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undertaken, and hopes that its success may lead to
condonement of-his breach of discipline. His idea was
to complete the preliminary survey of British North
Borneo, or Sabah, which he would almost have accomplished
by an investigation of the line of country
approaching the confines of the cession.
In the course of this letter he quotes from “ The
New Ceylon” a passage in regard to the junction of a
river called the Kinabatangan with the Quamote, in
respect to which Mr. Pryer (the Resident at Sandakan)
says, This is quite an unexplored river, owing to its
interior being in the hands of a fierce tribe, the Ting-
galums, who sometimes make a raid upon the Kinaba-
tangan.”4 Poor Witti quotes these words in his last
letter, and expresses his intention of entering this
country. Mr. Pryer suggested that a fort at the
junction of the rivers to keep the Tinggalums in check,
would, with a firm but friendly administration, soon
lead to the establishment of a thriving station, the
district being prolific of valuable tropical produce.
Witti in his letter dwells upon these points, and says
he has no reason to doubt that he will go through the
country safely, several of his men having been there
before. He pleads the importance of his trip and his
own earnestness as an excuse for going on, and thenceforth,
of course, is outside the Company’s authority.
Six or eight weeks after the receipt of this letter
three natives, who had been of Witti’s party, returned
to Kimanis and reported his death under treacherous
and terrible circumstances, whether at the hands of
Tinggalums, Muruts, or head-hunting Dyaks seemed
to be a matter of doubt. These native attendants
4 This locality is in the region of Frank Hatton’s latest exploration.