Life in the forests of the Far East (vol. 2 of 2)

by Sir Spenser St. John

To increase the number of defenders, Mr. Crymble released two Malay prisoners, one a madman, who had killed his wife, the other a debtor. The latter quickly disappeared, while the former, regardless of the shot flying around, stood to the post assigned him, opposite a plank which the Chinese were trying to remove; he had orders to fire his carbine at the first person who appeared, and when, the plank giving way, a man attempted to force his body through, he pulled the trigger without lowering the muzzle of his carbine and sent the ball through his own brains. Mr. Crymble now found it useless to prolong the struggle, as one of his four men was killed, and another, a brave Malay corporal, was shot down at his side. The wounded man begged Mr. Crymble to fly and leave him there, but asked him to shake hands with him first, and tell him whether he had not done his duty; but the Englishman seized him by the arm and attempted to drag him up the stairs leading to the dwelling-house over the gate, but the Chinese had already gained the court-yard, and pursuing drove their spears through the wounded man, and Mr. Crymble was forced to let go his hold, and with a brave follower, Duud, swung himself down into the ditch below. Some of the rebels seeing their attempted escape, tried to stop Mr. Crymble, and a man stabbed at him, but only glanced his thick frieze coat, and received in return a cut across the face from the Englishman’s cutlass, which, if he be still alive, will be a remembrance to carry to the grave.

The other stockade, though it had but a corporal’s watch of three Malays, did not surrender, until finding that every other place was in the hands of the Chinese, the brave defenders opened the gates, and charging the crowd of rebels, sword in hand, made their escape, though they were all severely wounded in the attempt.

The confusion which reigned throughout the rest of the town may be imagined, as startled by the shouts and yells of the Chinese the inhabitants rushed to the doors and windows, and beheld night turned into day by the bright flames that rose in three directions, where the extensive European houses were burning at the same time.

It was at first very naturally thought that the Chinese contemplated a general massacre of the Europeans, but messengers were soon despatched to them by the kunsi, to say that nothing was further from their intention than to interfere with those who were unconnected with the Government.

The rajah had as soon as possible proceeded to the datu bandhar’s house, and being quickly joined by his English officers, endeavoured to organize a force to surprise the victorious Chinese, but it was impossible; no sooner did he collect a few men, than their wives and children surrounded them, and refused to be left, and being without proper arms or ammunition, it was but a panic-stricken mob; so he instantly took his determination, with that decision which has been the foundation of his success, and giving up the idea of an immediate attack, advised the removal of the women and children to the left-hand bank of the river, where they would be safe from a land attack of the Chinese, who could now make their way along the right-hand bank by a road at the back of the town.

This removal was accomplished by the morning, when the party of English under the rajah walked over to the little river of Siol, which falls into the Santubong branch of the Sarawak, where obtaining canoes, they started for the Samarahan river, intending to proceed to the Batang Lupar to organize an expedition from the well-supplied forts there. At the mouth of the Siol, the rajah found the war boat of abang Buyong with sixty men waiting for him, which was soon joined by six others, though smaller; as no sooner did the Malays of the neighbouring villages hear that the rajah was at Siol, than they began flocking to him. He now started for the Samarahan, and rested at the little village of Sabang, and to the honour of the Malay character, I must add that during the height of his power and prosperity, never did he receive so much sympathy, tender attention, and delicate generosity, as now when a defeated fugitive. They vied with each other, as to who should supply him and his party with clothes and food, since they had lost all, and if to know that he was enshrined in the hearts of the people was any consolation to him in his misfortunes, he had ample proofs of it then.

When morning broke in Kuching, there was a scene of the wildest confusion; the 600 rebels, joined by the vagabonds of the town, half stupefied with opium, were wandering about discharging their muskets loaded with ball cartridge in every direction; but at eight o’clock the chiefs of the gold company sent a message to the bishop of Labuan, requesting him to come down and attend the wounded. He did so, and found thirty-two stretched out, the principal being from gun-shot wounds; but among them he noticed one with a gash across his face from the last blow Mr. Crymble had struck at the rebels, and before his arrival they had buried five of their companions.

It was evident that in the intoxication of victory the Chinese aimed now, if not before, at the complete government of the country, and summoned the bishop of Labuan, Mr. Helms, Mr. Ruppell, and the datu bandhar to appear at the court-house; the English were obliged to attend the summons, and the last came with great reluctance, and contrary to the advice of his energetic brother, but it was thought expedient to gain time.

The Chinese chiefs even in their most extravagant moments of exultation, were in great fear that on their return the Malays might attack their crowded boats, and destroy them, as on the water they felt their great inferiority to their maritime enemies.

It must have been an offensive sight to the English and the Malays to witness the arrangement of the court-house: in the rajah’s seat sat the chief of the kunsi, supported on either side by the writers or secretaries, while the now apparently subdued sections took their places on the side benches. The Chinese chief issued his orders, which were that Mr. Helms and Mr. Ruppell should undertake to rule the foreign portion of the town, and that the datu bandhar should manage the Malays, while the kunsi as supreme rulers should superintend the whole, and govern the up country.