are satisfied with me and my work. If I am to get samples of wood,
gums, &c., for research, the Eoyal Society had better give me a grant.
Dr. Hodgkinson might perhaps see to this. I am now a member of the
Straits Eoyal Asiatic Society, and one of their agents in Borneo. I am
going to write them a paper on Sabah, but I think I had better consult
Mr. Treacher first. I went to an essential oil factory yesterday, and procured
samples of eitronella oil, lemon oil, nutmeg, patchoulli oils, &c.
Eatheran interesting place. Please tell me in full what you think
of my last report. I think it is my best. I have yet Siquati to finish,
Kinoram Geological Eeport, with maps, &c. But, most of all, I want
to know if my work is approved of. Cowie is a good fellow. Did
you see Barclay Eead 1
I think I look a little “ too utter ” in my photo. Qtte pensez-vous ?
I am collecting data, though slowly, for my book. -Witti did not
take many arms, or pay much attention to the weapons which he did
take \ I do. In my book I shall write some things which do not
appear in my diary and reports.
Your most loving son,
P r a n k .
His last two letters are from Sandakan. He discusses
the question of his position and the future. . The
Company want him to take a holiday in the east, but
not to return home. They wish to extend his engageit
to mamma, it will make her sad.” I suppose there is nothing more
depressing than jungle fever. Attending this depression which
afflicted Prank at Kudat was the keen disappointment of the' failure
of a great copper find. He had tracked, the indications of the metal
over miles of country under serious difficulties, and had literally
hunted it down to its source. It was at the time the one great hope
of the Company. Examples of copper, antimony, and gold had.
previously in more than one instance been palmed upon their
explorers by natives and others; but here was a genuine find. Prank
had followed it step by step from the place where it was found (far
away from its source) to its origin, to its first outcrop—and the result,
while it was in its way a scientific triumph, was not a financial
success. These two letters did not reach me until he had left Singapore
on his last expedition, and on the day I received them satisfactory
and cheerful reports of him by telegraph and letter had been received
at the Company’s offices in London.
ment, and the managing director suggests a resident-
ship, combined with scientific investigation.6 I feel
complimented by this expression of confidence in their
young official, but will listen to nothing so far as I am
concerned that does not first contemplate his return to
London for a personal and family consultation. The
photograph (referred to above) sent from Singapore,
taken just after his recovery from fever, emphasized
this resolve, to say nothing of his hardships, his
dangers, and the utter void his absence had made in
our little family circle. More than once I had gone
to the Company’s offices in Old Broad Street, with the
intention of telegraphing to him, “ Come home ! ” But
fate would have it that I was always met there with
some cheering account of him, a compliment from the
Governor touching his work, or a pleasant record of
him from some traveller or official who had seen
him. When the news of poor Witti’s death came, I
went up to the city with that old familiar message,
—“ Come home ! ”—in my mind; but on that very
day despatches were received from the Governor,
with satisfactory accounts of Mr. Frank Hatton, and
it would have seemed cowardly, I thought, in his sight
6 “ He might,” said the managing director to me, “ take six5 months’
leave and visit Java ; the country would interest him in many ways,
its system of government, as you know, is unique. You referred to it
in * The Hew Ceylon.’ ” A few months later, and at about the time
Erank would, under this arrangement, have visited Java, came news of
the terrible earthquake there, the atomic dust of which is said to have
accounted for the wonderful sunsets—the blood-red after-glows—which
followed, and were noted throughout Europe and even in America. I
saw the snowy prairies beyond Chicago bathed in their ruddy light,
and in London I was told they literally seemed to set the Thames on
fire.