The Sun. — 1849-01-29 (London, England)

THE COLONY OF LABUAN. The following letter has just been received by a near relative of one of the officers of Sir James Brooke's suite :  "Labuan, Nor. 2, 1848. " A merchant-ship sails to• day for Singapore, by Which opportunity I write to say we -are all well. You will probobly hear miserable accounts of the unhealthy state of this settlement, and in fact there is a great deal of lever, but of a mild intermittent kind. We are living be a marsh, which fully accounts for it. The Europeans are fixing on sites for their bungalows on the high lands in the interior. The Raja's house is to be commenced at once, and I doubt not in a few weeks we shall get out of this unhealthy spot. We have just returned from Brun! —a must satisfactory visit. The Sultan built us a very geed house close to his palace. The Borneans have quite knocked under to us. Macota (the wily one) was as oily and soft as it he had never been anything but our staunchest friend. They promise to assist us at La• bums to the best of their ability, and are to send us over werkinen to build the Raja's house. I am myself rely enthusiastic about Labelle, and very confident of i!s ultimate bUCeI as ; still there is no disguising the fact that this sickness has created a panic which may greatly letard our pre giess. The Admired paid us a visit of a w hours the other day in 11,e Auckland, visited the Ete epeene (Aped with the Raja, and took a short ride en the road to the barracks. Ile left us with an unfeveurable impression of Labuan. The Meander is to be tent back here immediately, and probably we shall be off to Suoloo next month. The Sooloos have again been committing piracies. One account of an attack made by them on a Bornean boat has just reached us ; they tempted the crew on shore and murdered them to a man ; we shall hare fighting there yet. Thu Raja, lam sorry to say, is not looking se well as metal. lie has much to harass him ; the sickness in the island is a source of anxiety to him. One of our own party has be en laid up with f. ver, but is now recovered. Tee ung.eierous attacks made by the jealMIS Si' g,poreAris are another annoyance to the It ja. 1 haze enjo.s ed the best health, and the• intake in all that eoes on in every little improvement prevent, my fe. ling ennui. My life is a very regular One, and far from unpleasant. I get up every /Leming between seven and eight, bathe and dress, then read and write till ten; we breakfast at eleven, reackwrite, study Malay, and chat till half-past four, when all sally out for a walk, or sometimes a pull or sail. Our walks are very circumscribed. We have a fine sandy beach for two miles in one direction; in the other, the road to the barracks, which is lregressing rapidly; it is cut for two mica through the heart of the jungle, and we can now ride over it with ease; of course it will be a long time before it is macadamised. Our bungalows will be built near this road. The Rajah has chosen a spot close to a very pretty ravine with a waterfall. Our communications with Singapore are so uncertain you must never be surprised at not getting letters. I hope soon to be able to send you better accounts of our progress. I am quite confident myself. We are most anxious that the Eastern Archipelago Company should commence operations here. The settlement is at standstill for want of European enterprise and capital. Do not be surprised if you do not hear from as for the next month or two. Wo shall probably be at Sooloo."