At Fort Vyner, Sergeant Kassim sat in the office and across the desk facing him, a crowd had gathered in a semi-circle. He spoke slowly and distinctly in understandable a local Malay. He brought them out-to-date with the news of the war, of Allied misfortunes and the slow but gradual recovery, and of Japan's might and dwindling resources. The Allies had come into the interior of this country, so that the rights human beings mighty be honourably preserved. 

When called for, there was no lack of volunteers  from the crowd. Tan and I put in our names on the top of the list. After a week's training on how to handle weapons, the volunteers were allocated patrol routes and performed their duties magnificently. Many went off as guides and porters, offering their services to the unsuspecting enemy who were intent upon reaching Sibu via Belaga, having found that the Allied bombings and landings at Labuan were too much for them to tolerate. They withdrew towards Sibu which was to be the centre of their resistance. 

The enemy who once swaggered were now in rags, some barefooted, gaunt and haggard. The officers wore side arms and Samurai swords which were often carried by the porters. They were killed by the parang ilang or spears by their 'stupid' guides and porters. Many were killed during ambush and by the newly-acquired weapons of the volunteers who rather preferred shotguns to. 303 British rifles or carbines. 

Sergeant Kassim could not help smiling at the many questions put to him on the types of weapon the volunteers were to use. Many preferred shotguns, but the Sergeant remarked that the normal weapons in use were the. 303 British rifles. 

"Senapang itu tidak bagus, Sarjan. Cuma satu peluru sahaja!" 

Sergeant Kassim sat up, at a loss to understand this. 

"Senapang patah bagus. Pelurunya banyak."

Asah who was among the crowd listened and enjoyed the conversation as much as the Sergeant did. He finally cut in and said: 

"Sergeant, my anakbiaks and I will go up the Batang Rejang to ambush Imada tomorrow morning." 

Six enemy soldiers and a civilian officer named Omada had left Belaga a month before Sergeant Kassim made his appearance. This enemy officer had made discreet inquiries as to whether any white men had seen or heard in the district. No one could or would help him. He later went upriver to Long Nawang. 

Asah was politely asked to wait for the arrival of a senior officer and his decision. He grudgingly gave in and left with the Sergeant to spend the night at Rumah Ageng. The only two policemen in Belaga were warned not to get in touch with their superiors. 

Meanwhile, Imada could not disguise the fact that he had no power over life and death. The Samurai sword which he held in his hands, or had it strapped over his back held secrets of its master. His discreet inquiries revealed that he was no civilian at all, even thought he stated that he was "agriculturally-minded",  and was looking for the best locality and soil to plant padi. 

No one could believe he had no military intentions for he was for most of the time with the two policemen and the Native Officer for news of Allied presence and underground personnel. His stay and presence in the Fort's guest room was a disturbing thought. We wished him gone. 

"Dressah?" 

I turned from my works , saw Imada, then stood up and bowed submissively under his glance. 

"I want you to come with me to Long Nawang ," he said in a mixture of broken English and local Malay. 

"Yes,Tuan, "I mumbled, feeling cold inside. My thoughts raced to Penghulu Puso who could get me out of this jam. 

Penghulu Puso , a Skapan, was a very popular man with the lower Kaki Giam natives and Chinese. He was very fair in his dealings. During the period when the English officers left, and before the presence of the Japanese was felt, he kept Belaga normal. He told off one settles Punan Tuai Rumah and his men to return to their longhouse when they wanted to plunder and loot the bazaar. The Chinese and Malays had cause to thanks him for many tactful management's of some unruly natives. He and his ancestors had made it possible for Malays and Chinese to live together in peace and to barter among the various natives. 

To him, my thought flew. I had come up to Belaga from Kapit with him in his forty-men racing perahu. The journey took five days, which totally diminished the many fearful tales I heard about them. They were not what I expected. They were simple and kind, and considerably naive than town dwellers like us. In the five days and four-and-a-half-years I  stayed with them, I found them to be honest and simple people, unlike the wily 'civilised' folks. 

During the first few months of my tour of duty, the people of Belaga District were wary of me. I was not yet in their confidence, but I did my best. 

I can still remember one occasion..........................