Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For even during one short month's absence I fear my poor people will suffer from the intrigues of the rascally Borneo Pangerans. In this I do not include Muda Hassim, who, with a most amiable private character, and with integrity and good faith, desires to do right, as far as his education and prejudices will permit.
Travers the time to wonder how it was that this man had succeeded in penetrating into the very depths of her compassion, he hit the table such a blow that all the heavy muskets seemed to jump a little. Mrs. Travers heard Hassim pronounce a few words earnestly, and a moan of distress from Immada. "I believed in you before you . . . before you gave me your confidence," she began.
Brooke, "I have mentioned briefly the occasions which led to my invitation, and the reasons which induced me to accept the offer of the Rajah Muda Hassim; but I will repeat these, in order to bring the narrative at once more distinctly before the memory.
"My country is upon a far-away sea where the light breezes are as strong as the winds of the rainy weather here," said Lingard; and there were low exclamations of wonder. "I left it very young, and I don't know about my power there where great men alone are as numerous as the poor people in all your islands, Tuan Hassim.
They said that they had been kindly treated by Muda Hassim a native Rajah in Borneo and they asked Mr James Brooke to take presents and letters of thanks to him, if he should be going thither in his yacht.
It was a great shock to Hassim, but the sort of half smile with which he had been listening to Jaffir never altered its character. It was the Princess Immada who cried out in distress and wrung her hands. A deep silence fell.
"And do you make them pay tribute for their land?" enquired Hassim with eagerness. "No," answered Lingard in a sobered tone; "this, Tuan Hassim, you see, is not the custom of white men. We could, of course but it is not the custom." "Is it not?" said the other with a sceptical smile. "They are stronger than we are and they want tribute from us.
"Hassim waits," was the curt answer. "Did he tell you to return?" asked Lingard. "No! What need?" said the other in a surprised tone. Lingard seized his hand impulsively. "If I had ten men like you!" he cried. "We are ten, but they are twenty to one," said Jaffir, simply. Lingard opened the door. "Do you want anything that a man can give?" he asked.
We entered the town straggling, and the letter having been received with firing of guns, banners displayed, and all the respect due to a royal communication, we were dragged in haste to the audience; the sultan on his throne, Muda Hassim and every principal Pangeran waiting for us Pangeran Usop to boot. The letter was read; twenty-one guns fired.
And sometimes they get it even from Wajo where every man is free and wears a kris." There was a period of dead silence while Lingard looked thoughtful and the Malays gazed stonily at nothing. "But we burn our powder amongst ourselves," went on Hassim, gently, "and blunt our weapons upon one another."
Word Of The Day