fortified me. He was taking voluntarily risks which I was running because circumstances left me no alternative. Morcover, he, I knew, believed himself to be going to certain death, whereas I was backing. my own conception of the psychology of the men with whom I was dealing, and saw in the action I was taking the one chance afforded to me of saving my- self and those under my charge from a violent and unpleasant end.
The interview with the chiefs was a long one, and throughout it the knowledge that Umal's great, fleshy body was wedged in securely between my enemies and the small of my back gave me an added confidence which was worth many points in my favour. The decision, whether it was to be peace or war. lay with the Dato' Maharaja Pěrba Jělai – The great territorial baron whom I had come to see- who was, under the Sultan, the practical ruler of the whole of the interior of Pahang. This man, before British influence had been extended to the country, had been the object of the Sultan's jealousy and had seen encroachments upon his authority by more than one royal favourite attempted and encouraged. Several of these upstart chiefs were among the leaders of the present revolt, and the son of one of them was now heading the local war party at Kuala Lipis and was being warmly seconded by the Dato's own promising heir. That these youngsters had the Sultan's influence at their back was also obvious; but my chances of success lay in my ability to dis- credit them and to convince the Dato' that he was
