ASIA 
 
 + 
 
 DS 
 
 597 
 
 .37 
 
 ,R35 
 
 1875a 
 
 THE 
 
 PtAJAIIATE OF SARJlWAIL 
 
 RErniKTED FROM "THE ORIENTAL/ 
 
 BRIGnTON: 
 Pr.IKTED AT THE "TOWER PEESS," PARK ROAD WEST. 
 
 1875. 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of tiiis book is in 
 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924078409673 
 
fORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 078 409 673 
 
Portuguese and l,lic Dutch, but neither of tlic early navigators of 
 tlie Arcliipclngo liad ])lantecl his foot ih-iiily upon the island, 
 or attempted to penetrate the country and evolve its natural 
 resources. It was reserved for Sir James Brooke to make the 
 "world acquainted with the real wealth which laj' hidden beneath 
 the soil and in the heart of the forests, and at the same time 
 to expose the poverty, wretchedness, aud tyranny, which perilled 
 the existence of a vast number of hinuan beings. 
 
 With the early portion of Sir Jauics Brooke's career in the 
 East the public were made acquainted, in various forms, while he 
 yet lived and cairied on his humane and beneficial operations ; 
 but no continuous nanvativc has ajipcared until noAv, when we 
 find in a periodical, called " The ^Monthly Packet," a .sketch, traced 
 hy a loving hand, in which a vigorous intellect combines with a 
 gentle heart to delineate all the salient facts of a very striking 
 biography. From this sketch we gather the following brief 
 narrative of the expedition to Sarawak, and its ultimate results. 
 
 Brooke's career was begun in the East India Conipanj''s Armj', 
 but a woTind received in action compelling his return to England, 
 he lemained there, slowly recovering, beyond the jieriod 
 allowed for extended leave of absence, aufl his commission was 
 therebj"^ forfeited. Before he could settle on any new form of 
 life his father died, bequeathing him a competence. He now 
 saw the opportunity he had long desired, of proceeding to the 
 Eastern Aichipelago. He seized it at once — equipped a j'acht, 
 called the "Pioyalist," of 142 tons, in which he had made a short 
 voyage in the Mediterranean, and "stood out to sea.'' This was 
 at the close of 1S38. The "E-oyalist" had a picked crew, scientific 
 and other chosen friends, and six G-poundcrs on board, besides 
 vai'ious small arms, and pro\'isions for four months. Making at 
 once for the Biitish settlement of Singapore, Bj'ookc there 
 gathered some facts in relation to Borneo, and learnt, among 
 other things, that the Rajah of the counby was favourable 
 to Eurojicans (excepting the Dutch), and had behaved in a 
 "civilized" manner to a shipAnecked crew who fell into his 
 power. Brooke remained long enough at Singapore to j)rovide 
 himself with such articles as he was informed would pj'ove 
 acceptable as jnesents to the llajah ; and having recruited his crew 
 with some stout ^Malays, " men of the .sea," he again set forth. 
 
The Admiralty charts of the coast of Borneo were so miserably 
 impeifcct and deceptive, that the adventurous master of the 
 " Royalist " found it necessary, as he approached the treacherous 
 coast, abounding \vjth shoals and reefs, to commence a regular 
 nautical survey of the fringe of the land. The weather 
 was tcinpestuous, but nothing daunted the crew of the 
 " Roj'ali.st." The bay between Point Api and Datu was reached, 
 and a boat sent to the little island of Talang Talang, where 
 an agent with a party of Sar^wak Malays was engaged in 
 collecting turtles' eggs for the Rajah of Borneo. Some five 
 or six thousand eggs wei-e obtainable every day. Here Brooke 
 obtained pilots, and went on his way, survej'ing and latitude 
 settling at every convenient step. At length he reached the 
 Sarawak river, and sending a letter to announce his arrival, 
 a nobleman, or Pangeran, was despatched by the Rajah with a 
 large jiraliu to give liim welcome. Ho describes the scenery 
 as beautiful exceedingly, the people well disposed, the na\-igation 
 hazardous. He reaches Kuching, the capital of Sar&,wak, and was 
 received by the Rajah, Muda Hassim by name, with a salute. 
 The ordinary Oriental courtesies follow at a formal durbar, 
 and during a second interview Brooke hears that the Rajah 
 does not usually reside at Kuching, but is there to suppress a 
 rebellion, of which, howevei-, the ruler makes liglit. In the course 
 of conversation with Muda Hassim, it. oozes out that His Rajah- 
 ship is desirous of gauging the relative powers of the Engli.sh 
 and the Dutch. Subsequently, the "Royalist" is visited by a 
 state ofhcer of distinction, and much solicitude is expressed 
 for the improvement of the trade of Sarawak. Brooke learns 
 (what indeed he had heard before) that the country is rich 
 in ores — antimony, tin, and gold — and that it likewise j-ields 
 wax, rattans, and birds'-nests. To develop and apply the 
 natural products of the country, assistance was needed. It had 
 been proffered by the Dutch, but had Jiot been accepted. Tlie 
 Rajah hesitated between fear and dislike of the Dutch, and his 
 emissary was curious to know if the English would enter into a 
 treaty to defend him against any attacks from the people, in 
 consideration of the concession of a free trade with Borneo. 
 Brooke would not pledge himself to any political action on the 
 part of the British Government, but he frankly advised the 
 
refusal of any fiienrlly offers from the Hollanders, as, if they 
 Eucceerlod in establishing tlicinsclves on the territoiy, aggressioni 
 -\vould bo sure to follow. 
 
 It is singular tliat, aiiiidst the mutations to -which almost; 
 every State in Europe has been subjected, more or less affecting; 
 national charactei-, the Dutch should have preserved the offensive! 
 peculiarities -which provoked the nnisc of Dryden more than t-wc> 
 hundred years ago. No one seems to like them en inn-s-se. In 
 the i-cign of Charles tlic Second, -when "glorious John" and hhi 
 verses were popular, Englisli statesmen found it necessarj' U) 
 Ko-toiv to the Dutch, -ndio -were a superior po-wer at sea; but th<3 
 honest i-)oet could not control his ire. He sang : — 
 
 "Interest 's tbe god thpT worship in llicir State, 
 And we, I take it, ba\-o not mnch of tliat. 
 Well, monarchies maj- o«-n rcliijion's name. 
 But Slates are Atlui^ts in tlicir very frame : 
 Ther share a sin ; an<l snch proporlious fall. 
 That like a stink, 'tis nothing to tlioin all. 
 Think on their rapine, falsehood, crtieltT, 
 And that \That once they were they still -wonld be; 
 To one well born tbo alTront is ivorst; and more 
 '\^'hcn he's abused and badlcd by a boor. 
 With an ill grace the Dutch their mischiof do — 
 The3'*vo both ill nature and ill nianiiei-s too. 
 Well may they boast theniseivcn an ancient nation. 
 For they were bred ere inanners wore in fasliion; 
 And their new Commonwealth has set tbcm free 
 Only from honour and civility. 
 Venetians do not more nncoulbly rido 
 Than did their lubber State mankind bestride; 
 'J'heir sway bccnnie 'cm ^^-^th as ill a raien, 
 .\5 their own paunches swell above their chin." 
 
 To return from tliis digression — provoked in some measure by 
 tlie general course of Dutcli operations in the Straits. Obtaining 
 leave to j)roceed into the interior, Brooke mastered a portion of 
 the Dyak vocalpulary, at-id went -witli a party up the rivcu- 
 Samarahan to Sibno-w. Tiie countrj' on either bank -was clnelly 
 jungle, -witli iiere and tliere a JIalay village. The people received 
 the travolliirs with a kind and gentle hospitality, and Brooke 
 was enabled to make liis observations of the country and tLie 
 Dyak.s. The re.'^ult of the trip was favourable. The Rajah and 
 his visitor were nnituallj- pleased with each other, and the formur 
 at once gave jiermission to the merchants of Singapore to trarle 
 
with SanWak. Brooke accordingly left, after a little personal 
 experience of the existence of piracy. He had surveyed one 
 hundred and forty miles of coast never visited by Europeans, 
 laid down minutclj' the rivers to the extent of seventy miles, and 
 seen something of tlie people. 
 
 Leaving Sarawak, the enterprising Brooke proceeded to the 
 Celehes, where he was well received ; and here his mind revolved 
 the question of the "practical result of European rule over 
 the coloured races." His first impressions were not favourable. 
 " Arc ICuropean Governments," he asks himself, " so constituted 
 as to advance the independence or the happiness of the native 
 races ? Our knowledge of the past and the present must decide 
 for the future. What says the past ? Wha.t is it but a record of 
 horrora from which the human mind revolts! We have the 
 picture of innocent and of comparatively happy natives — natives 
 prosperous and hospitable— confiding in the honour and 
 integrity of Europeans. We seek them, and they arc no more. 
 These natives have been extirpated ; their arts, their very 
 langungc, lo.st in the march of this monster Colonization, which 
 now is to confer every benefit." 
 
 Brooke had left Sarawak because it was in a state of rebellion. 
 Ho reaches Singajiorc; but in August, 1840, he goes back to 
 Sarawak, and again experiences kindness and hospitality. But 
 the rebellion still rages. Brooke's presence is, in the opinion of 
 the Rajah, a guarantee of the safety of the capital. The 
 Englishman could do nothing after such an assurance but take an 
 active part in the warlike operations, and he accordingly advanced 
 into the field with the Rajah's "brave armj'." But all endeavours 
 to lead them on to attack the rebels were futile. Their abject 
 poltroonery was so invincible that Brooke was obliged to return 
 and report the unhappy result. Here, however, he was met by 
 an offer of the country of Sarawak, its government and trade, if 
 he would only stop and not desert the Rajah. The consent of 
 the Sultan of Borneo, to whom Sarawak w<as tributar}'', was a 
 neccssarj' condition of the transfer; thus Brooke, in order to meet 
 the brother of the Rajah, who was a person of some influence, 
 and Avith whom it was necessary to confer in the firat instance, 
 again went to the front, and, by the force of his example, and that 
 of the crew of his boat, attacked, overcame, and dispersed the 
 
icIjcIk, securing tlieir lives, but not .saving Uiclr piopcity fi'oni 
 confiscation. 
 
 Giatoial for tlic .service i-enderccl liim, tlic Rajah cau.sed tlie 
 requisite documents to be prepared for tlie .signature of the 
 Sultan of Borneo, as.signing Sarawalc to I)iool<;e ; and the aspect 
 of affairs -was suflicicnLly pleasant. .But the Rajali was a -wetik 
 character; and Pangeran Makota, his ^[iuister, an intriguing 
 nobleman, -who -was Jealous of Brooke, determined to tlnvart in 
 every way the project which .should ]ilacc an Englishman in a 
 position to control his own crooked jiolicy. The condition of the 
 transfer of the Eajahatc of Saiawak was, tiiat Brooke should at 
 once proceed to Singapore for goods for the SaiiVwak market, 
 while antimonj' was to be got icadj in exchange for the promised 
 goods, and a hou.se built for Brooke's accommodation. On Brooke's 
 return with the goods, he found that no antimonj' liad been 
 prepai'ed — no house built. The Pangeran Jlakota had worked 
 ui)on Muda Hassim in his absence. Bi'ookc bore everj'thing, 
 however, with wonderful jiaticnce; resolved not to give in while 
 a chance remained of his establi.shiug himself, developing the 
 resources of the countiy, and putting an cud to slavcrj' and 
 piracy, which were then feaiCully rife. At length his ])aticnce 
 being worn out, he resolves on coercive measmes to obtain justice 
 from the Rajah. He brings the "Royali.st" abreast of the town, 
 Avith her guns shotted ; lie lands his crew ami friend.s, advances 
 to the palace, in.sisls on the ratification (if the compact ho had 
 entered into, the expulsion of JIakota, and the release of a 
 hundred ca])tivc women and children. The armed demonstration 
 .succeeds; and, in Suptend.ici', 1S41, "the English Rajah began 
 Lis reign." 
 
 From this time, we find Brooke "setting his house in order" — 
 commencing and, to a certain extent, carrying out his ])lan.s. He 
 jnomotcd free tiadc, cstabli.shed a er)urt of justice, in which he 
 .idmini.sLei'cd beneficent law.s, released numerous slaves, licld 
 pirates in fear, and countenanced the efforts of Christian 
 niissionaries. All this time, Brooke's life was one of coinparativc 
 solitiide, as far as communion with liis fellows went. He felt 
 with the French jihilosopher, that solitude is a fine thing in 
 itself, but it is agiceable to have a friend at hand to whom 
 you can .sny, " /,ri foUl'iJc rul uvn b^lle chose !" Yet the Rajah 
 

 
 Ktcadra-stly ])nr.sucd liis self-imposed task; and was, lie says, 
 " more than repaid by witnessing tlie alleviation of abject misery 
 among the ])yaks." 
 
 Having i-cccived information that the ships' crews (Englishmen) 
 of two free-traders were held captive by tlie Sultan of Borneo, 
 and being desirous to have his OAvn appointment conHmied, 
 Brooke sailed in the summer of 1842 to Brune, where the Sidtan 
 resided. His mission was successful in eveiy waj'. The Sultan 
 Avas very couitcous, because he expected much from the tribute 
 he was anmially to receive fioni Sarawak. The appointment of 
 Bi'ooke to the Rajahate was confirmed, and the prisonei-s released 
 Averc put on board the " Royalist." 
 
 Our space will not allow of our following the new Rajah of 
 SariWak through all the troubles Avhicli folloAved upon his 
 {i.ssuin]ition of power. Ho did not obtain the sujiport ho 
 natui-ally expected from the Home Government, but ultimately a 
 Con.sul Avas nppointed; and an agent — one Mr. Wise — Avhom he 
 employed in England to use efforts to make the people cognizant 
 of the advantage that the nation had gained by the coiuiection 
 Avitb Saiawak, did infinitel}' more harm than good by his 
 exaggerations and his .'selfish aims. In his cndcaA'ours to su])prcss 
 piracy', Brooke had the aid of the NaA-y. Its good eHcct AA-as 
 immediate. On the Avhole, hoAvevei', Brooke — although his finances 
 were sadly drained by the necessity he was under of bearing 
 heavy charges before any revenue could leach him — had achieved 
 great triinnphs b}' 18iG, and beheld the realization of many 
 of his noble pi-ojects. Dyaks and Malaj's SAvarmcd into SaraAvak, 
 because they Avere sure of justice and protection. The toA\-n of 
 Kucliing grew to four times its former size ; in six months one 
 hundred trading a'cs-scIs, laden Avith grain, had entered the river, 
 " Avhere before it Avas rare to register one in a month." Slaves 
 fleeing to SaraAvak from other countries were declared free. The 
 population of Kuching had auguraented from 1,.300 in 1841 to 
 12,000. All Avcnt on successfully until it became necessary to 
 pay a hostile visit to the Sultan of Borneo, avIio had murdered 
 Muda Hassim and other relatives at Brune. The Sultan fired 
 upon the Biltish flag, and received condign punishment from 
 Admiral Mund3^ The result was that the great coal distiict of 
 Borneo Ava-s placed at the feet of the English, and then Lalnian 
 
10 
 
 ;m(l tlio ailjaci'iit islcls liocamo Eiij^lisli ])voperty. Tliis Tras at 
 the end of 1R4C. In 1847 Eiookc rotunied to England, after an 
 absence of nine j'cavs, to icceivc Mie reward of his toils and his 
 sacrifices. Tlie Queen honoured him ; lie was made a K.C.B. 
 The Corporation of London conferred the freedom of the City 
 upon him; Oxford made him an LL.D. ; and various companies 
 and clubs vied in paj'ing him attention. He went back in four 
 months, liowever, as Consnl-General of Borneo, special Com- 
 missioner to the inde])endent cliicfs, and Governor of Labuan. 
 Further, he had contrived to raise a fund for the purpose of 
 founding in SanWalc a Mission of tlie Cliui-ch of England. We 
 must allow the fair and intelligent bi()gra]ihcr of Sir James to 
 tell this part of the story in her own words : — 
 
 "Brief a3 "wag his gt:iT nt home, he pnccpck''! in so far tnkinjj nflvaiitngo of 
 public feeling as to raise a fnnrl for the piirpope of foiniding iu Sari\wak a Mi<>«ioii 
 of the Cburch of Knirlainl. This ^vas aflrrwardg taken in hand hy llio S.P.G. ; 
 and beneath the shelter of the Itnjah's Govci'nmcnt, that Mission grew. Active 
 help it had no i-ight to cspcct, nor had the Unjali jiower to give. His ^vhole strength 
 lay in ruling through the pcoidc. He was, in fact, the kcy-gtone of an arch built 
 np of divers warring elements, that must hav{» been shattered by auj act of 
 offence against the religious feeling? — prejudices, if you will — of the majority, 
 lie planted Christianity in their midst, trustit>g fearlessly to the power of truth to 
 win its w.ay. And never was a fairer tii-ld, for the people were ready to judge all 
 our countrymen by his standard. AVith the grntlenr.ws nn ■well as with tho vigour 
 of strength ; witli the j)Iayful forbearance of a Aviso lore that feels it can afford to 
 wait; the absence of all harshness of wnrd or manner; the thoughtfnlncss that 
 took pains to jilcase them iu little things ; the open conragcous truthfulness of deed 
 and word; with tho daily sacrifice of pergonal comfcu-t for their sakes ; with the 
 absolute certainty that the weaker, tho poorer, tho more wretched was their 
 condition, the uiore courteous and the more innnetliate Avould bo tlic help afforded ; 
 with justice, righteousness, and mercy — Jtalay and Dyak had learned to associate 
 the face and speech of an Englishman : and the foundations of the religion wiiose 
 frnit is of those things, were laid broad and deep by Urooke tho Eajah before ever 
 the upward springing spire of the first Chri.>:tian chnrch gave outward sign." 
 
 Sir James Brooke's reception bj' his subjects on his return 
 to Sai-&,wak was as cordial as an)' monarch could have desired. 
 It had been bruited about that his conduct in Borneo had received 
 the approbation of the Supreme Power in England ; and to add 
 to the (fclat of his re-appearance, he liad brought his peoj)le a 
 "national" flag — a red and black cross on a golden ground. 
 The emblem of independence was grateful to the Dyaks, who 
 had been too long accustomed to the helplessness of native 
 
11 
 
 govcrniTicnfc. Tlicy fdt that tlic black flag of tlie pirate had now 
 its match, and a spirit of dufiance rose in their hearts. But 
 Sir James avjis as yet too miscrahly provided -sHth material force 
 to punisli incursions and plunder. Accordingly, early in 1849, 
 the Corsair.s, iu one hundred prahus, visited the banks of the 
 Sadoiig, and perpetrated fraud and murder on a large scale ; 
 but Nemesis came at last. In July of the same year, the British 
 Admiral in C(mnnand of the Indian fleet sent three small ships-of- 
 war to Sarii,wak, and under the guidance of the Rajah, condign 
 punishment was indicted on the pirate fleet and crews. 
 
 The successful blow thus aimed at piracy would have given 
 Sir James perfect happiness in his little realm had his agent 
 in England been an honest man, who valued the reputation of 
 the Rajah more than his own pecuniary interests. An Eastern 
 Archipelago Company had been formed, with a view of investing 
 large sums in the mines and other products of Saj^wak. The 
 Rajah's own means were insufficient for the full development of 
 the natural resources of the country. But the affairs of the 
 Company were mismanaged at home — there had been mis- 
 appropriations of money ; and because Sir James insisted on 
 the dissolution of aU connection with an agent who had been 
 untrue to his trust, the malefactor turned round, and taking 
 advantage of the absence of his patron, vilified him in the 
 most atrocious manner. Les absciis ont toujoitrs tort — the 
 scandals were accepted — and actually culminated in a motion 
 brought foi-ward in the House of Commons by the late 
 Mr. Joseph Hume, The gravamen of the public charges was 
 that Sir James Brooke had treated men who were " merely 
 indulging in harmless intertribal wars," as pirates; that he had 
 encouraged the Navy to earn "head-money" by attacking 
 pirates ; and had improperly engaged in commercial speculations 
 to the detriment of the trade of the United Kingdom. This 
 form of assault upon his conduct and character could not fail 
 to distress the upright Rajah. His indignation was great — so 
 also wa.s his ])biIosoi)hy. He would not bo beaten by distant 
 foes when he wa.s covered with the armour of honesty. And so 
 after a sti-uggle 6^vith himself and at great personal incon- 
 venience and peril to his Raj, the brave man took passage to 
 England to confront • his enemies. Mr. Hume's motion was 
 
12 
 
 brought foiwavd, and, after a long and angry debate, came to a 
 division, ■when it was thrown out by the astounding majority 
 of 213 to 19 ! 
 
 But Sir James did not stop short with tliis triumph. He took 
 the malignant Eastern Aichipclago Company in hand, can-ied it 
 into the Court of Queen's Bench, and procureil the vacation of the 
 Charter for a breach of condition. The Exchequer Chamber 
 affirmed the decision of the Court of Queen's Bench by a majority 
 of eight Judges to one. All this took place in 1851. The mer- 
 chants of London sympathjjied cordially with Sir James, and enter- 
 tained him at a magnificent bancpiet. Still pei'sccution followed the 
 Rajah ; and at tho instance of the Jlini.stry, urged by Mr. Hume, 
 a Commission was despatched to Singapore, where Brooke liad 
 many enemies, to investigate ficsh charges (of the same ty])e 
 as the others) against him. As an independent Sovereign, he 
 might have refused to appear; but he wa,s wise enough to Icnow 
 that dangers half disappear if they are boldly encountered. 
 He therefore went to Singapore —confronted his accusere — and 
 the verdict of tho Commi-ssion was unanimou.sly in his favour. 
 Every charge was disprovcil (hoiouglily and amply. The only 
 question which the Commission thought proper to debate was 
 the actual position of the Rajah. Ho was a king, and yet a 
 subject. Absolute in his own domain, he was still bound to a 
 loyal recognition of the supremacy of his Sovereign Queen. 
 
 Matters now went on smoothly enough until 185G. " Out of 
 license came liberty, out of anarchy order, out of a grindhig 
 misery a great contentment." But a new trouble arose iu a 
 Chinese insurrectioa The gold miners had been detected in 
 smUTO'lincr. and wei-e fined for their oficnce, and three of them 
 were further punished for an assault on one of their own 
 countrymen. The secret Chinese societies, called Huehs, which 
 existed in Sarawak and elsewhere, were instigatoi-s of revolt ; 
 and in Fcbruarj', 1857, a sudden spiing was made by the Chme.Me 
 and their associates upon Kuching. The town was fired ; the 
 residence of Sir James Brooke, with its valuable contents, 
 destroyed. He very narrowly escaped with his life, for he wiis 
 totally without a guard or protection of any kiird. But the 
 Chinese triumph was of brief duration. The tribes who luiJ 
 benefited by the English Rajah, took up arms and hurried io 
 
13 
 
 Kucliing; and Mr. Cliarlcs Johnson, the much-loved nephew of 
 the Rajah, who had heen residing in the countiy for six years, 
 and was now amongst the Sea D^yaks in some authority, came to 
 the spot with a small force, and rescued his uncle. Vengeance 
 fell at once upon the Chinese marauders, and they were utterly 
 crushed. To p\it things straight in SarWak was only a work of 
 time, for the many trihes which had once lived by piracy, and 
 been punished for theu' lawlessnesi5, made common cause with 
 the Rajah, and helped to expel the rash intruders. 
 
 From 1S58 fonvard the benignant rule of Sir James Brooke 
 efFectually told, and Sarawak grew in impol'tance and prosperity. 
 It was othciTvisc with the health of the Rajah himself Twenty 
 years of care and toil, bodily fatigue and mental anxiety, had 
 made gi'cat im-oads upon his constitution ; aud frequent visits to 
 England became necessary to repair his shattered frame. He 
 bore up bravelj'^ for ten years. A peaceful home had been seemed 
 for him in a i-omantic and secluded part of Devonshire, through 
 tbe generous agency of many fast friends, who had been familiar 
 with his sLiugglcs and loved him for his own sake. And there, 
 after a ])roloiiged contest with paralysis and its sequel, he died in 
 June, 1808, deeply mourned by all who came within the sj)here 
 of his active benevolence. His fair biographer, from whose 
 twelve chapters descriptive of his character we have fiamed the 
 foregoing sketch, tells the story of his last days in touching teiTos, 
 and has not failed to add the tributes of respect which were borne 
 to Sir James's memory by the sorrowing villagers. 
 
 For some time previous to his final return to England, Sir 
 James Brooke had delegated the government of SarS,wak to his 
 nephew, Mr. Charles Johnson, the present Rajah ; and it will 
 only form a fitting prelude to an account of the actual condition 
 of the teriitory if we (juote the following extract from a preface 
 to Mr. Johnson's " Ten Years in Sariiwak," -s^Titten by his 
 uncle : — 
 
 "It is a grntincntion to tnc to ackiiowledgo mynopliew's devotion to tlio canso to 
 wliicli m; 01VII lifo Lnn been devoted. It is 'woU that liis strriigth Las come to 
 supply my weakness ; and that his energies, and his life, if needed, ehonid bo given 
 to establish the Government and proniote the happiness of the people of Sariwak. 
 My career draws on to its close, bat I have conGdeuce that no consideration will 
 turn him from tlio work which I shall leave for his hand to do. . . . I onco 
 had a doy-dreani of advancing Iho Malayan race by enforcing order and establishing 
 
Rolf-g'ovcnmicnt airtoncr thciii : iind f drciiiiKMl, tdo, tlinl my ?i:ilivc c(nmlry wtmlil 
 derive tlie boncfil of po^^itinn, influence, and cninim.TCL', witlumt tlic rc^ponsibiUticg 
 from T\-hicli fIic .shrinks, lint Uio dn*nm ended wilIi llir firj^t waking reality, and 1 
 foand how trnc it is that nntinnn an* like men — ihrit tliu young hope more than 
 they fear, and Ihnt ilic (dd fenr more (ban tlicy hnpo; th:it Knghmd has ceased to 
 be cntcr[)risiiigf and could not look forward lo oblainin,^ j^reat cuds by nmall incanB 
 perseveriugly applied ; nnd that the dcpcndcucics are not now regarded aa a ficM 
 of ontlay lo yield abundant national return*!, bnt as a Fonrcc of waptcful expcndi- 
 tare to be wlndly cut off. 'J'hc cost ultimately may verify an old adage, and HOmo 
 day England raay wake from her dream of dipastronn economy, as 1 have awakened 
 from iny dream of extended nscfubiess. I trnst the consequences maynot bo more 
 hurtful to her tlian they have been to mc. 
 
 *' Since tin's I have fnnnd hnppincFts in advancing the happiness of my people, 
 who, whatever may be Ibeir faults, have been true to mc and mbio through good 
 report and evil report, thron»;h prosperity and tiinmirb misfortune. The principle 
 of the Government of Sarawak is to rule fur tlie ]iooph; and with the people, and 
 to tcacli them the rights of free men under the restraints of Government. The 
 mnjority in the ' Council ' secures a Icjal usccndancy for native ideas of what is 
 best for their happiness here and hcreiiftcr. The wi-dom of the white man cannot 
 become a hii\^ranccj and tlicir EnirliKh rnlrr must bo their friend nnd {(uide, or 
 nothing. The citizens of Sarawak have every privilege enjoyed by the citizcnR of 
 England, nnd far more personal frecdnm than is known in a thickly-populated 
 country. They are not taught indn^flTy by buiie^ fnrced to work. Thc^' take a 
 part in the Government umler which they live; they arc consulted upon the taxes 
 they pay ; and in short, they ai-e free men. 
 
 "This is the Ouvernment which has slruck ii'^ rddtn into tho noil for tho lant 
 quarter of .l century, whicli lias triumphed over every danger and dilliculty, and 
 Tvhicli has inspired its peojde with conlidence. 
 
 " Sarhwak has now been recognised as nn independent State by America, by 
 England, and by Italy; nnd with increasing populaliun, trade, nnd revenue, she 
 may look forward to maintain her position nnd extend her inflnenco still further. 
 But to secure iiermanency, she needs the protection of an enlightened nafiou to 
 sustain her effort of pelf-govcrnment ; and this protection she could repay by 
 equivalent advantages. Failing this object, the past may becomo a guide for the 
 future, and enable Sarawak to stand alone." 
 
 And Sarawak does yet stand alone, fur England still witliholds 
 her protection. The little kingdom is probably the stronger for 
 its enforced self-reliance. A new clement of strength has been 
 imparted to the Kajaliate by the publication of a newspaper. 
 A file of the useful but unpretending journal, between 1870 and 
 the present year, is now before us, and yields striking proofs of 
 its progressive and actual condition. 
 
 The Press is one of the gods of an Englishman's idolatry. 
 His countr}^ s history tells of its induence on good government, 
 and he naturally regards it as the champion and safeguard of his 
 
15 
 
 clicrishod liljortios. No sooner, therefore, has a new colony been 
 formed, and the settlers and officials become numerous enough to 
 supply readers and advertisers, than a newspaper makes its 
 appearance. But some time must elapse before it can become 
 a political organ of any weight. The ground must be cleared. 
 The most necessary public institutions must take root — a 
 Government must be established — the products of the land be 
 developed — and the seeds of commercial prosperity sown. Thus, 
 although Sir James Brooke first set foot in Sarawak in 1838, and 
 was an independent ruler in 1841, it was not until 1870 that the 
 " Sarawak Gazette " became an accomplished fact. But already 
 we may read a nation's current history in its pages. 
 
 Looking back to August, 1870, when the paper made its d^but, 
 we find that it rather sought for information than professed to 
 give it, excepting to the extent of official announcements and 
 intelligence from Europe. The Government was the sponsor 
 at the baptism of the bantling, and the liberal principles which 
 had swayed the Rajah's action in other matters, was immediately 
 apparent in the first " leader." The paper encouraged the 
 publication of intelligence respecting the various Residencies 
 undor^the Sarslwak Government in their relations to the natives, 
 and to the trading interests, which most of them possessed ; it 
 invited the opinions of intelligent Europeans with respect to the 
 social and political condition, the commerce and general progress 
 of the disti'icts ; and it promised to insert articles on the policy 
 and foreign relations of the country, and remarks on methods of 
 cultivation and utilization of native labour; but it deprecated 
 correspondence of a personal nature and the statement of 
 individual grievances. It was plain from this programme that 
 the editor understood the true uses of a newspaper, in its earliest 
 statres; and a perusal of the contents of the journal for the 
 ensuing four years proves its insti-umentality in working out 
 wholesome projects. We will take the progress of the Rajahate 
 in chronological order, dating from August, 1870 ; and from much 
 of this detail, inferences can be d^a^vn as to what had been 
 previously accomplished. 
 
 On the 22nd of August, 1870, the firet steamer ever built in 
 Sa^^wak~was launched. She was named the " Bertha," after the 
 wife of Mr. Crbokshank, the Resident, who had encouraged the 
 
IG 
 
 (nvncvs in their venture. She w.-us seventy feet long, of ten 
 nominal horse-power, and was' estimated to carry fifty-five tons 
 of cargo. This incident alone demonstrated that considerable 
 progress had been made in the settlement. The commerce must 
 have advanced matorially to find uses for such a vessel. 
 
 The " Gazette " of 10th September records the restoration of 
 peace in the Rejang district. There had been a feud between 
 the Katibas and Batang Liipor tribes, and these had been extin- 
 guished by the humane and jirudent exertions of the Rajah. The 
 result waa regarded as another step towards the realization of 
 the idea the Sarawak Government had always kept in view — 
 viz., the spontaneous development of something like a civilized 
 community out of the numei'ous and widely-differing tiibes 
 settled in the districts within its control. We notice that at this 
 time good broad roads were being made through the native 
 suburbs of Sarawak bj" the Malays, and at their own desire. 
 Agriculture was being encouraged bj' the distribution of. prizes 
 to the Dj'ak tribes for the best crops of hill paddy obtained from 
 seed ordered from Java ; and it is worthy of note that the 
 philanthropy of Lady Burdett-Coutts had extended to Sarawak, 
 for one of the best prizes was given by herself through her 
 nrT.nt, Mr. Martin. Some idea of the trade of the Raj at this 
 juncture may be formed from the fact that a barque left for 
 London with a cargo of sago flour, gutta-percha, rattans, antimony, 
 ore, and canes, valued at 877,000. 
 
 A month later than the date of the foregoing items we find 
 the Europeans complaining of the high price of provisions. 
 Their presence had created a demand for a superior class of 
 food ; and as there was no competition among the small native 
 tradespeople for the honour of supplying them, monopoly had 
 •«Tou"lit its usual results. The editor of the " Gazette " ascribes 
 the excessive prices to another cause — the absence of labour. 
 The Dyaks had not yet been induced to farm their paddy on a 
 lar^e scale, or with sudicient diligence and regularity. The 
 ^Malays are not a planting or cultivating people. Chinese labour 
 had demands enough on it. "The oidy remedj'," says the 
 " Gazette," " is the imj^ortation of labour from abroad. If foreign 
 capitalists could be induced to bring their capital, and lay it out 
 in providing on a lai'ge scale the connnoditics which the country 
 
17 
 
 13 well adaptcil to proiUice, and encourage the immigration of 
 foreign labourers, the evil complained of might be expected 
 to disappear." We gather from the same paper that vaccination 
 had made great way in the SanXwak territory, under the auspices 
 of Dr. Houghton, wlio l\ad vaccinated 3,000 people with his own 
 liand. In some places, where small-pox had broken out, those 
 who would not submit to the operation died by hundreds, or 
 lived disfigured. This led to a pretty general adoption of the 
 Jennerian remedy. Another fact is to be noted as illustrative of 
 the wisdom of tlie Government. An effort had been made to 
 obtain a medal for the decoration of officers wlio had dis- 
 tinguished tlicmselves in s]cirmi.shes with hostile tribes or 
 pirates. Tlie Rajah refused it — his object being "not to conquer, 
 but to civilize the natives." It would only have tended to 
 aggravate feelings of hostility by instituting a decoration for 
 military service. 
 
 In October, 1870, we come upon a very interesting event — 
 the assembl}- of tlic General Council of Sarawak in the presence 
 of His Highness the Rajah, who had recently returned from a 
 visit to Enghind — the main feature of interest consisting in the 
 recognition of the right of tlie natives to sliare in the supreme 
 government c)f the country. Tlie first day's operations comprised 
 tlie regulation of four Courts of Law and the establishment of a 
 particular form of oath — the Christians swearing on the Bible, the 
 Mahomedans on the Koran ; the recognition of the Mahomedan 
 rclif'ion, with all the rites contained therein ; the adoption of 
 certain Customs (duties) and fines ; the arrangement of the 
 succession to the Raj ; the acknowledgment of the electoral 
 sy.stem in the choice of the chiefs of villages ; the confirmation 
 of the authority of the chiefs to administer justice over all cases 
 of engagement of marriage, divorce, or division of property ; and 
 the legalization of tlie custom of holding slaves. 
 
 As so much jealous impatience naturally exists in England 
 touching slavery in any form, and especially within the scope of 
 an Englishman's jurisdiction, it may be in some degree a relief to 
 the minds of hearty abolitionists if we go out of the way of our 
 chronological history to explain the form in which tlie institution 
 is tolerated to this hour in the Rajahate of SariWak. We derive 
 our information from an authentic source. 
 
IS 
 
 " Thn PTstcm of slavery wrxn ackiiowlclf^rd in Rur.WnlN-, hiit certain rcatricUoiia 
 were made binding from tbc first to clcjirivc it of al! its real evils. 
 
 ".Hereditary slaves only ■^veve allowed to be real slaves, and the sweeping claims 
 made in the commencement by chiefs of the old n'gimc were of rather frcqncnt 
 occurrence. Thcpc claims on larj;c bodioa of ulaves were examined according to 
 their merits, and cither allowed or disallowed: in llic former case a certain snm, 
 not exceeding forty reals, £8, wag fixed on each adult, and from £2 to £4 on each 
 child. These stims became debts, and tho slaves merely had to work on their own 
 account to collect these sums, which, when paid tlirongh tho Court, they wcro 
 proclaimed /rce. If snch claims were disaUowod, tho ])nrty was at once made free, 
 and the master thrcatcnrd with jicnalty if ho made any further claim on any of 
 tliem. Snch claims arc now at an end, or of very j-nro occurrence, and tho system 
 of domestic slavery lias fallen into an easy proovc, and those in tliis po^sition often 
 free themselves. There is no donbt that wlicn a GovtTnmcnt based on European 
 I)riuciples is first forinerl in an Eastern country, and bvnr a people habituated to 
 slavery, to be just to both master and slave becomes one of tho most difiicult points 
 to settle; and it is a question if a sudden attempt at abolition will prove so 
 successful in nltiinate extinction and for the benefit of both parties og to a certain 
 evtcnt recognisincr the system, and keepintr Courts open to remedy any evils that 
 may from time to time arise, jriving the slave the power of standing on an equal 
 though respectful footing with the master in Conrts of Justice. But certain rules 
 must be laid do^^Ti and maintained with a strong; hand ; and bo far as we can see, 
 this CXKU only bo effectually carried out in an oj)cn Conrt of Law, the oITicialg of 
 which are on the alert to check the c\"ilK of slavery on all (iccasions. 'J'ho Sar.\wak 
 Government allowed im imports or exports or trade of any kind iu human beingii ; 
 ntid any transfer that takos place from one ma<^ter to another in the country is dono 
 openly in a Law Court, the records of wliicli arc kept. Tlic transferred slave, after 
 a certain sum has been jiaid by liia new master, has the right of freeing himself by 
 paying the same sum ip tho same way. 
 
 " One reason why tho Sarawak Government (composed as it is partly of natives) 
 considered it best to recognise tho 83'8tcm, was that any largo number of men 
 (especially slaves) suddenly set free, woald become idle and Avorsc than useless 
 members of society, and iu all in'obability would continue tolookfor sopport either 
 to the Government or to their old masters. But in accepting the sygtem, bad as 
 it may be, all those who are worthy of freedom can, by their OT\-n industry, obtain 
 ' it. This exertion of tbcir own would cause them to feel a certain amount of prido 
 in themselves which would not have been the case if they had been launched aa 
 free men into the world by other hands, thromi on society as beggars, unable 
 in every way to appreciate liberty, and quite incapable of feeling gratitude 
 to their bberators. 
 
 " In Sar.^wak any sudden step to abolish slavery could not have been carried out 
 without giving oCTencG to tho native chiefs, on whose good will the Govommenfc, 
 especially on first setting off, had much to depend. Ifowovcr, we only wish to 
 state that the systeni relating to slavery thnt was organized and steadily pursued 
 has been sncccssfnl in leading to a decrease of slavery, and of preventing mastera 
 from holding unjust and crnel jiowcr. And the natives are finding out that slave 
 labour is not equal to free labour, and tho latter is very perceptibly taking 
 the place of the former.'' 
 
HI 
 
 To render clear the subject of the means of the slaves to free 
 tlicnisclvcs l)y the paj'ment of the debts referred to above, 
 Avc may state the actual pecuniary condition of the bondsmen : — 
 
 'MVages rnngo from ?5 to $10 or S12 a month. Men of Uio slave class could 
 earn tlic above wiiirc! by working wood for honse-bailding, by carrying stores by 
 boat for the Borneo Coniiiany, or working minerals for them, or even by farming; 
 bnt in the latter, few (luito trust to fnrmers alone. The men cut down the jungle, 
 born it, then let Die women plant and weed, while they go to other employments — 
 coast traile in gnttn-percha, india-rubber, cocoa-nuts, turtles' eggs, dried fish, 
 piuo-npplcs, itc., Ac, or to work as above mentionod. "We liavo often beard that 
 when employed in boat work (whicli the Malays are so clever in) they can some- 
 times make a liveliluiml of $25 a month; but this in all jirobabilily is not rr(7l(?ar 
 work. Many jiow, wlio were slaves in former years, are well-to-do traders, and aro 
 recognised as in tlic class of ' Nakodah,' or master and owner of a trading vessel." 
 
 In the foregoing sketch we have anticipated tho course of 
 history in some degree, and have left ourselves but little room for 
 a continuation of the account of Sarawak as it is. 
 
 The Supremo Council assembled on the l-tth of November, 
 1870. The Rajah presided, and Mr. Crookshank likewise assisted 
 at the coiiferciice ; but the great majority of the members were 
 native gentlemen and chiefs — the Datus of Bandar and Imaun, 
 the Tuans Kliatib and Hagi, Jtatarim, and Abang Mat Kasim. 
 We mention the fact with pleasure, because it demonstrates the 
 ]-cso]ution of the Rajah to govern Sarawak for the natives. 
 Amongst the laws passed by the Council was one limiting the 
 term of imprisonment for debt. From this Ave infer that the very 
 ancient practice of making the term of imprisonment dependent 
 upon the amount of the debt of the incarcerated individual has 
 been put in force. No term of imprisonment, however, exceeds 
 five years. Although, on the grounds of cruelty when the debts 
 have been incurred in the course of trade, and of the folly of 
 jireventing a man from earning his livelihood, we are strongly 
 opposed to im]irisonment for debt in any shape and under any 
 conditions, it may be that in framing laws for a particular section 
 of the human family it is necessary to have some respect for the 
 ancient and coiitinued usages of a, race. It is not easy <at once to 
 wraft tlie system of British jurisprudence upon Oriental codes 
 and practices. We have found in India that law-making for 
 Hindoo? and Mu.ssulmans craves wary walking, and that it is 
 sometimes even dangerous to attempt the substitution of humane 
 
 n 2 
 
•JO 
 
 (k'ui-cc's for long-cxisk'iit niul even, (o our percoiitions, liarbarous 
 u.s.-iges. 
 
 The year 1S70 dosed with tlie estaljlislimcnt of a school for 
 Cliiiicse chiklron whose ]iarciits olijecteil to send tliem to the 
 Mission Sclinol. It -was declared that it w.is not intended to 
 make tlio pch(jiii an inslrnmeiit of ])roRol3'tisin. No religious 
 teaching was tlierefore to Lo forced upon those wlio attended it; 
 Imt as sonic of the boys were tlie sons of native Cliristians, the 
 instrwclors were not forbidden to toncli upon religious subjects. 
 Notliing coidd lie clearer or nir>i-o wise than the principles laid 
 down b}' tlic Rajah for tlie government of the school. "It is," 
 .'inid the principal authority, "in any case not expedient to 
 give .any anmunt of Cliri.stian teaching to tho.se who exjircss no 
 wish or inclination to be baptized; and care should be taken to 
 impress the teachers Avith the u.sclessncss of either offending 
 strong lieathen prejudices, or of laying themselves open to the 
 charge of tlirowing pearls before swine in dealing with sacred 
 things unasked. If this school can succeed in getting rid of .some 
 ignorance and laying the foundation of future usefulness in anj' 
 Chinese cliililren, its main ol.ijeet will be gained." 
 
 'rh<"so sage counsels may be taken to heart by the teachers in 
 0)'ient;il .schools in other localities. 
 
 A survey of the o[)erations of 1.S70 formed a gratifying task 
 for the "Sarawak Gazette" at the eonnnencement of 1.S71. 
 Advances had been made in the Ilajahate of a very satisfactory 
 cliaraetcr. The incursions of hostile Dyaks had been rcjircssed ; 
 the action iif various Chinese secret societies checked ; and the 
 police sufiiciently augmented to keep pace with increasing 
 numbers of the dangerous classes. The trade of the country 
 . had doubled that of the previous year; the number of Europeans 
 had likewise multiplied in a similar ratio. The building of a 
 new Govennnent House was eom]ileted, good bridges erected, 
 and new .shops opened wherever demand had arisen. This was 
 not a bad r(>ci>rd of an infant establishment for a single year. 
 
 Kighteen hundred and .seventy-one saw an incre<T,.se of the 
 trade in gutta-jiercha, Avliich lan u]) to fabulous prices. Coffee 
 trees were likewise augmenting in mnnber. On the Peninjan 
 i^Iountain, 1,000 to 1,400 feet above the level of the sea, tlie 
 Pvnks -had ]>lant('d some thou.sjuids of trees, and thcj'^ Avere 
 
21 
 
 all lookiiig M-ell -vvhcn the Rajah and Rancc visited tlie place. 
 The llajiili seemed to have been ubitiuitous, going from out- 
 station to out-station, noting some and introducing further 
 iinprovenients. 
 
 Imprisonment for debt for a limited period being apparently 
 an unavoi<l;vble condition of the Sarawak community at the time 
 of which Ave are treating, it -was an act of wisdom to pass a 
 regulation turning to account the time of persons so incarcerated. 
 The debtor was allowed to work under the same restrictions as 
 the criminal piisoncrs, receiving four dollars a month, two of 
 which were placed to liis credit against his debt, and the other 
 two paid to himself. This arrangement became law in April; 
 and in the following mouth we find the Supreme- Council passing 
 an Act maki)ig it ])ossible for persons who differ in religion 
 to enter into a marriage agreement by civil contract. la a 
 colony Avhere people of various religious are assembled, miscegena- 
 tion mu.st ha-\'e its advantages in augmenting population and 
 piomoting hai-mony amongst the people. The Government of 
 the Rajah took care to prevent the dissolution of such unions on 
 slight pretexts by rendering divorces impossible, excepting in the 
 cases of adultery and harsh treatment. There is no happier 
 scheme for unhinging society than the multiplication of 
 legitimate causes of divorce. In the United States of America 
 there exist thirtj'^-two distinct grounds for separation ; and as a 
 natural result of the eas}- formation of the marriage contract, it is 
 as speedily dissolved. The effect of this upon the hajopiness and 
 Avelfare of the offspring of a jnarriage is deplorable. In Sar5,wak 
 the children arc specially protected against all the consequences 
 of a ru])ture of the marriage contract — as far, at least, as human 
 Avisdom can proA'ide. 
 
 The dismissal of Major Walker, of the 97th Foot, from the 
 SaraAvak sei'A-ice, and the celebration of the anniversary of the 
 birthday of the Ptajah, Avere the chief events by which the month 
 of June Avas distinguished. If the first event illustrated the 
 stern justice AA'itli Avhich malvei-sation of office aa'os visited by the 
 Government, the second presented an instance of the wide 
 toleration and generous' hospitality introduced by H.H. the 
 Ranee. A. dinner Avas given at the Government House to a largo 
 party of JInlay ladies of the upper class, and the feast Avas 
 
su))ijIementeJ by music. We are unaware of the height to 
 •vvhich the civilization of the lailics had readied, but such graceful 
 and humanizing courtesies could not fail to contribute to the 
 prospevitj' of the Government in an essential degiee. 
 
 To bring savage tribes into habits of order, and curb their 
 passion for the possession of human licads, is one of the most 
 difficult and tedious taslcs that can devolve upon the ruler of 
 a settlement in Ilornco. Outbreaks were continually happening 
 on the Katibas River, in 1871, owing to the ravenous disjjosition 
 of the inliabitants of the banks ; and it became necessary to 
 support and encourage the peaceable triljcs in the suppression of 
 these outrages. Happily the Dutcli settlers and the tribes on 
 their frontier were well disposed toward.% Sarawak, and their 
 co-operation with the friendly Dyaks contributed to impose a 
 certain- check on the depredations of the Katibas. In com- 
 municating to the " Sarawak Gazette " the operations which had 
 taken place, the Rajah suggests that the Katibas, if they continue 
 to hold aloof from the tendci-s of fricnd.ship made to them, 
 should be driven to the inland part of Ka]iues, where sail will 
 be scanty ; and His Highness remarks incidentallj- that a Dyak, 
 once liaving eaten salt, can never do without it. To hold in one's 
 hand the power of depriving an entire people of their only 
 anti-septic is to command one of the elements of civilization. 
 " Salt," says Rajah Brooke, " tames a savage more than all else, 
 human or divine." 
 
 The appointment of Mr. H. Bulwcr to the Government of the 
 Colony of Lahuan appears to have been very acceptable to the 
 society of Sarawak. Judging from some remarks in the 
 " Gazette " of the 30th September, there seems to have been, 
 during the re'<j\mc of Mr. Pope Hennessj', an absence of the 
 kindly feeling and mutual interchange of courtesies which the 
 Sar;\wak Government had been anxious to see established. 
 " Now," say.s the " Gazette " of the 30th of September, 1871, 
 " we liope that the advent of a new Governor may be the means 
 of estahlisliing such unity of purpose and common endeavour for 
 the interest of trade and civilization on the north-west coast 
 of Borneo as .should exist between the only two settlements 
 which can at present bring European influence to bear on the 
 oppi'esscd inhabitants of Sarawak." At this time the Council' 
 
23 
 
 decreed fclic appointment of coroners in the territoiy — one, a 
 European, being fixed at Kuching; the others, Chinese and 
 Malays, at the out-stations. 
 
 A table of the temperature in August and September shows 
 the different degrees of heat prevailing at Sai-awak, in ■which the 
 little Itingdoiu does not compare unfavourably with British India. 
 The thermometer never fell in more than two instances below 72°, 
 aTid ravelj' ]-ose above 8.3° at mid-day. 
 
 The education of the Dyaks appears to have engaged much of 
 the serious attention of tlie Rajah and the missionaiies, from 
 the earliest date of the assumption of English authority. The 
 diflicultics and obstructions which present themselves to the 
 diffusion of general instruction in England equally operate in 
 Sarilwak. The D3'aks apparently prefer employing their children 
 on labour for the benefit of the family to allowing half their 
 time to be spent profilably at school. They do not appreciate 
 the importance of knowledge as an element of strength. Time 
 will work a change in this regard. When the effect of com- 
 jictition bct^\•ecn the taught and the ignorant becomes apparent, 
 prejudice will give wa}'. 
 
 With considerable trouble a census of the entire population of 
 Sarjtwak and the five subordinate Residencies has been made; 
 and after adding 10 per cent, for omissions and evasions on the 
 jiart of the people, especially in relation to the number of women 
 and children in each house, a total was arrived at of 141,640. 
 But this M-ns found not to be quite accurate. Two hundred 
 tlioxisand more ncarl}' ajiproaches the riglit figure. The intro- 
 duction of a salutary enactment for the encouragement and 
 protection of sago manufacture in the country' brought the 
 operations of the year 1871 to an end, whicli, if it had not 
 disclosed any striking improvements, had no serious disasters to 
 record. 
 
 A survey of the affairs of Sarawak during 1872 exhibits, to one 
 w^ho studies tlie public and political incidents da die in diem, a 
 far more interesting and agreeable picture than was drawn in the 
 summary of the editor of the " Gazette.'' As early as the month 
 of May we read of the passing of a laAv for the suppression of 
 immoral practices among the Kheh Chinese residents in Upper 
 Sarilwak. The practices intended to be checked by tlie law 
 
21- 
 
 rcfuMcd to Uip treatment of feinnlcs. It liail become <a liabit to 
 sell or trniiKfor tliein to tliinl ]iai-tie.s against tlioir will, or before 
 tlio- li;i(l nrrivoil at yinrs litting them to become wives. Con- 
 currently -willi tliis la-\v, a iiroclaination was imblished granting 
 laml, flee of iinyments, to nil Cliiiiamen wlio might go into the 
 lerritorv of Rarawak fir the pur])<ise of making gambler and 
 pepjicr-gardens. Tiio produce of all such adventuics was 
 exempted from exjiort dntj' for six j'ears, and all gambler and 
 pepper-gardens weie allowed salt and tobacco free of duty on the 
 sjiot for six 3'ears. Two liglitliouses were set np on the coast 
 about this time. 
 
 AVe liave occasionally felt a little endiarrassment in diawing a 
 distinction between the town and the territoiy of Sarawak when 
 describing incidents ami operations. This pei'iilexit}-, common to 
 others, sccins to have arrested the attention (jf the Government; 
 for an Act of the Supreme Court, in August, 1872, decreed that 
 " Kuching" was tlieucefoitli to be the name of tlie township — 
 " Sarawak'' being reserved to designate the territory. A report 
 on the coal of Sarawak, drawn up by the manager of the 
 Singapore Gas Company, and published in September, gives a 
 favourable account of the seams of Simunjan, on the Sadong 
 Iliver and its vicinity. It is consideieil su])erior to any of the 
 Labuan coal that the reporter had seen, and appeai-ed tovliim 
 well adapted for gas-making purposes and the j)roduction of 
 steam. An advertisement, authori/^cd by the Ilajah, grants per- 
 mission to any individual or companj' to work the scams on the 
 ])ayment of ten cents ]ier ton brought to grass. 
 
 A paragraph in a November inimber of the SanWak print 
 announces the gratifying fact tliat the custom of keeping a 
 lumdier of slaves in their employ was dying out among the 
 wealthier Jfalays on the territoi-y. They bad thought out Avith 
 success a leading fact in political economy — that slaves exact far 
 more trouble and expense from their masters, and ])roduee far less 
 result by their ('ore<'il labour, than is the case Avith free men who 
 are paid for their services. 
 
 A worthy helpmeet in the work of civilization the Rajah found 
 in the person of his excellent wife, the Ranee. Infinitely as wo 
 admire the ])roofs of ITer Highness's exertions, we will not run 
 the rislv nf allowinir " Tin; Oi!Ii;ntal" to be immbcrcd among 
 
lior flahtcicis; but ■\ve cannot Avithliold a tribute to Iier eflbrts 
 apjiaient in the institution of bazaars and exhibitions of native 
 work. At one of these, held in October, 1872, a prize, consisting 
 of a diamond and sapphire ring, was awarded to Saripa Mutong 
 for some beautiful embroidery. 
 
 Christma.s of 1872 was distinguished bj' the opening of the 
 first liotcl at Ivuching. It appears to have been built on a scale 
 adapted to the vi.sitors of the town, and the tariff, con-esponding 
 witli tJiat of the American hotels, was extremely moderate. The 
 liotcl ])roprietor had adopted the title of " The Pv,ajah's Arms,'' 
 witli the sign of a badger. 
 
 " Happy is the nation which has no history !" was the 
 exclamation of the " honest chronicler" of Sarawak when 1873 
 had run its course. Those who record current events in the 
 locality of tlicir abode are apt to overlook general results 
 in Wieir estimate of progress, and this was evidentlj'^ the 
 case with tlie conductor of the " Gazette." Now, we regard 
 as a decided feature in the history of the Raj, a considerable 
 increase in its commerce. The trade returns, dated the 15th 
 of February, show that the imports had augmented by 266,969 
 dollai-s and the exports by 411,998 dollars in the course 
 of one 3'car. Tlie trained military strength of the Raj liad 
 become so efllcicnt that the two companies of Malays and Dyaks 
 had received the appellation of the " SanWak Rangers." The 
 Malays are described as the sons of respectable parents, resident 
 witliin the district of Sarawak ; and the Dj'aks are chosen from 
 the two finest tribes in the country — all active young fellows — 
 some of them converts fiom the mission stations, and all 
 possessing the hardihood and national bravery of their race. 
 Witliout doubt, with care, this is the material out of which 
 good soldiers are to be made. 
 
 Certain alterations in the Debtors' Court Regulations, and the 
 establishment of a Cliamber of Commerce, marked the opening 
 months of the year. More coal discoveries were announced in as 
 many as seven places in the Muka River, only wanting capital 
 and labour to i-eiidor the mines exceedingly productive. 
 
 The summer months of 1873 were very unpropitious to the 
 interests of S.ariWak, in as far as the territory was deprived of 
 a part of its most valuable personnel. Mr. Crookshank, the 
 
2G 
 
 Resident, who liad scrvcfl for thirty years, ami liad seen Sariwak 
 grow from an unsettled and misruled native State through days 
 of danger and uncertainty'- to her present condition, was obliged 
 to return to England for tlie benefit of his health, carrying with 
 him tlie good wishes alike of natives and Europeans. He was 
 succeeded in his oftice by Mr. Henry Skclton, who, however, died 
 four days after Jlr. Crookshank's departure. Sir. Skelton was 
 deservedly lamented. He had been seven years in the service, 
 and had shown the greatest activity and zeal," with a power of 
 adapting himself to dillicult circunistance.s, and a kind and 
 generous disposition in his dealings with the natives. In a 
 paragraph paying tribute to his memory, the editor of the 
 " Gazette " remarks that, " Of him, and of other out-stationed 
 officers, it may be truly said that, had they an English public to 
 know and commend their acts ami give them due credit for what 
 they had achieved, they would- stand far more prominently 
 forward in the annals of Sai'.Wak than they have hitiierto had 
 the opportunity of doing." This is true enough ; but if men 
 who have ruled vast districts in India, and return home worn out 
 with their devotion to the interests of the country, acquire 
 no honour among their own peojilc in England, what can tlio 
 subordinate officers of a comparatively unicnown territory hope 
 for ? Tliey must be satisfied with the 771015 coivicia recti and 
 tlie well-earned applause of those among whom they laboured. 
 A third removal from Kuching perilled for the moment the 
 existence of the " Gazette." The Rev. Jlr. Kemp, its editor from 
 the commencement, quitted the place. The event was much to ' 
 be regretted ; the worthy man, " to know whom was to love ; 
 a man whom ever)' one loves and respects," was a gentleman and 
 a scholai-, a good and pious man, every waj' suited for the 
 difficult position of a chaplain. He had written all the leading 
 articles in the paper, with a solitary exception, for three years ; 
 and when we are told that in the columns of the "Gazette" we 
 may read the history of the Raj for that period, we recognise 
 the hand of an upright and , independent, and therefore reliable 
 journalist. What was said of his sermons would apply to his 
 leaders. Without astonishing or ti-ansporting his hearers with 
 delight, he threw into a small compass much good common 
 sense elegantly expressed. Finally, in Septendjer, 1873, the 
 
27 
 
 llaj.-ih hiiuself left the scat of his Government for England, 
 entrusting tlic management of affairs to a committee.- He 
 left a Icgacj- to liis loca tencntes comprised in a few words : — 
 " Practise econoin}-, but do not impair the dignity of the Govern- 
 ment ; manage with caution all foreign correspondence ; pay 
 attention to tlie Sadong Coal Mine ; and keep the different 
 military and naval forces to their present standard." 
 
 In the foregoing sketch of the history of Sarawak, we have 
 given Rajah Brooke no opportunitj' of speaking for himself "We 
 Iiave gathered our impressions of his government from the Acts 
 passed from time to time at his instance. But his enunciation of 
 tlie principles which have guided him in the administration of 
 his little monarchy displays so much sound judgment and good 
 feeling, that we cannot close without quoting some passages of a 
 speecli which he made, in January, 1872, on the occasion of his 
 entertaining tlie. representatives of the Borneo Company. 
 Speaking of the three principal branches of Sav^wak, and 
 iiideed, of evcrj"- community — firstly, the Government; secondly, 
 the ^Missionary and Education ; and thirdly, the Mercantile and 
 Agricultural, — he said : — 
 
 " ncjjarJinf^ t-lio first, from my position as Knjab, it will always be my most 
 e.irncat cndcavonr to cnsnro safety to life and property; and secondly, to ace 
 jnsticQ ntlministcrcd between man and man, apart from all interest and favonritism 
 — a justice wbicli, in its simplicity and entirety, slioald be single-handed, single- 
 minded, seeing no one, knowing no one, bnt hearing every one. It has for some 
 time past been an important qneslion in my mind which of two evils is the greatest, 
 tlrat of governing too mnch or that of governing too little ; and I am not anrc if 
 there is not a rock, especially in the Kast, on which many split — viz., in governing 
 too much. The first principles being once established, and afterwards a steady and 
 CTrcful watch set, matters should then resolve themselves smoothly if they ever 
 ■ intend to do so. 
 
 " Kcgnrding the second head, the Mission, I would have all who remark on or 
 tnke interest in missions, first of all to take into consideration the wide sea of 
 troubles, of difTicuUies, and of disappointments, the missionary has to contend with 
 when working in these far-off lands. If these drawbacks bo justly considered, I 
 believe the mission work in this country will be found equal to that of missions in 
 other parts of the world j and let us hope that the seed which is already sown may 
 be BufEciently sonnd and prolific to ensure a plentiful harvest in the future. Of 
 education, I would say it is commenced, and it is advoncing, not perhaps on a very 
 extended scale, but yet on a sure basis j and the beneficial ofEeots of education 
 propounded by the Mission in Sariwak have already been experienced in many 
 localities. • I could name some very fai'ourable examples to confirm my statement. 
 
 " In respect to Commerce, in the third branch, I might perhaps have put it in 
 
2S 
 
 iho. rnf--t, for coimii'^i'cv, In my mind, is tlio very life's lilnrnl (if every coiuiiry — it 13 
 tlic :ill-in-nll by ^vliicli :i cunntry tlivivra, nml wil-)ioii|. wliich n country ■\vonl<I Im 
 iiothins ; n.ml I wiinlil a^k ivliorc En!,'l:inirK inline Ihi",' ntnilil }>c if it were not for 
 lior exteiuk'd commorcial reliilions thiouf,'liout the \voiIil ; slio wonld, in fiicl, soon 
 sink to a third-nitc Power, sacli a"! Spain oi- Oicece. I will not prelend to be aa 
 experienced in the niinntirc of trade as uiany ntluirs ; lint tlie princijdcs on wliich 
 its weal and i\-oe arc lia-xd, nr tlie time for slac-keninLC or ti;^htcnin^ the reins — 
 those, as a dmj-, have occupied iny deepest attentinn; and I wonld add that tlio 
 only restrictions placeil on trade in thi=: conntry have been brought about cither by 
 necessity or for advantai^e. On a;^ricnlture, jierhaps the less said the better. I do 
 uot (latter myself ^vhrM I say (hat 1 have tried inv bi-st (n advance this branch, bnt 
 have most si.i^nally failed, and am in coiisrMpuMU'O mneh disappninteil ; bnt I still 
 entertain hoi>es that a time for its development is no! far dinlnnt, and I am jirepared 
 to take any pains, to receive any amount of advice, or iirider;;o any trouble, could 
 I see my way to successfully spreadinij ;:arilcns and plantations in the i)lace of our 
 vast jnnglcs. AVe know, also, that commodities arisin,^ from a;;ricuUurc woald 
 greatly increase trade, and extend our inlercoursi.- with olher eoinitries, 
 
 "I have now touched upon the three heading's, lhc> clT(uts of which in the past 
 liare made Sara^^■ak ^vhat she now is, and on the elTorls cif which, in the future, tho 
 comatry's develojuiieut depend:^.*' 
 
 On a later occaiion, addrcssinjj a inixnd asscm1)ly, •wlion 
 installing j\lr. Skoltun as Resilient, tlio Jtajali said lio-w (inidy lie 
 believed in " the necessity of the Eni"0|H'an and Native elements 
 comprised in tlie Govoniinont being stcadOistly and firmly bound 
 iu unity of accord to administer justice among tlic various classes 
 of tlio poimlation." Government by Europeans would be likely 
 to be -wanting in righteousness and justice -without the aid of 
 those -who -v\-cre of the ]icoplc in language, in customs, and in 
 religion ; but that so long as both -were of one heart and mind, 
 their country -would be safe, and tlicy need have no fear. The 
 Rajah trusted all -would do their utmost to aid and support the 
 new Resident in the discharge of his important duties, as they 
 had aided and supported the former Resident. Addressing 
 Abang JIatasan, the Rajah expressed his hope that he -would 
 endeavour, to the best of his knowledge and ability, to discover 
 and expose all crime and ^rrong-doing, in order that it might be 
 punished in open Court ; for while there is concealment of A^Tong 
 there can be no just and right government of the people. 
 
 In taking leave of the subject for the present, we offer no 
 apology to the readers of " Tiii:: Oiuextal" for a somewhat minute 
 detail of the history of Sarawak. AVc believe that down to the 
 
20 
 
 lime of our ccimmoiiclng Uie navi'ative, very litUc notice liad been 
 bestowed upon tlic progiess tliat had been made in the establish- 
 ment of a soltlcd and pvospcrons government among a jicojile 
 who, tliiitv-five years ago, Avere utter strangers to every trace 
 and form of civilization. We are convinced that the hearts of 
 those who rend tlie sketch we have too imperfectly placed before 
 (liem will glow with emotion wdien they reflect upon what 
 Englislininii ma}- accoinidish abroad, when guided bj' high 
 jirinciplos of justice and an anxiety to promote the welfare of 
 their senii-bail)arous fellow-creatures and the honour of their 
 own nation. 
 
 Although we have confined ourselves in tlie account of Sar&,wak 
 to a picture of the rise and progress of the settlement under a 
 Britisli ruler in unison witii native chiefs, tlicre are considerations 
 in relatioii to the gieat Island of Borneo whicli have continually 
 jiresented themselves to our mind as we proceeded onward with 
 our investigation. It needs but a glance at the map of the 
 ICa^stcrn Arclii|K>lago to feel some degree of mortification that 
 Jilngland's jiowcr on tlie land should be so very small, and, as 
 there is n^a.son to fear, so likely to become smaller. Labuan 
 Jslaud is tbrce hundred and fifty miles from SanWak, and that 
 is the Old y possession England holds on the coast of Borneo. The 
 )nainland on. the Borneo territory is very rich, and it is much to 
 be lamented that the British Government does not take prompt 
 and elicetual steps to develop its vast resources. Under the 
 native Government, a large portion of the fairest land under the 
 sun is sudered to run to waste. Into the occult reasons of the 
 Foreign Ofllce for neglecting to take advantage of its power to 
 open up land to British enterprise and capital, we wiU not 
 jircsumc to enquire ; but we do think that, if the Government of 
 this country is disinclined to take upon itself the responsibility 
 of cndcavoin-in" to substitute useful action for the indifference 
 born of slavish ignorance, it would do well to at least support the 
 able and far-scclng Rajah Brooke in performing the task. To 
 him it would be, we are sure, a labour of love, and the results 
 could not fail to be .alike beneficial to England and Borneo. It 
 would be ea"5y to transfer Labuan to liis hands, and leave it to 
 his wisdom, foresight, and experience to acquire a proper degi-ee 
 
;u) 
 
 of influence all along the coa.st. Tlic trade iu Savinvak fluctuates, 
 but it is steadily progressing and augmenting in all branches of 
 jungle or primitive produce. Gutta-percha, india-rubber, Sic, 
 rule high or low, according to the demand, but they do not 
 disappear from the niaikct quotations, and will always form 
 valuable staples of trade. There is a continual want of such 
 commodities, and others which the rich island produces, but 
 wliich lack cultivation ; and the Ruler of Sarawak is the very 
 man to evoke the nattiral jiowcrs of Borneo, if he is only 
 encouraged and protected in liis laudable cntcrpiise. 
 
 If we were inclined to enlarge u])on the theme it would be easy 
 to show liow mucli England loses, and has lost, in j^i'cstiye and 
 influence b}- the stupid fear of responsibility which seems to tie 
 thehands of successive Itlinistries. This i)usillammity has borne 
 its fruits in the Eastern Archipelago and elsewhere. The jietty 
 wars of Ashantee, Suniatra, and even of Abyssinia, may all be 
 traced to the absence of that connuanding position which such a 
 nation as England maj^ at an}- time assume without ofTencc to 
 the dignity and interests of other nations. Should she continue 
 to neglect to reap the advantages Avhich are within her grasp, the 
 day may not be remote when she will find her trade in the 
 Ai'chipelago pass entirelj' into other hands. She would have 
 notliing to fear in the shape of wars with the people, neither 
 would the Rajah Brooke, if Labuan Avas transferred to his 
 exclusive rule ; for it has been .shown in tlie various campaigns 
 forced upon liim and his prcdecc.ssois hy some of the Dyak 
 tribes — who are far more warlike than the subjects of the King 
 of Ashantee — tliat with a native following such as he has, jungle 
 warfare is much less hazardous than it would be with European 
 soldiers. 
 
 ritiMT.n AT Tin: "tower rnn.'ss, takk uoaii htst, eimoiiton.