speak Malay and Dusun; I am (now poor Witti has been murdered
by the savages) the only white man who can speak the latter language,
and therefore a very desirable person for an inland Resident, “ though
Hi says it as shouldn’t.” I shall be quite content to carry your watercolours—
the oils are too heavy—about, and he an Oriental wreck for
six months * after I come, for really I have had sqme very hard times
here, roughing it in a manner which I would defy even an African
explorer to put into the shade. . But it is all experience. You see,
my writing has even become Oriental, i.e. shaky.
Ever your affectionate brother,
F r a n k .
Kudat, October 28fh, 1882.
M y d e a r e s t F a t h e r ,— I have just returned froni “ the mountain
fastnesses ” of Borneo, where copper exploring has occupied me for
more than three months. I will not give you a detailed account of
all my adventures and experiences, as it all appears in my Kinoram
report, No. 1, which will arrive at the same time as this letter, or
should do. I am quite well now, although I have had a very had leg.
You need not tell mamma so. Your letters and papers have all
reached me, and give me more pleasure than I can tell you. The
ring I «hall always wear for your sakes.3 My thoughts of coming
home to you all, are thoughts of unalloyed pleasure, although
you will find me much altered, I expect; and I shall feel so
F R A N K h a t t o n ’ S H O U S E . (From a Water-colour Drawing by Himself.)
strange at first, and yet so happy. Do you think of coming to Marseilles?
I am not sure that I shall come home in a French ship : a
P. and 0. is a good ship as well. I am so glad to hear you say that
the Governor and the Company appreciate my services, although
hitherto so unsuccessful. The district being explored now, comprises
3 A ring sent to him in commemoration of his twenty-first birthday.
all the mountains contained in the spur from Kina Balu to Tumbo-
yonkon, including both these peaks. It will take us some time, and
it is an awful country. I t may give us copper; it has done so already
in small quantities. Enclosed is a picture of my house in Kinoram.
I can’t draw, you know, or paint either—so much the worse,—but I
will do both when I"get home. Ever your loving son,
F r a n k .
Kudat, October 28fh, 1882.
My d ea r e s t M o th e r ,—I have received all your nice letters, and
they give me, I cannot tell you how much pleasure. I have hardly
ten months more, and then hurrah for merry England ! Now, I am
going to tell you something which I did not tell papa, and I tell
you now because you will surely learn it from the papers, and I know
you are too strong-minded to get anxious about me; I can take care
of myself. Poor W itti! He was travelling in a Murut country,
and having slept in a native’s house, left the place next morning
With his eleven men. They had 'a small native-made boat, in
which they were going down stream. They came ■ to a shallow
place, where every one had to get out into the water and drag the
boat. The rifles and weapons were put in the prahu. Witti waded
ashore to make some notes. In the middle of all this they were
attacked by some hundreds of savages, who fell upon Witti and his
unfortunate men with spears, sumpitans, swords, Ac. Witti, it is
said, had a spear thrust right through his body; and even after
receiving this awful wound, he turned and fired his revolver six times.
Four cartridges were damp and did not explode, with the other two
he killed two men. Of the rest of. his followers, three escaped to
tell the sad tale, the others were killed or died in the hush.
Now, please don’t get frightened at this, as I am in a different district.
I suppose papa has heard of it already; if not, it is news, but
it is only my aceount. I am saving a little money, hut it takes such
a long time to mount up. Just think, only a few months more,
and I shall he with you all again.. I may go hack again to the East, if
there is nothing for me to do at home ; hut I would rather stay with
you, dearest mamma, even if I had to put my bit of money into a
newspaper, and become a J—1—t ; hut no matter, a time will come,
as the walrus said, to talk of many things—of Borneo, and hees’'-
wax, and of many other things.
My dearest love to you. Your ever loving son,
F r a n k ,
G 2