3rd January, 1900. Report from Ambong that Si Gadong of Penasang with about 100 men had gone up country, also that a collector in the employ of Mr Waterstrait of Labuan had been robbed of a rifle and money and goods to the value of $168 by about 100 of Mat Salleh’s men, headed by Pemus and Japar.
4th Jan. I traced part of the road round the North Bluff at Gantian.
Mr Commissioner Little gave orders, that all the Bajows were to clear out of the under mentioned villages, vix:
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Bahgoon 2. Ungong 3. Gudoon 4. Rampain 5. Menggatal 6. Darro 7. Gumbok 8. Lekas and Dungun 9. Inanum. and that the Tamus (Fairs) at Menggatal and Inanum were to be closed.
Samon of Menggatal was made chief in place of Sleman.
7th Jan. I went to the Tamu (Fair) at Tamalong, which is about 2 miles from Jesselton. I told the Bajows that Mr Commissioner Little had ordered a road to be made across the swamp, so that the up country people could come to the Tamu (Fair).
8th Jan. Rangkop, the son of the Govt. Chief at Inanum came and reported that his father was sick, but he had given notice the closing of the Tamu at Inanum.
9th Jan. If the whole of the channel between Gaya Island and the mainland is to be beaconed it will require thirty more beacons.
On account of this being the Mohommedan Fast month, the Bajows are doing very little work.
10th Jan. Sedik, the Chief of Api Api came to me at Jesselton and agreed to build Sulaps (huts) at the Tamalong tamu.
His men will work for 10 days on the swamp road at daily pay; afterwards I hope to be able to make a contract with them or the Putatan Dusons.
11th Jan. I gave permission to a Chinaman to open a shop to supply the coolies.
12th Jan. I walked to Putatan. Datu Buntong will repair the bridges at Bangkong and Papas, and Tola the chief of Ketugo will repair the road to Dumpil.
17th Jan. Pengeran Mat Salleh and Datu Maraja of Karimbuni came and made some serious complaints against the clerk Amit.
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It was also reported to me that Datu Tominggong (Iman) of Petagas, had sent his walking stick to call Pengeran Abdul Kahar to Pangkallong Buch, Putatan, and by so doing had given mortal offence to the Pengeran.
MR HAYNES’s report on P. Keppel for the first half of February contains amongst a number of small details, of no public interest, the following:-
1st February, 1900. Left the Office, Tuaran, at 6.30 a.m. with Umpan as guide and 10 police, and arrived at Tapakaun at 11.15 a.m.
The village of Tapakaun is on the right bank of the Sungei Damit and contains 8 houses there are 15 men, 13 women, and 13 children.
The Chief Li Louis was absent. Kongip the deputy Chief states:– When we heard of the burning of Laputong we hid our things in the jungle.
On the 19th January, 1900, at about 7 o’clock a.m. The gang of dacoits came from the other side of the river: there were about 97, 30 of which had rifles.
We all ran away into the jungle, when we came back we found they had taken some rice and cooking pots to the value of $5-60 but they did not burn down any of the houses.
2nd Feb. Left Tapakaun at 7 o’clock a.m., and arrived at Kampong Tegas at 8 o’clock a.m.
Kampong Tegas is built on a hill about 400 feet above the plain, and consists of 4 long houses.
There are 12 men, 15 women and 9 children. Lampat, the Chief, states:– When we heard that Laputong had been burned down, some of the people hid their things in the jungle, but not all.
On the 19th January, 1900 at about 10 o’clock a.m. the gang came from Tapakaun. I saw Si Guuting or Sayap and Mat Doud with them; my people ran away, they ran passed from the village goods to the value of $18-50.
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From Tegas Gaya Head bears 249° 30’
Mengabong Bluff 256°
Tapakaun bears 244°
distance about 2 miles
Left Tegas at 9-15 a.m. and at 10-30 a.m. crossed the Sungei Damit and camped in the Sulaps at Tamu Rumbatuan (Madong). Rumbatuan is on a low hill on the left bank of the Sungei Damit, there are 4 houses, 9 men, 15 women and 13 children.
Bengkok the Chief, states, the next day after Tegas had been rampassed, the gang came here; at about 6 o’clock a.m. I saw Mat Doud.
Salleh and Santarrah, whose name is Sahi, with about 100 men and 20 rifles stated: all my men ran.