her good and that of her people. If you will write to me
sometimes, she will read the letters to me and write letters to you in
return, so that, though we are away from each other, we may know that
neither of us has forgotten the other."

Bahi and twelve young Malays were taken to Penang in the Serpent, where
the doctor found a comfortable home for her with some friends of his,
to whom payment for her board and schooling was to be paid by Hassan
in blocks of tin, which he would obtain from boats coming down from the
hills in exchange for other articles of trade. The Malays were placed
with men of their own race belonging to the protected States, and
settled as carpenters, smiths, and other tradesmen in Penang. Three
years later, they and Bahi were all taken back in the Serpent to their
home.

The river was acquiring considerable importance from the great increase
of trade. They found Hassan's town far more extensive and flourishing
than it had been in the time of its predecessor. The forest had been
cleared for a considerable distance round it, the former inhabitants had
returned, tobacco, sugar canes, cotton, pepper, and other crops whose
products were useful for trade purposes, were largely cultivated, while
orchards of fruit trees had been extensively planted. Hassan reported
that tribal wars had almost ceased, and that disputes were in almost
all cases brought for his arbitration. Owing to the abolition of all
oppressive tolls, trade from the interior had very largely increased, a
great deal of tin, together with spices and other products, now finding
its way down by the river. Hassan was delighted with the progress Bahi
had made, and ordered that three or four boys shou