I took out five or six hundred cents for daily expenses, and put them in a small japanned box, which always stood upon my table.

In the afternoon I went for a short walk, and on my return this box and my keys, which I had carelessly left on the table, were gone.

Two of my boys were in the house, but had heard nothing.

I immediately gave information of the two robberies to the Director at the mines and to the Commandant at the fort, and got for answer, that if I caught the thief in the act I might shoot him.

By inquiry in the village, we afterwards found that one of the convicts who was on duty at the Government rice-store in the village had quitted his guard, was seen to pass over the bridge towards my house, was seen again within two hundred yards of my house, and on returning over the bridge into the village carried something under his arm, carefully covered with his sarong.