RETURN OF THE NISERO'S CREW.

Kumara Times, Issue 2596, 31 December 1884, Page 3

RETURN OF THE NISERO'S CREW.

The 18 survivors of the steamship Nif-ero lmve now arrived in London by the Ajiix, from Singapore. All the men are well, Mr Oichton, the chief officer, states that the Rajah of Tenom was, upon the whole, kind to the crew, and he does not blame him for the actiou he took against the Dutch. The Dutch, he says are cruel and unjust to the natives of Acheen. In Mr Crichton's opinion the crew would have been released long ago, but that our Government were negotiating through the Dutch. The Rajah's subjects detested the Dutch; and when letters were received from the Dutch officials the Rajah always called upon Mr Crichton to see him tear them up. Seven of the captives died, but this did not affect the Rajah, who said to Mr Crichton, "It is the will of God. If lie wills it, the men will die ; if He wills it, they will live." The Rajah is the doctor of the tribe, and he also gave his professional advice and services to the Nisero meu. His specific for cholera was a solution of gunpowder and water, with a lead bullet ground into it, and the Nisero men rather believed in the remedy. Mr Crichton and his men cleared a space of ground for a cemetery, and there they buried their seven comrades as they died one by one, marking out the graves with stakes. Mr Crichton says he got on so well with the Rajah that if he happened to be his way again he should certainly call upon him.