The "British North Borneo Herald " of Ist G'etober contains the summary of the diary of Mr. L. R. Martin, the officer in charge at Kotabelud, for a month which seems justified in describing as rather eventful."
Here are a few of the items:
July 2nd.—I killed a sapi and divided what was over with Dusuns, Dyaks and Tslams.
The Dusuns ate theirs in their kitchen.
One of the Sikhs looked over the wall and made a fuss.
Sent the whole five to the coast as I do not see why five Sikhs should not be able to keep themselves to themselves the same as the Islams do, and I certainly do not intend to give up cating beef once or twice a month for them or be at a loss over the het.
They are no use up-country and had better stay in the coast towns, where their "adat " cannot cause trouble. cided to wait till Sikhs had gone before going to the Ulu.
6th. Arrived Koung 4.30 p.m., going rendered difficult by rain and bad roads. Was nearly drowned at Watang; found Mr. Hough had thought river too high to admit of my getting up so had left Koung for Kiow.
9th. After some stiff climbing arrived at Kiow, where I buckled up from cold, a chill giving me a touch of Lumbago. Very windy here.
lith. Arrived Koung, arrested Si Nu-man chief of Tamis, for assisting rebels, 13th. Si Numan' bolted at midnight. Small "tem " here to-day, nothing in it, 19th. Dresser and. operator arrived late at night from Ambong. Sent off the galintazan." telephone, and five bundles police "batang."
20th. Arrested Bahr, and Mr. Kongh. on telephonic advice, arrested D: n, two buffalo thieves. A Sikh policeman allowed the latter, who is the worst of the two. to escape between the station and wharf at Ambong.
2st. Found the telegraph box here contained stationery, not instruments, s0 wired Assistant Superintendant, who answered "hetter wait till T come.'
23rd. tald Early to " tem timbang people I thoncht Kamunta and would he executed here to-morrow or next day. Saw Tubal about Muran's fine: gave him time 10 days.
11-30 p.m. Wakened by telephone and received orders from Mr. Dunlop to pro-pare for execution. Two police went to Rosok for Panuboh's witnesses.
24th, Launch arrived 8 a.m. Execution took place 1-45 p.m. Both men hrare though Sidik fainted when tied. Held Coroner's inquiry at Ahai, Jury Drosser Sexto. Arsat, Date Shabandar, Bagu Madusup. Formal verdict.
Poor Mr. Martin seems to have had vere little peace either br day or night. Tt was bad enough for one month, most people would think, to be nearly drowned. heckled up with lumbar, and -o have one's dinners spoilt by a Sikh looking over a wall, without the added anxiety of being twice awakened late at nicht, once to receive a "dresser" and " operator "—funetionaries whose names suggest. anything Tut. cheerful occupations, and on the other occasion to " prepare for execution." "This last summons, however, the contest shows not to have been so direful as the plain statement would imply. In regard tocome of the other events, a little further explanation would not come amiss. What. exactly is a "sapi" and why, in the name of commonsense, should a Sikh looking over a wall have such disquieting effect on Mr. Martin's dinner? And had the "adat *—whatever that may mean—anything to do with the escape of the principal buffalo thief from the custody of the other Sikh policeman?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.