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LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE 



"The Dtaks had hbabd, the whole world had 

HEARD, THAT THE SON OF EUROPE WAS THE FRIEND 
OF THE DYAK." 



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THE 



LIFE OF SIE JAMES BEOOKE 



RAJAH OF SARAWAK 



FROM HIS PERSONAL PAPERS AND 
CORRESPONDENCE 



BV 



SPENSER ST JOHN, F.E.G.S. 

FORACEBLY SECRETABT TO THE BAJAH 

LATE B.M. CX>NSUL- GENERAL IN BORNEO; NOW H.M. HINIBTER- 
RESIDENT TO THE REFUBUC OF PERU; AND ADTHOR 

or 'life in the forests of the far east' 



-t ^ 



V VJ I'- • * J 






WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS 

EDINBURGH AND LONDON 

MDCCCLXXIX 



COPY ADDED 
ORIOINALTOBE^ 

OCT0 4B94 -T>T^ 



SPRECKELS 



• '. '• 






PKEFACE. 



Eleven years have passed since the death of Sir 
James Brooke, and it is only now that I am enabled 
partially to fulfil the promise I made him to write 
his life in Borneo. Long and wearisome illness, as 
well as continued active service in tropical countries, 
are the only excuses I can ofier for this delay. I 
wish that I could feel satisfied with my performance 
of this friendly duty ; but I have been somewhat 
oppressed by the fear of wearying the reader by 
repetitions of a tale that has been many times told. 
I have endeavoured to be very exact in my rela- 
tion of the facts contained in this biography, and if 
I have dwelt on many points that might have been 
but lightly touched on, recent discussions have 
proved the necessity, and shown how profound is 
the ignorance of even enlightened statesmen, when 
they venture beyond the beaten track. Notwith- 
standing all that has been written, but little is yet 
popularly known of Borneo. 



VI PREFACE. 

I could readily have increased the bulk of this 
work by inserting the unpublished coixespondence 
of Sir James Brooke, of which I possess sufficiejit 
to fill volumes, but I have thought it unnecessary. 
Documents and letters and journals have appeared, 
until the Sarawak literature would now form a 
library in itself; and to these I must refer any 
reader who may desire to study in detail the work 
which Sir James Brooke did in Borneo. I propose 
only to give a general idea of his life. 

One of the Rajah's oldest friends, Mr Hugh Low, 
promised to write me a chapter giving an account 
of the Court of Borneo as he found it in 1846, and 
another as he left that same Court in 1876, after 
thirty years of arduous and almost continuous ser- 
vice there ; but a sudden summons to return to the 
East, to take up his new appointment as H.M. 
Resident in Perak, has deprived me of this import- 
ant addition to my book. I hope, however, to be 
able to include it later on, should the public call for 
a second edition of this biography. 

I have not attempted to sum up the character of 
the Rajah. I have described him as he appeared 
to me, and I leave the reader to form his own 
opinion : but as I have also formed mine. I may 
say that I consider him to have been one of the 
noblest and best of men. 



CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



EARLY LIFE OF JAKES BROOKE. 



1 1808-1839. 



'-!'' 



PAOS 



Sporting adventures— Brooke's Horse— Visit to China — In love — 
Yojage to Singapore, ...... 



CHAPTER I. 

FIRST VISIT TO SARAWAK AND TO CELEBES. 



1889-1840. 



i^ ^' 



The Sarftwak river — First visit to the Dyaks — An attack fmstrated 
— A retired pirate — Voyage to Celebes — The Bngis of Celebes, 



18 



CHAPTER II. 

SEOOND VISIT TO SARAWAK— CIVIL WAR. 

1840. ^ ^ 

Second visit to Sarftwak — A council of war — ^A Bomeon siege— Night 
on the field — Progress of the siege — Pangeran Usman's speech 
— Mr Brooke returns to Kuching — Makota's subterfuges — A 
battle at last — An envoy from the rebels — End of the war, 



27 



Vlll CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER III. 

WRETCHED STATE OF THE OOUNTBT — BROOKE ASSUMES ] 
THE GOVERNMEMT OF SARAWAK. 

1840-1848. 2-7- ^p 

Makota'8 misgovemment— Prospects of Sar&wak — A Dyak expedi- 
tion stopped — Brooke obtains the government — Consolidating 
the government — " The friend of the Dyak "—Chinese deceit 
— Revenues of Sarawak— Visit to Brunei— The Court of Brunei 
—Discomfiture of Makota, . . . . .50 

CHAPTER IV. 

FIRST EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE SERIBAS AND SAKARANG 

PIRATES— CAPTAIN KEPPEL. 

1843-1844. ^^., 

Pirates— The Dido— Dinner at Mr Brooke's— The Seribas- A pirate 
town attacked— Defeat of the Seribas— Second visit to Brunei — 
Expedition to Achin — Brooke's new house — The Patusan pirates 
— Disaster to the spy-boat— Muda Hassim's departure— Brunei, 72 

CHAPTER V. 

EVENTS IN BRUNEI AND ON THE NORTH-WEST COAST — MURDER 
OF MUDA HASSm AND HIS FAMILY — CAPTURE OF BRUNEL 

1844-1847. -5 - 

Paugeran Usup— Destruction of Maludu— Execution of Pangeran 
Usup— Death of Mr Williamson— Plot against Muda Hassim — 
Murder of Muda Hassim — Sir Thomas Cochrane — Capture of 
Brunei — ^The Sultan's submission— The Nemesis among the 
pirates — Bomeon justice, . . . . .99 

CHAPTER VI. 

MR BROOKE VISITS ENGLAND. 

1847-1849. - .: '.\, 

Return to England — Visit to the Queen — Appointed Governor of 
Labuan — The passengers of the Meander — The voyage — "Tak- 
ing a friend's watch '' — Made a K.C.B., . . .123 



CONTENTS. IX 

CHAPTER VII. 

BETUBN TO SARAWAK. 

1848-1849. ^^' '- 

Beception at Sarawak— A Malay lady — The flag of Sarawak — A dis- 
masted ship — Batificatlon of the treaty — Effect of imagination 
—The Snltan of Suln — Betnm to Labuan— Timely rescue — 
Quarrels at Labuan, ...... 138 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THB SEBIBAS AND SAKABANG PIRATES. 

1849. 44 

The pirates— The Sakarangs— Bayages of the pirates— Sirib Sahib — 

Patnsan taken — ^The Sultan's letter— More ravages, . .159 

CHAPTER IX. 

THE BATTLE OF BATANO MARAU. 

1849. 4 1, 

The rendezTous — " The Dyaks are coming I " — Bravery of the pirates 
— After the battle — Burning the pirate prahna-^JJ-p the Paku 
—The Orang Eaya's sons — Foraying— A young captive, 174 

CHAPTER X. 

MR GLADSTONE AND THE RAJAH. 

1849. 4 \^ 

Mr Gladstone's Queries, ...... 198 

CHAPTER XI. 

PEACE HEASURES — ATTACKS ON SIR JAMES BROOKE'S FOLICT 

— MISSION TO SIAM. 

1849-1851. ^^ ^* 

Attacks by Hume and Cobden — Peace measures — Yisit to Penang 
—The Siam mission — Becognition of Sarawak by the United 
States — Beception of the mission — Chinese immigration — Ad- 
ministrative measures — Visit to the Dyaks— ''Old fireworks" 
—Departure for Europe, ..... 212 



/ ' • .r- ) 



/ 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER XII. 

SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND. 

1851-1853. -^^-^^ 

Mr Wise's manoeuvres— Parliamentary persecution—Mr Hume's wit- 
nesses — Mr Hume's demand for a Commission — Underhand con- 
duct of the Coalition— Mr Brereton at Sakarang, . .234 

CHAPTER XIIL 

RETURN TO BORNEO. 

1853-1854. . S I 

Visit to the Sultan — Cession of the six districts — Return to Sarawak 

— ^An explosion — The Patinggi — Deposition of the Patinggi, . 247 

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE ROTAL COMMISSION — EXPEDITION AOAINST RENTAB. 

1854-1856. s>'^'l 

Bentab— Dtoth of Mr Lee — Ben tab's stronghold— Capture of Lang 
— The Commission at work — ^Departure of the Commissioners 
— Discussions — The Bajah's sentences — The judicature diffi- 
culty — The bishopric — Troubles at Muka — Condition of Brunei 
— The Bajah and the British €U)vemment — Chinese troubles, . 261 

CHAPTER XV. 

THE CHII7ESE INSURRECTION. 
1857. 'j ' 

The Chinese insurrection — Escape of the Rajah — Defence of the 
stockades — Morning after the attack— Proceedings of the Chi- 
nese—Progress of the insurrection— Arrival of the ** Sir James 
Brooke" — Discomfiture of the Chinese — Their flight — Results 
of the rebellion— Kuching after the insurrection — End of the 
rebellion, . . . . . . .291 



CONTENTS. XI 

CHAPTER XVI. 

THIRD VISIT TO ENGLAND. 

1867-1860. S^ 'Sy 

Cosl- mines — Reception in England — Despondency — Death of Ma- 
kota — The Borneo Company — A plot against Government — 
Suppression of the conspiracy — The succession to the Raj — The 
Rajah and Captain Brooke — Mr Edwardes's interference at 
Muka — Lord Russell's thanks to Captain Brooke, .318 

CHAPTER XVII. 

LAST VISIT TO BORNEO — RETURN TO ENGLAND — QUIET 

JJFE — DEATH IN 1868. 

1860-1868. :^-^5 

Once again in the East — Settlement of Mnka — The Rajah at Muka 
— The R^jah Muda — The voyage home — The Rajah in retire- 
ment — Negotiations with €U)vemment — The Rajah and Captain 
Brooke — ^Expedition against the Eayans — Negotiations with 
Government — Lord Palmerston's views — Colonel Cavanagh's 
report — Communications with the Cabinet — Recognition grant- 
ed — Life in England — The Tuan Muda adopted as heir — Sara- 
wak offered to her Majesty's <jk>vemment — An attack of para- 
lysis — Concluding remarks, ..... 840 

Appendix, . ....... 379 






LIFE OF Sm JAMES BKOOKE, 



RAJAH OF SARAWAK. 



INTRODUCTION. 

EAKLY LIFE OF JAMES BEOOKE. 
1803-1839. 

Very little of interest is known of the early life of Sir 
James Brooke, beyond the facts that he was bom in Benares 
in 1803, came early to England, and was confided to a 
fond though injudicious grandmother, with whom he had 
completely his own way. He went to Norwich school, 
then kept by Mr Valpy, but on his second essay there, got 
tired of the restraint and ran away. When he reached 
home, however, he felt somewhat ashamed of his exploit, 
and wandered about the neighbourhood and the garden till 
nightfall, when his grandmother, hearing of his presence, 
sent the servants for him. This incident is worth men- 
tioning, as it accounts for many things in Sir James's after- 
caieer. Then a private tutor was engaged, who appears 
to have had little success with the wayward lad. On the 
return of his parents from India, another school was tried, 
but he would not stay there. Tliis want of regular train- 

A 



2 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. 

ing was of infinite disadvantage to young Brooke, who thus 
started in life with little knowledge, and with no idea of 
self-control. He had been indulged and petted by all 
around him, as he had a lovable disposition ; but in after- 
life he had often cause to regret his neglected education, 
and the imperfect discipline to which he had been sub- 
jected. He would often endeavour to defend this system 
of education, and argue that boys should not be thwarted ; 
and certainly he carried his system into practice with all 
the lads that came under his control, and certainly also 
with very markedly bad results. Occasionally a bright 
lad, like James Brooke, will rise superior to a neglected 
education, but in the mass the want of culture nmaLtell. 

In May 1819 he received his first commission, and s oon 
left for Bengal to join his regimentjbhe 6th Native Infantr}^ 
In~l822nie became Sub- Assistant Commissary General, a 
post for which he was totally unfitted. He now began to 
feel his neglected education, and from that time appears to 
have devoted himself to reading, and in later life it would 
have been diflBcult to have met with a better read man. 
He did not confine himself to one branch, but was familiar 
with the great works on theology, history, natural history ; 
and after he entered the diplomatic service he was un* 
wearied in the study of public law. 

Had the choice of the branch of the army in which he 
was to serve been left to himself, he would have chosen the 
Cavalry; but the Commissariat gave him abundant leisure, 
and he spent a fair amount of his time in pig-sticking and 
shooting, and many a story I have heard him tell of his 
adventures. 

Sir James was very fond of relating the following inci- 
dents of a himt in which he was engaged. One day a 
native brought into camp the news that a huge bear had 
taken up his quarters in a neighbouring ravine, and a party 
was made up to go out and attack the monster. *' Seven 



8P0KTING ADVENTURES. 3 

of US started ; among others, one who was so blind that, 
without his glasses, he conld not see ten yards. Our guide 
brought us to the ahnost dried bed of a stream, filled with 
boulders, and with huge rocks jutting from either bank. 
Presently he made a sign, and we all mounted on the 
top of a boulder, and then saw, about fifty yards up the 
ravine, Bruin lying on the bank. When we came in sight 
he rose, and seeing retreat cut off by the steep hill, imme- 
diately rushed at us, and began to clamber up the boulder. 
He was not ten yards off, and all but the blind man 
fired their guns at him. Scared by the volley, he turned 
and fled, when, the glasses being adjusted, the purblind 
let fly at him, and the bear rolled over, just as he was 
half-way up the left bank. ' His skin must be spoilt,' said 
one ' I put two balls into him,' said another. But when 
they came to examine the body, they foimd but a single 
shot-hole — all but the purblind had been too flurried to 
aim correctly." He used to tell this as a warning to us not 
to engage in dangerous hunts without proper preparation. 
At another time he went out with his brother to shoot 
tigers from the back of an elephant. There was a large 
party, and the beaters reported a fine Bengal tiger to be 
in the grassy plain before them. The elephants were 
arranged to advance as a crescent, the two points gradually 
joining so as to surround the beast.^ Then, with a tre- 
mendous roar, the tiger arose and sprang upon the neck 
of his brother's elephant The powerful beast, with one 
ponderous shake, sent the attacker flying in the air. Again 
and again the tiger returned to the charge, selecting always 
the same elephant, but ever with the same result. At one 
time his brother was in great danger ; but at length an 
opportunity was given, and young Brooke sent a shot 
through its brain, and laid the royal beast dead at their feet. 

1 Compare with this the Zola formation of which we have lately heard 
•oiimch. 



4 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. 

James Brooke was full of fun, and one of his pranks 
had a very useful result. In the encampment there ar- 
rived a major and his wife — the former a fine -looking, 
gentleman-like fellow, the picture of good - nature ; the 
latter a pretty, little, demure woman. After a few days 
whispers went abroad that this good-natured major was 
in the habit of beating his wife, and people who went in 
the evening near to their house could hear the cries of the 
little woman, and " What a brute you are to use me so ! " 
The major began to be treated rather coolly by all in the 
cantonment, but he took no notice. At last Mr Brooke 
said to a friend — afterwards Colonel Goldney — " I cannot 
understand Major So-and-so beating his wife; let us go 
and see." So one evening after sunset these two went 
down to the bungalow, and, hearing the cries, Brooke 
mounted on the shoulders of his companion and looked 
into the window. There he saw the major seated in a 
chair, good-humouredly defending himself from the blows 
which the little vixen was aiming at him, while she kept 
shrieking, " What a brute you are to use me so ! " This 
was too much for Brooke's gravity : he burst out laughing, 
jumped down, and they both ran away. The story spread 
through the cantonment, and whenever the little woman 
passed she would hear, " What a brute you are to use me 
so I " till she became so ashamed of the whole afiTair that 
the cries ceased, and, let us hope, the beatings. It re- 
minds one of the late Lord Derby's tale — " It pleases she, 
and it don't hurt I, so I lets her do it." 

On the breaking out of the Burmese war in 1825, 
Brooke was sent to join the invading army which was 
to operate in Assam. His commissary duties did not 
occupy him much, so he mixed a good deal with all that 
was going on ; and one day hearing the general in com- 
mand complain that they had no light cavalry to act as 
scouts. Lieutenant Brooke immediately oflered to raise a 



Brooke's horse. 



troop if he might have his own way. Leave was given 
him, and he promptly called for volunteers, and his call 
was responded to by those native infantry soldiers who 
could ride. He soon had as many as he could mount, and 
as they were all disciplined men, he had little trouble in 
drilliiig them into fairly eflScient irregular cavalry. Being \ 
of an adventu rous ^d dariqg tepap er ^ he used to ride 
ahead of the advancing column, work round the stockades, 
send information, and then push on. His force would too 
often scatter, so that it was generally very late when he 
returned to camp, but his services were fully appreciated. 
One day, while the infantry were attacking a stockade, 
the Buimese were observed collecting in a body in an 
opening to the left, and Lieutenant Brooke asked per- 
mission to charge them. Leave being given, he put him- 
self at the head of his men, and, after a few inspiriting 
words, dashed on at the enemy. They fired a volley, but 
as this did not check the cavaby rush, they were be- 
wildered, and after a brief resistance turned and fled, 
pursued by Brooke's irregulars until they were entirely 
dispersed. For this brilliant little affair he was publicly 
thanked. 

A few days after, the general in command heard of a 
strong stockade being in front, and sent out Lieutenant 
Brooke to reconnoitre, but he was not able to return in 
time to prevent the advance-guard from falling into a sort 
of ambuscade. As the foremost company turned a comer 
in the road, they were received by a voUey which knocked 
over a number of men. In the midst of the confusion, 
Brooke came galloping up, and putting himself at the 
head of the men, charged, and " foremost, fighting, fell." 
When the aflair was over, and the enemy driven from 
their stockades, Lieutenant-Colonel Eichards asked after 
Lieutenant Brooke, whom he had seen fall, and he was 
reported dead. "Take me to his body," was his reply, 



6 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. 

and they rode to the spot "Poor Brooke!" said the 
Colonel, getting off his horse to have a last look at him ; 
and kneeling over him he took his hand. "He is not 
dead ! *' he cried, and instantly had him carefully removed 
to camp. Not dead, it was true, but he^hovered for weeks 
between life and death, as the bullet lodged in one lung 
could not then be removed. In these long dreary days, 
too weak to speak, to read, to do anything, he used, he 
said, to be absorbed in soft melancholy thoughts, and he 
often longed to be at rest. 

At last he was considered to be strong enough to be re- 
moved, but he could not bear the movement of a carriage 
or a horse^ so he was put into a canoe and gently paddled 
down the stream. Though other scenes had faded away, 
that one dwelt upon his memory — the gliding gently down 
a magnificent river, whose smooth stream carried him 
swiftly but gently to his destination. He could not speak 
much, but he could observe, and though in pain, every 
object he passed seemed to fix itself in his mind's eye. 

On his arrival in Calcutta, it was soon found that 
Lieutenant Brooke's only chance of recovery would be 
from a voyage and a return home. He therefore obtained 
a long furlough, and a pension for his wound of about 
£70 a-year, which rendered him, as he said, independent 
for life. He left for home in August 1825. 

The voyage, however, and a long furlough, did not re- 
store him completely, so that his leave had to be extend- 
ed until four years and a half had passed, and after five 
years' absence he would cease to be a member of the Ben- 
gal Army. His first effort to return to India was delayed 
by shipwreck ; the second was a slow vessel, the Castle 
Huntley, which brought him to Madras July 18, 1830, just 
leaving him twelve days to reach Bengal This was not 
possible in the days of tubs of sailing-vessels, so that he 
made this his excuse for throwing up the service. The 



VISIT TO CHINA. 7 

&ct was that he had formed many friendships amopg the 
offioeis of the ship, and t hey had fired his imagmation 
with liff^rnjTtifTnfrfrf tihfi F.flgtftrn ArfhipfiTmgfr aiid of China, 
and he determined to have a look at these countries. 
Among the ofScers were Sir J. Dalrymple Elphinstone, 
ILP^ Mr James Templer, and Captain Jolly whom sub- 
sequently I had the pleasure of meeting. 

James Bcooke did not really- fiare for .the _East India. 
Company's jemc£^ and in fact was not suited to any post 
which required steady methodical work, and his position 
in the Commissariat he particularly disliked. What ap- 
peared to he a rash act was perhaps the best thing he 
could have done, for it opened a new career, for which his 
abilities admirably suited him. 

Although occasionally inclined to have a light joke 
about the East India Company's Gk)vemment in India, 
no one had a greater respect for those grand old oflBcers 
who f ounded a nd carried on our rule in that country. ' 
Though formerly of a different opinion, of one thing 
Brooke lived to be thorou ghly convin ced, and that is, that 
no Asiati c is fitted to govern a count ry : under European \ 
guidance, yes — ^but alone^ no. 

Having thrown up the service, Mr Brooke sailed in the 
Castle Huntley for^^Ghina» and visited Penang, Malacca, 
and Singapore, committing enough imprudences in his 
expeditions at these places to have cut off his career for 
ever. He escaped, however, with a few attacks of fever, 
whudi he accounted for by the climate in his letters to 
his mother.^ 

In China he had to suffer, as every man of honour 
suffered, from the sight of the bullying to which the ' 
English submitted, and had to submit, in order to pre- 

* Some very interesting letters of this period of his career have been 
pablished by Miss Jacob in her * Baja of Sar&wak.' (London, Macmillan 
*Co.: 1876.) 



y 



1 



8 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. 

serve their trade ; and this lasted until the first Chinese 
war taught, or rather ought to have taught, a lesson to 
that unteachable people. 

I know of no man of the talent of Sir James Brooke 
who more enjoyed boyish fun than he did, and during his 
youth this propensity led him into many a scrape. I am 
afraid, however, that I do not remember sufficiently well 
the details of his more than usually madcap exploit, when 
he and a party entered Canton in disguise. 

In January 1831 the Castle Huntley was on its way 
home, and without adventure it safely arrived in England 
in June. During this voyage Mr Brooke had been form- 
ing a plan as to his future. No longer in the Company's 
service, he felt that he must do something, and though 
formed by nature to shine in the most refined society, yet 
over-sensitiveness made him shun it. At this time of his 
nfe James Brooke had every qualification to fit him to take 
a brilliant social position ; he was handsome, elegant in 
look as well as in manner, fond of the lighter accomplish- 

^ ments of music and poetry, so winning in his ways as to 
be beloved by all those he met, and full of ability, and 
with his friends brilliant in talk. Yet in general society 

/ he was reserved, and rarely gave sign of the power that 
was in him. This over-sensitiveness and shyness, which, 
though often concealed, were never lost, made him delight 
in the thought of wild adventure; and his companions 
being of congenial tastes, a plan was formed that, as soon 
as money could be found, a schooner was to be bought, 
and he and his friends were to embark in some wild 
schemes, which appeared however to them to be full of 
promise, and even of profit Mr Thomas Brooke, the 
father, though far from being a clever man, was sensible 
enough to see the wild side of his son's project, and man 
of the world enough to understand the folly of his imagin- 
ing that he could succeed as a trader. 



m LOVE. 9 

Sometimes Mr Brooke thought of going into Parliament, 
but had not enough money to contest Bath ; for, strange 
to say, with all his contempt for civilised life^^ he had 
become an ard ent reformer , not only of ^Parliament but of ^ 

poor- laws. In fact, he would have dived deep into the 
causes of national distress, and thought that an earnest 
inquiry would find a remedy — for every great cause which 
9?5M_54z§?ce JifiJiaggifiess^LthfijifiD^^ had always his 
hearty sygapathy: 

About this time he passed through that ordeal which \ 
punishes most men — ^he fell in love, and became engaged. • 
What were the causes which induced the lady or her 
femily to break off the engagement I do not know, but it 
was broken off, and Mr Brooke appeared to look upon it 
as final ; and he from that time seems to have withdrawn 
from all female blandishments. He never spoke of it to 
us, though an occasional allusion made us think that his 
thoughts often reverted to this episode in his history. I 
notice in one letter it is stated that this young lady, whose 
name is given, died shortly afterwards. 

I have said that at bottom James Brooke was full of 
ftm ; he delighted in telling us the following story. When 
mesmerism was occupying the thoughts of most men, and 
gaining many converts, Mr Brooke and a friend deter- 
mined to be present at a sdanccy and accordingly went. 

The mesmeriser, a certain Dr , after a few preliminary 

experiments, informed the assembled company that there 
was a woman present so susceptible to the influence of 
mesmerism that when under it you might place her in 
any posture, and in that she would remain until he had 
freed her from its power. Forthwith he called for a 
woman who, under his influence, did various things, but 
at length became completely insensible, and was placed 
in the comer of the room in some fantastic attitude. The 
lecture went on, but the two young men continued hover- 



10 LIF£ OF SI£ JAMES BROOKE. 

ing about this woman, until one of them 8aid» ** I am sore 
she is shamming/' They pinched her, but she gave no 
sign. At length one of them gave her a tap, a strong one, 
on the top of her heavy bonnet, which, regularly bonnet- 
ing her, so startled the woman, that she gave a shriek and 
darted at the offender, who rapidly mixed with the crowd. 
The whole humbug of the thing was thus so clearly shown 
that the lecturer was only too glad to escape into another 
room and allow his audience to disperse. 

The disappointment occasioned by the breaking off of 
his marriage engagement made young Brooke the more 
anxious to be doing something; he therefore began to 
urge his father to lend him the money necessary to start 
his schooner schema His father was too sensible a man 
to encourage him, yet too loving a parent to disappoint 
him, so the money was found, and the brig Findlay bought, 
laden with merchandise, and Mr Brooke set^ sail for China 
with his old friends Kennedy and Harry Wright. Dif- 
ferent views and different systems of management soon 
brought about disagreements. Kennedy evidently was a 
strict disciplinarian — Brooke was lax, and I can readily 
imagine, interfered with the captain. The end was that 
the brig and cargo were sold at a loss, and Brooke 
returned to England. 

Here he whiled away his time in summer evenings 
in a little yacht, and later in the year in vig orous fo x- 
hunting. 

In the autumn of 1835 his father died, leaving him 
about £30,000. Within a few months he returned to his 
project of buying a vessel, but this time there were to be 
no partners — no one to interfere with and mar his projects. 
He soon found a yacht — the Boyalist, a vessel of 142 
tons burden — which pleased him, and he purchased her. 
To test the vessel and the crew before entering on any 
great enterprise, he undertook a voyage to the Mediter- 



VOYAGE TO SINGAPORE. 11 

lanean, and visite d Spain^ Malttt, and the Bosphoros^ enjoy- 
ing his trip thoroughly, for he had read much concerning 
those countries, and wished to verify what he had read. 
He particularly loved to dwell upon his visit to the 
Alhambra; and in after-years I heard him describing 
to the Malays, in full detail, this wonder of wonders. 

Mr Brooke was weU satisfied with his vessel, and in 
the autumn of 1838 everything was to be ready for his 
departure to the scene of his hopes, the Eastern Archi- 
pelago. What were his objects? They were in reality 
QDcertaia He was lon g in g for adventure— longing to visit 
wild countries, and see what no-cixiliafid-nian had yet 
sgen. (Geographical discovery was one of his principal 
motives, and in search of that he could satisfy the yearn- 
ing of his soul for the wildest liberty of action. The 
Boyalist set sail from Devonport in December 1838, 
and had a prosperous voyage to Singapore, as far as 
veather was concerned ; but discord set in on board, and, 
one after the other, the officers were dismissed. The 
discipline of the vessel was no doubt faulty, but it is 
an undoubted fact that there could be no discipline in 
any vessel in which Mr Brooke had sway. He was too 
kind-hearted,— could never endur e to see men punished, 
. however guilty they may have been ; too ready to encour- 
age the escapades of the younger officers by so readily 
excusing them. But at Singapore new arrangements were 
made, and everything was soon ready for a voyage of 
discovery. 

Atjhat time but a v ery s uperficial knowledge of Borneo 
existed, even in the best works, and the Admiralty maps 
were but guess-work. It was known that a Sultan of 
Brunei existed on the north-west coast, but who he was, 
and what were his territories, were not known. A kind 
act towards some shipwrecked seamen on the part of a 
Bajah Muda Hassim, living at Sarawak, first drew general 



12 LEFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. 

attention in Singapore to this place; and Mr Brooke arriv- 
ing at this time with a very undefined plan of a voyage 
of discovery, was requested to convey to this Eajah letters 
and some presents. Here then was something definite 
to do, and a good reason for visiting an unknown country. 
In the next chapter I commence the life of Sir James 
Brooke in Borneo. 



13 



CHAPTER L 

FIRST VISIT TO SARAWAK AND TO CELEBES. 

1839-1840. 

On the 27tli of July 1839 the Royalist sailed from 
Singapore, and at length Mr Brooke commenced that 
voyage of exploration on which his heart had long been 
set, and which was destined to have so great an effect 
on his future career. The wind was favourable, and in 
a few days he found himself off the coast of Borneo, where 
he was received in the true fashion of the country, with 
rain, thunder, and lightning ; but with the morning sun 
the clouds dispersed, and he saw before him, in all its 
beauty, the wondrous island of Borneo. 

To the world at that moment Borneo was the land of 
the unknown, — in fewit, the north-east coast had not been 
visited since the end of the last century, and that portion 
lying between Sambas and Maludu Bay had scarcely ever 
been visited by any European. All that was known of 
it was unpropitious : it was a favourite cruising-groimd 
of the Lamm and Balagnini pirates ; it was infestied by 
Dyak savages, who,both pirateg and head-hunters, destroyed 
the native trade, and rendered life insecure ; and even the 
Malays were looked upon with some reason as not only 
lawless but inimical to foreigners. 

Mr Brooke used to say that, as he leant on the tafifrail, 



14 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. I. 

he thought of all this; but he had confidence in his vessel, 
confidence in his crew, and still more he had that without 
which there is no success, — he had confidence in himself. 
After a few days' surveying between the points of Api 
and Datu, he passed the latter, and then for the first 
time he saw the territory of Sarawak. The bay that lies 
between Capes Datu and Sipang is indeed a lovely one. 
To the right rises the splendid range of Po^, overtopping 
the lower but equally beautiful Gading hills ; then the fen- 
tastic-shaped mountains of the interior, including Matang, 
Singhi, and Paninjow; while to the left the range of 
Santubong, end on towards you, looks like a solitary peak, 
rising as an island from the sea, as TenerifTe once appeared 
to me when sailing by in the Meander. From these hills 
flow many streams which add to the beauty of the view, 
from the Lundu with its broad shallow entrance, to the 
Sarawak river, which emerges into the sea below the lofty 
peak of Santubong. But the gems of the scene are the lit- 
tle emerald isles that are scattered over the surface of the 
bay, presenting their pretty beaches of glistering sand, or 
their lovely foliage, drooping to kiss the rippling waves ; 
Talang-Talang, noted for their turtles; Sumpadien and 
the Satangs, in their wild, new, rich, cocoa-nut groves. 
u From Talang-Talang came the first Malays whom Mr 

V Brooke met in Borneo. Their chief, Bandari Daud, was 
polite, and dressed, as usual with these chiefs, in dark 
cloth trousers, a dark-green velvet jacket, and a sarong 
round his waist, thrown gracefully over the handles of 
two krises which he wore at his girdle. Having con- 

V ciliated his goodwill by trifling presents and much polite 
attention, Mr Brooke continued his surveys to the 11th 
of August, when he set sail and bore away for the mouth 
of the Sarawak, which he entered without difiiculty, and 
soon found himself anchored under the peak of Santubong 
in deep water and in a snug anchorage. 



1839.] THE SAEAWAK RIVER. 15 

There is no prettier spot : on the right bank rises this 
splendid peak, over 2000 feet in height, clothed from 
its summit to its base with noble vegetation, its mag- 
nificent bnttresses covered with lofty trees showing over 
100 feet of stem without a branch, and at its base a broad 
beach of white sand, fringed by graceful castiariiias, waving 
and trembling under the influence of the faintest breeze, 
and at that time thronged by wild hog& 

From the entrance of the river Mr Brooke despatched a 
boat to announce his arrival to Bajah Muda Hassim, who, ^ 
on the following day, sent down some of his chiefs to wel- ^ 
come the stranger, and invite him to visit his town. The ^ 
river of Sarawak presents few features of interest after 
passing the entrance : a low forest of mangroves, whose 
tangled roots are submerged during every high tide — clus- 
ters of the humble but useful Nipa palm, or uninterest- 
ing jungle ; but as you approach the town of Kuching 
the distant hills become visible, and add variety to the 
scena 

On the 15th of August 1839 the Eoyalist reached Ku- 
ching, and the same mommg Mi^Brooke had^is first in- 
terview with M uda Hassim . After the usual salutes Mr 
Brooke landed, and entered a huge shed erected on piles, 
which, though from the outside of a very rough and unin- 
viting appearance, was, in the inside, of a somewhat differ- 
ent aspect Most Malay rulers have one of these reception- 
halls attached to their houses, differing only in size and 
ornament according to their wealth and rank. They are 
built either of wood or of the hard stems of the Nibong 
palm ; the walls and partitions are of mats, held together 
by strips of bamboo, while the floors are of the split stem 
of the same palm, covered with rattan matting. These 
houses are sometimes ornamented with a few painted 
boards, or a few hangings of red cloth ; but in general 
they are very simple, and, when new, very neat Such 



16 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. i. 

reception-halls are necessary to men of rank, as custom 
does not permit the stranger to enter the dwelling-house. 

As Mr Brooke was the first foreign gentleman whom 
Muda Hassim had ever met, he welcomed him in state, 
surrounded by his chiefs and his thirteen brothers. The 
Bomeon Eajdis dress on these occasions in a very becom- 
ing manner, though the jacket too often gives their cos- 
tume a formal appearance, with its stiff unbending collar, 
embroidered heavily with gold thread ; but the material 
is generally rich^-either fine cloth, velvet, or silk; the 
trousers of the same material, gold-edged ; and the sarong 
— often of the heaviest gold-cloth, or sometimes of the 
simple dark plaid so highly prized by the Malays — ^is a 
manufacture of the Lanun women. 

This visit of ceremony was soon over ; but Mr Brooke 
was much struck with the intelligent though plain counte- 
nance of Muda Hassim, with his elegant and easy man- 
ners; and on that day-^a^iendshij) was commenced which 
endured until the tragic death of the Malay pnnce. As 
their intercourse became more familiar, greater confidence 
was shown, and Muda Hassim was very anxious to know 
some details about the Dutch, and, as between England 
and Holland, " which was the cat and which the rat" 

In order to understand the following narrative, a few 
words of explanation are necessary. The Sultan of Bor- 
neo proper, Omar Ali, was at the period of Mr Brooke's 
visit the nominal ruler of the coast which extends from 
Cape Datu to Maludu Bay, though many districts had 
ceased to obey the central government Sarawak, the 
most southern province, had been goaded into rebellion 
by the ill-treatment of Pangeran Makota, the governor of 
Sarawak; and Muda Hassim, uncle to the Sultan and 
heir-presumptive to the throne, had been sent down from 
the capital to restore order. He had hitherto failed in his 
efforts ; and, on the arrival of Mr Brooke, the insurgents 



1889.] FIKST VISIT TO THE DYAKS. 17 

were fortified and in force about twenty miles above the 
town of Kuching. 

Euching, in the year 1839, was a very small place, and 
consisted of a few decent mat or wooden houses, erected 
on piles, surrounded by inferior huts inhabited by the 
poorer classes. The population was estimated at 1500 ; 
but these consisted principally of the followers of the 
Boroeon Eajahs, and people attracted there by the little 
trade that was lefL The real Sarawak popidation did not 
consist of above 500. 

After spending a week in Kuching, Mr Brooke obtained 
from the Rajah permission to visit some of the Dy_ak 
txibes ; and his first expedition was up the neighbouring 
river of Samarahan. As no particular incident occurred 
dnring this trip, it is not necessary to dwell on its details. 
Bat on his return from Samarahan, Mr Brooke was en- 
abled to visit the district I have mentioned, to the west of 
the bay, lying under the Gkiding hills, and named Lundu, 
where there then resided a Sibuyow chief, who remained 
a faithful follower of his until his deatL He was called 
Sijngah, or the Orang Kaya Tumanggong, and ruled over 
a small section of his tribe, about fifty families, who had 
fled fix)m their native country, on the river Sibuyow, to 
escape the attacks of the piratical Dyaks. However, Mr 
Brooke found that even here they were not completely 
safe, as a boom stretched across the river to stop the first 
rush of enemies' boats, and stockades of a very primitive 
character, were erected to defend their village. 

I do not consider it necessary to describe in detail the 
countries or the tribes visited by Mr Brooke ; but it will 
add a little completeness to this biography to give a very 
short general sketch of the Dyaks, as it was among them 
that so many years of his life were passed. 

The Dyaks may be divided into two distinct sections — 
the sea and the land Dyaks — the former using large boats, 
B 



18 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BKOOKE, [chap. I. 

and firequenting the salt water ; the latter confined at that 
time to the interior, and seldom venturing within the in- 
fluence of the tides, or, as they expressed it, to where the 
rivers ran back towards their sources. The latter were 
generally a peaceful, timid race ; while the former were 
divided into piratical and honest tribes, brave, energetic, 
and generally independent of Malay control. 

Tunggong, the residence of Sijugah, consisted of a single 
village-house, about 600 feet in length, built on piles, 12 
feet high, with a broad enclosed veranda in fronts and 
rooms in the rear for the married people. In this broad 
veranda most of the work is done; and here also are 
hung the skulls taken in war — ^unsightly trophies of their 
prowess. This description will apply, more or less, to 
every sea-Dyak village-house, although they vary in size 
and finish ; but those of the land Dyaks are of a different 
form, and much inferior. Sijugah was a quiet little man, 
modest and reserved, noted for his courage, and surrounded 
by sons, of whom he had reason to be proud. The Dyaks 
are a small race, few passing the height of 5 feet 4 inches 
— in fact they are generally shorter. But they are vety 
active and enduring, without being athletic ; and although 
their noses are flat, mouths large, and their eyes small, yet 
the general expression is not unpleasing, though too often 
melancholy and subdued. 

I have mentioned the boom across the river : it had 
lately been of infinite service to them. A short time 
before Mr Brooke's arrival, the Orang Kaya had been 
visiting a village on the sea-shore, in a small but swift 
war-boat, when, after sunset, on returning up his river, 
he became aware of the presence of numerous bangkongs, 
or Dyak war-boats, ahead of him, which were pulling 
quietly up the stream. He instantly suspected that they 
were the Seribas, come to surprise his village ; so he ad- 
vanced cautiously, and as his boat and men could not be 



1839.] AN ATTACK FRUSTRATED. 19 

distinguished at night, passed in among the enemy, and 
gradually worked his way to the front. He was not 
hailed, as no one spoke in the fleet He counted 73 ^?z^- 
bmgs, which would contain about 2000 men. "When he 
had clecured the leading boat, his people could not be re- 
strained : they rose, gave a yell of defiance, and darted off 
for home. The sound of the paddles and the loud shouts 
roused the village, the opening in the boom was made 
ready, and the gallant chief dashed through with his boat, 
just in time to escape the enemy, who, furious at being 
thus outwitted, had pulled after him with their swiftest 
boat& To rush into the little battery that protected the 
boom was the work of an instant ; and a discharge into 
the mass of the enemy, who were already trying to sever 
the fastenings, checked the advance. The sound of guns 
alarmed the neighbourhood, the few Malays hurried to 
the defence with their muskets, and the enemy drew ofiT, 
as, their surprise having failed, they could not risk remain- 
ing to attack the place in force. This was the sort of life 
our brave Orang Eaya Tumanggong led. 

Mr Brooke was exceedingly well received by this tribe, 
and it ever remained a favourite with him, their loyal chief 
meriting every confidence. 

After a sojourn of ten days among these Sibuyows, Mr 
Brooke returned to Euching, and entered into an unre- 
strained intercourse with the Eajah Muda Hassim and 
the other Bomeon chiefs. Malays of high rank are gen- 
erally very gentleman-like companions, whose manners 
never offend ; but, as a rule, they are too ignorant to be 
entertaining, and visits are rarely enlivened by any plea- 
sant conversation. Muda Hassim, though polished and 
kind, was no exception to this rule ; but he had near him 
a chief who quite made up for his shortcomings, and who 
was one of the most companionable of men. This was 
Makota^ th e ruler of Sara wak, whose tyranny and mis- 






20 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. I. 

raanagement had brought about that rebellion which pre- 
vented Mr Brooke from visiting the interior. He could 
both read and write, was the author of some pieces of 
poetry, and had also composed several of those poetic 
sayings called ^niuns^ so popular among the Malays. 

Makota was a short, stout man, with an ugly but not 
unpleasant look ; he was cheerful, talkative, ready to con- 
form to the society in which he found himself, whether 
that of gentlemen or of rough Durham miners. He was 
the most talented man I met in Borneo ; but his talents 
proved of little service to himself or to those who employed 
him, as he either ruined the country he attempted to ad- 
minister or drove it into rebellion. 

Makota now regularly visited the Royalist, partly to 
talk over the future trade of the country, partly to dis- 
cover the real object of Mr Brooke's visit to Borneo. It 
was natural for the Malay chiefs to doubt whether any 
man would give himself the trouble to make so long a 
voyage, at so great an expense, merely to explore a 
country, survey its coasts, and collect specimens of natural 
history. They expected every moment to hear that Mr 
Brooke was the agent of the British Government, or at 
least the chosen envoy of the Governor of Singapore. As 
the acknowledged clever adviser, Makota was sent on 
board to worm out the secret, and when he could discover 
nothing, instead of believing Mr Brooke's assurances that 
his was a private voyage, he only acknowledged that he 
had discovered a cleverer diplomatist than himself. 

However, no jealousy was shown by the Eajahs, and 
permission was now freely given to their English visitor 
to go wherever he pleased, and he was pressed to return 
again to the country, after having filled up provisions in 
Singapore. Before his departure, however, he visited the 
river of Sadong to the east of Sarawak, and there made 
the acquaintance of Sirib Sahib, an Arab adventurer, who 



1839.] A RETIRED PIRATE. 21 

was afterwards an important actor in many events in 
which Mr Brooke was concerned Among those whom 
he also met here was Datu Jembrang, an old Lanun pirate 
chief, who, having made a small fortune, had retired to 
spend his days in dignified idleness. He said to Mr 
Brooke, "I once met your countrymen before." "Where?" 
" Oh," he answered laughingly, '* not very near. In 1814 
I had put into Sambas with a squadron in which we were 
out cruising, in order to do a little trade with the Sultan 
of Sambas, when it was announced that the English fleet 
was off the river preparing to attack. Your ships were 
too large to come in, so you only could send your boats. 
Our Lauun squadron offered to aid in the defence, and we 
drew up in line behind the boom, protected by the bat- 
teries on shore. On came your boats ; we all opened fire 
on them, and after a severe action we drove them off. I 
never saw men fight so gallantly as your countrymen, but 
they were overmatched." This story was true of our first 
attack : in the second we took Sambas, but in the mean- 
time the Lanims had left. Datu Jembrang added : '* The 
officer who commanded the attack was so humiliated by 
his defeat that he committed suicide." 

Mr Brooke had heard during his stay in Borneo of the 
savage tribe of pirates and head-hunters, the Seribas, but 
he little imagined that before his departure he should 
witness a specimen of their handicraft 

The Eoyalist was lying at the Moratabas entrance of 
the Sarawak river, and half a mile from a rock, a lovely 
natural watering-place, where a tiny but pure stream 
trickles over the surface of the moss-covered stone, in 
quantity sufficient for a delicious bath, and enough to 
supply the native shipping. A Malay chief had anchored 
his boat inshore, waiting the morning ebb-tide to pilot the 
English vessel out of the river ; it was a dark night, when 
the watch on board of the Royalist heard loud shouts on 



22 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. I. 

shore, " Dyak ! Dyak ! " from a dozen voices. Mr Brooke 
rushed on deck, guessed immediately that the pirates were 
attacking the Malays, ordered a blue light to be burnt, a 
gun to be loaded and fired ; and the boat beiog launched, 
he sprang into it with a willing crew, and pulled ofF for 
the rock. The moment the blue light was burned and 
the gun fired all sounds ceased ; the Dyaks fled, but not 
before they had severely wounded half the Malays in the 
pilot-boat The dark night prevented anything being 
seen, and Mr Brooke could now only bring the wounded 
on board and place them under the surgeon's care. This 
circumstance delayed his departure, as he was forced, by 
the kindness of the messages from Muda Hassim, to return 
to Kuching in his gig ; and he did so with more pleasure, 
as it afibrded him an opportunity of seeing something of 
the interior life of a Malay Kajah. He was received with 
every hospitality, and, after some delay, served with what 
was meant to be an English dinner — very good in its way, 
for Malay cookery is often very tasty — an incident only 
worthy of being mentioned on account of the conduct of 
Muda Hassim, who insisted himself on superintending 
the feast, changing the plates with his own royal hands, 
uncorking bottles, proud to show his guests how well he 
could receive them — ^moved in fact by a genuine, hospit- 
able, kindly feeling, which on similar occasions I have 
often observed among Malays of every rank. 

In the evening Mr Brooke returned to the Royalist and 
set sail for Singapore, where he arrived without an acci- 
denf.^~~~Tb€riQerchants were delighted with his success, as 
it promised to open out a new field for their exertions ; 
but the authorities were not so well pleased, being fearful 
of occasioning some complications with the Dut<jh — a 
natural though not a dignified fear, 
-t Mr Brooke had every reason to be satisfied with the 
* results which attended his first voyage of exploration. 



1839.] VOYAGE TO CELEBES. 23 

He had longlily surveyed about 150 miles of coast with 
sufficient accuracy to show that the received maps were 
utterly incorrect He had viaited many rivers, some before 
unknown even by name ; he had established a friendly inter- 
course with the Malay chiefs of the coast ; and had been able 
to spend ten days among a Dyak tribe. He had obtained i^ 
much information, which, on the whole, subsequent in- ^ 
quiiy proved to be fairly correct, though no man was more 
convinced than himself that first impressions and notes 
made by travellers who only spend a few days in each place 
tie rarely valuable, except so far as they relate to outward 
objects, and treat simply of the appearance of the country. 

Though fully decided to visit Sarawak a second time, 
Mr Brooke considered it more prudent to defer his voyage 
until the setting in of the fine monsoon, when it might be 
hoped that the termination of the insurrection in that pro^ 
vince would afford him the desired opportunity of studying 
the interior of the country. But not to have to idle away 
his time in Singapore, he determined to carry out anothert- 
object of his expedition, which was to visit the fantasti- u- 
cally-shaped i sland of Celebes. The inhabitants, generally 
called Bugis, are noted for two qualities — ^their love of l- 
trade and their great personal bravery, — qualities which ^ 
cause them to be respected and welcomed in every country 
they visit or in which they settle. 

After a six weeks' stay in Singapore to refit and recruit 
his men, he set sail on the 30th November 1839 for 
Celebes, and, after a tedious voyage of upwards of three 
weeks, cast anchor in Bonthian Bay. Here, with his 
characteristic energ y^ he ascended the mountain of Lampu 
Batang, being the first European to set foot on its summit. 
He then continued his voyage, entering the deep but little 
known Bay of BonL Among the states which then occu- 
pied its shores were those of Boni, Waju, Lawu, and some 
lesser ones of wUd natives. 



24 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. 1. 

These proved a highly interesting people, brave, but 
wasting their energies in local quarrels and civil wars, 
instead of uniting against their common enemy, theDutch. 
Here Mr Brooke spent his time in congenial pursuits, de- 
voting it to the study of the people, their institutions, and 
their country, but filling up his leisure hours in the lighter 
pursuits of hunting and shooting, more for specimens than 
for sport. As a good horseman, accustomed to follow the 
hounds in England, he was ever in front, dashing after the 
deer with the noosed spear in hand, with the nerve and 
the dexterity of the most noted native hunter ; or joining 
in their shooting matches, and astonishing the Bugis by 
the rapidity and precision of his fire. As a practical 
shot he was the best I ever met. 

^ Mr Brooke being the first Englishman who had come 
u^n his own yacht to visit them, was treated with great 
distinction, and, notwithstanding his steady denials, was 
yiooked upon as a sort of observer for the English Govern- 
ment His pleasant, genial manner gained on his hosts, 
and he was soon treated as an old friend. The ladies of 
rank crowded around him, talking and laughing with the 
most perfect ease, indulging in many an innocent freedom, 
and examining with scrupulous attention his various arti- 
cles of toilet, — and Mr Brooke was particularly natty and 
/elegant in all his personal surnrnndiiags. The chiefs soon 
V grew confidentiair andTTegged for advice as to how they 
.were to act to settle their quarrels, and what policy they 
should pursue towards the Dutch. His answer to the 
latter was invariably the same, that if they desired to pre- 
serve their present comparative independence, they should 
avoid all cause of quarrel with their powerful neighbours, 
as a war with them could only end in one way, and that 
was in their absolute humiliation. As to the former he 
gave them much good advice, and although it was not 
rigidly followed in subsequent years, it used to please him 



1840.] THE BUGIS OP CELEBES. 25 

to receive news from his Bugis hosts, and to feel that his 
voyage there had not been without benefit to them. 

These Bogis states afforded curious studies : Waju^ with 
its self-elected aristocratic council, tempered by powerful 
tribunes chosen by the people ; Boni, nominally the same, 
but really under the despotic rule of one chief; Lawu, 
given up to disorder. All these Bugis states were, how- 
ever, invariably in decay ; and although one regrets to see 
independent communities extinguished, they are so utterly 
demoralised, so useless, that nothing but the guiding hand 
of a civilised state can restore them to prosperity. And 
this holds good whether the scene be laid in Western 
Asia, in India, or in Africa : no native state contains in 
itself the elements of regeneration. 

Mr Brooke, new to the Archipelago, was not then con- 
vinced of this truth, and thought that a little notice from 
English authorities, and a little gentle pressure, would 
draw forth the resources of those rich countries. 

An account of his visit to the King of Boni will give 
an idea of the power that these people still retained over 
their followers. And these were no slaves, but brave 
men, who had gallantly fought the Dutch, and won the 
respect of their civilised enemies. 

Mr Brooke landed at Baju^ with ten companions, and 
mounted the horses they found ready for them: then 
winding their way over the cultivated plain, in about an 
hour they found themselves at the nominal capital. It 
had formerly been a large town ; but during the last war 
with the Dutch it had been burnt to the ground, and 
although some good houses had been erected, it still was 
a capital but in name. 

On approaching the palace, several thousand Bugis were 
perceived armed at the gates, dressed simply in trousers, the 
sarong, and a skull-cap, — in fact, being naked to the waist ; 
a quiet orderly crowd, which remained silent while the 



N 



26 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. I. 

Strangers passed. At the gate of the courtyard stood ten 
spearmen, clad in coats of shining mail, or rather bright 
chain-armour, similar to that worn by some of the Lanun 
pirate chiefs, perhaps imitated from some specimens cap- 
tured during their early wars with Europeans. 

The King of Boni sat at the head of a table in a moder- 
ate-sized hall, surrounded by his nobles 8md body-guard, 
except on the left, where seats were placed for the strangers. 
He was plainly dressed in a long robe of English chintz, 
with gold buttons, a Am, and black skull-cap. A good- 
tempered, cheerful man, he entered readily into conversa- 
tion, and was deeply interested when he found that the 
Englishman had visited Koum, or Constantinople, the 
Sultan of which is considered by most Mohammedans as 
their spiritual, almost their temporal, chief. They have 
an exaggerated idea of his power, and imagine him the 
greatest sovereign in Europe — indeed, in the world. 

These chiefs, like other Asiatics, have but a vague 
notion of history and geography ; but all have heard of 
Napoleon, and they often made inquiries of Mr Brooke 
about this great chief. In fact, when I lived in Borneo, I 
was often surprised to hear how interested the natives ap- 
peared to be in his life and victories, and one day I asked 
the Sultan of Brunei why he delighted to talk so much 
on that subject. He smilingly pointed to a very old 
man, and said that he had been in Egypt when the French 
army was there. On inquiry, I found that this Haji had 
been with the Turkish hosts at the defeat of Heliopolis, 
and was in Egypt also at the surrender of the French 
army to Abercromby. Thus the name of Napoleon was 
familiar to these Rajahs, who eagerly listened to all the 
old man's stories, which, in great part, I could readily 
confirm. It indeed appeared like living in another time 
to talk with a Malay who had fought at Heliopolis. 



\^' •• 



27 



CHAPTER 11. 

SECOKD VISIT TO SARAWAK — CIVIL WAR. 

1840. 

The second visit made by Mr Brooke to Borneo is, to my 
mind, not only one of the most important events^ but one 
of the"m(»t TomantTcy even , in his romanticqareer. I wish 
I could render it in his own bright, energetic, and brilliant 
mamier, as I have heard him tell the story during the 
twenty years of our familiar intercourse. I know the 
ground weU ; there is not a spot that I have not visited, 
and there have I heard the wondrous story in all its 
curious detaila 

When Mr Brooke arrived at Kuching in the month of 
August 1840, he found affairs in very nearly the same 
position as when he had left it in September 1839. Some- 
thing had been done, but not much. The Orang-Kaya de 
Gading, a hard old man when I knew him, had been sent 
down from Brunei by the Sultan, nominally to urge Muda 
Hassim to exert himself, but really to watch what was 
occurring in Sarawak, as the visit of an English ship to 
that province had somewhat disturbed the authorities in 
the capitaL The consequence, however, had been that most 
of the wretched land Dyaks had come over to the Borneon 
party, thus lessening the opportunities of the insurgents 
for obtaining provisions. However, it was confidently be- 



28 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. it. 

lieved that the Dutch-protected Sultan of Sambas favoured 
the rebels, and sent them small supplies of arms and am- 
munition. In fact, wearied of the struggle, and despairing 
of success, the native Sarawak Malay chiefs had offered to 
renounce allegiance to the Sultan of Borneo, and to place 
themselves imder the protection of their neighbour. 

The insurrection, however, by the defection of the Dyaks, 
was now circumscribed, and only really occupied the 
ground held by its forces. Their fortified position was 
called Siniawan, situated about twenty miles by river from 
Kuching. Aided by the Dyaks, the place would have 
proved impregnable to the Borneon forces ; but deserted 
by them, it was exposed on the land side to constant at- 
tacks and surprises. Ascending the river, there lay to 
the right a little knoll, on which was erected a fort or 
strongly stockaded house, called Balidah ; on the left rose 
the picturesque and steep mountain of Serambo, inhabited 
by three Dyak tribes, who had lately declared against the 
insurgents ; at its base lay the village held by the Sarawak 
Malays, whose fighting men were estimated at between 
400 and 500. 

After passing about a month at Euching studying the 
situation of affairs, Mr Brooke at last acceded to the peti- 
tions of Muda Hassim, and i*esolved to aid him in bringing 
to an end this wretched warfare which was desolating the 
country. He felt that without the active aid of Muda Has- 
sim the cherished object of this voyage — that of ejtplor- 
ing Borneo — would be completely defeated. Muda Hassim 
had decided not to leave Sarawak until the rebellion was 
over, otherwise his power and influence at the capital were 
lost. He had active enemies there, and even the half- 
witted Sultan viewed him with jealousy, being then com- 
pletely under the influence of his clever half-brother, 
Pangeran Usup, who was naturally hostile to the legitimate 
branch of the family of the ancient Sultans of Borneo. 



1840.] SECOND VISIT TO SARAWAK. 29 

Whilst Mr Brooke was still weighing the reasons which 
now niged him to continue his voyage, now to stay for the 
solicited aid of the Bajah^ the former for the moment gained 
the mastery, and he intimated to the Malay chief his resolu- 
tion to depart, and in the evening he went to the palace 
to take his formal leave ; but his heart smote him when he 
looked at the mournful countenance of his new friend, and 
he told him that he would remain if he saw the slightest 
chance of this war coming to an end. Kow Muda Hassim's 
countenance brightened, and he hastened to assure him 
that he had the best of news to give ; that their united 
fortunes would overcome all obstacles; that the land 
Dyaks had sent to him to entreat his forgiveness, with 
full promises of joining with all their forces when assured 
of his pardon. In fact, he continued, " the end is ap- 
proaching ; I have promised forgetfulness of the past, and 
now, with a little aid from you, all will go well. The 
Djaks are rapidly coming in ; their messengers are already 
with the army, and to-morrow the last of the chiefs will 
join us." 

This determined Mr Brooke, and he promised to stay a 
few days longer, and even to go as far as Ledah Tanah, 
about fifteen miles above Kuching, to obtain positive in- 
formation on the subject He felt that the situation of 
the insurgents, if this news was true, must now be des- 
perate. The Dyaks, deserting their cause, would cut them 
off from all supplies ; the three tribes of the Serambo 
mountain looked down upon the fortified Malay village of 
Siniawan ; the numerous tribe of Singhi prevented them 
foraging the country on the left bank ; the tribes in the 
further interior were either neutral, or lent some assistance 
to their enemies. They must now either surrender or cut 
their way through their opponents, and retire to foreign 
territory. 

Fortune seemed to smile on Mr Brooke's resolve to 



30 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ll. 

stay and aid Muda Hassim : detachments of Malays and 
Dyaks arrived from the coast ; 200 Chinese came over 
from Sambas, animated by a desire to revenge the cruel 
treatment which they themselves had received at the 
hands of the Sarawak Malays. 

On the 18th of October Mr Brooke started for Ledah 
Tanah, or the tongue of land where the two branches of 
the Sarawak river meet, and found the grand army en- 
camped there under the protection of a stockade, erected 
to guard against surprise. At the moment of his arrival 
a column was starting to confirm the allegiance of the 
Serambo Dyaks, hold the villages on that moimtain, and 
secure them against the Sarawak Malays, who, pressed 
by hunger, would, it was fearedTmake desperate attacks 
on them in order to procure food. 

Mr Brooke began now to appreciate the difficulties of 
the task he had half promised to undertake. He found 
Makota, the commander-in-chief, as he ever was, full of 
the most elaborate and clever schemes to circumvent the 
enemy, but as unwilling as incapable of taking a decisive 
resolution. When urged to make even a false attack, in 
order to divert the attention of the enemy from the column 
that was advancing on Serambo, to secure the most im- 
portant posts, he would do nothing — ^he would wait ; and 
even when a white flag, the preconcerted signal, was seen 
flying on the summit of the mountain — no, he would do 
nothing; he feared that the column was surrounded by 
the enemy. 

The news that Muda Hassim had communicated to Mr 
Brooke as to the desertion of the Dyaks from the Siniawan 
Malays now received practical confirmation. The chiefs 
of the tribes, surrounded by their warriors, came in look- 
ing worn out with hard work and want of food ; indeed 
they frankly confessed that it was starvation that had 
induced them to abandon their former allies. The condi- 



1840.] A COUNCIL OF WAB. 31 

tions they demanded were forgiveness of the past, and an 
assnrance that none of the Seribas or Sakarran Dyaks 
should be employed in subduing Siniawan, as they were, 
they said, "hateful in their eyes." These terms were 
readily granted, particularly the latter, as Makota was 
well aware that the piratical Dyaks were then fully en- 
gaged in their attack upon the district of Lingga. 

As the new arrivals were not only thoroughly acquaint<ed 
with the country, but also with the enemies' defences, 
their information was really valuable, and a council of 
war was now held, at which Mr Brooke assisted, to deter- 
mine what was to be done. Makota was the greatest 
speaker, and full of projects, always impracticable; the 
other Malay chiefs — ^lazy, stupid, utterly uninterested in 
the war — ^were most unwilling to expose their persons to 
a chance shot But the resolute counsels of the English- 
man had their effect^ and a movement in advance was 
determined on for the morrow. The stockade was to be 
polled down, and transported to a position as close as 
possible to the enemy's chief fort of Balidah. 

After this first specimen of a council of war, Mr Brooke 
thus reasoned with himself as to his motives in becoming 
a spectator of, or even a participator in, this scene : " In 
the first place, I must confess that curiosity strongly 
prompts me — since to witness the Malays, Chinese, and 
Dyaks in warfare is so new, that the novelty alone might 
plead as an excuse for this desire. But it is not the only 
motive ; for my presence is a stimulus to our own party, 
and will probably depress the other in proportion. I^look 
npon the cause of the^ Kajah as most just and righteous, 
anjjjift flpApHy (>]^ap of th^ war would be rendering a 
8er?ice to humanity, especially if brought about by treaty. 
At anyrite, much may be done to ameliorate the condi- 
tion of the rebels in case of their defeat; for though I 
cannot, perhaps ought not to, save the lives of the three 



32 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. II. 

leaders, yet all the others, I believe, will be forgiven on a 
slight intercession. At our arrival, too, I stated that if 
they wished me to remain, no barbarities must be com- 
mitted, and especially that the women and children must 
not be fired upon. To counterbalance these motives is the 
danger, whatever it may amount to, but which does not 
weigh heavily on my mind. So much for reasons, which, 
after all, are poor and weak when we determine on doing 
anything, be it right or be it wrong. If evil befall, I trust 
the penalty may be on me rather than on my followers.** 

This reasoning would have been better had the cause of 
the Bajah Muda Hassim been just and righteous : on the 
contrary, the Sarawak Malays had been driven j nto re- 
belUon bythe rapaQily^ cruelty, aod-^xtortioBa^ M^ota, 
the previous Governor of Sarawak. The province, once 
comparatively fiourishing, had been reduced to the lowest 
ebb by his infamous government. Had Muda Hassim 
really sought the truth he would have learnt it, and then 
banished Makota for ever from the dominions of the 
Sultan of Borneo. But such conduct is utterly unknown 
to Asiatic rulers. The poor are ever in the wrong, and 
the nobles right. 

At daylight every one was astir; the stockade was 
pulled down, hauled to the river, and quickly formed 
into rafts ; and then every one went to breakfast and to 
wait for the flood-tida When that came no one was 
ready. Mr Brooke remonstrated in vain — procrastination 
was the order of the day ; so that when they did start, the 
fleet only managed to move some four miles up the river, 
Makota showing that day an invariable repugnance to 
approach nearer to Siniawan. However, next morning 
things went on better; a thick fog hid all movements 
from the enemy; the rafts were moved up to within a 
mile of Balidah Fort, the wood landed, and, all working 
with a will, the jungle was cleared ; piles driven, forming a 



IMO.] A BORNEON SIEGE. 33 

15 yards' square ; the earth was scooped out in the centre, 
and thrown against the stockade to about 5 feet in height, 
and a Chinese garrison established in a small house in the 
centre. There were small watch-towers at each corner, 
and a few noisy but harmless Chinese swivels were 
mounted. The Dyaks worked at an outer fence, a sort 
of cktfDaux-de-frise, and around the whole were planted 
thousands of ranjows or pointed pieces of bamboo, dan- 
gerous to naked feet, and inflicting even a nasty wound 
about the ankles of shod men. In about eight hours the 
whole work had been finished. 

Above the fort was a hill which completely command- 
ed it Mr Brooke mounted to the top to judge of the 
enemy's position, as their forts and the village of Sinia- 
waa were visible from thence. The chief among the 
former was the position of Balidah, a hillock jutting out 
into the river encompassed by triple stockades, and separ- 
ated from the mainland by a deep dry ditch. Thousands 
of rar^ows were planted around the fort, pitfalls with 
pointed stakes, and every other contrivance of Malay 
and Dyak ingenuity to prevent their defences from being 
approached. 

At a distance these defences seemed insignificant ; but 
they were not to be contemned, any more than those 
Burmese stockades against which our soldiers too often 
ran their heads, despising what appeared but a poor de- 
fence. The resources of the grand army were not more 
than sufficient to cope with the enemy's defences; and 
without the energetic influence of the stranger, the attack- 
ing forces would have been ignominiously defeated. 

The army that Muda Hassim had collected was but a 
motley crowd. In the first place were 200 Chinese under 
their captain, — fine muscular men, admirable at work but 
poor at fighting — wretchedly armed with fantastic spears, 
swords, and shields, a few muskets, and a certain number 

c 



34 LI]p: OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. ll. 

of curious weapons, consisting of long, thin, iron tubes 
with the bore of a musket, and carrying slugs. " These 
primitive weapons ^ were each lafinaged by two men, one 
being the carrier of the ordnance, the other the gunner ; 
for whilst one holds the tube over his shoulder, the other 
takes aim, turns away his head, applies his match, and is 
pleased with the sound." Nothing could better prove the 
little intercourse that Borneo had held with the outside 
world, than that so awkward and inefficient a weapon should 
have held its own to the middle of the nineteenth century. 

The Malays, who numbered about 250, were the main- 
stay of the force ; 150 had been sent to occupy the villages 
of Serambo, while the remainder formed Mdkota's body- 
guard ; half were armed with muskets, the rest with very 
serviceable spears and swords. As a defence against the 
cut of sword or the thrust of spear the Bomeons wear a 
quilted jacket, which reaches over the hips ; the arms are 
left bare to give freedom for the use of their weapons ; 
and although the appearance of such a body of men is at 
first sight ludicrous, I have not noticed that their dress 
affected the activity of their movements. 

To these may be added about 200 Dyaks of the various 
tribes in the neighbourhood, without muskets, although 
in other respects armed much like the Malays, and cour- 
ageous enough when not exposed to the soimd of mus- 
ketry. 

The history of this warfare is so curious that it is worthy 
of being followed in detail, and almost in Mr Brooke's 
original words. These natives, as a rule, rarely fought in 
the open, except when in very superior force ; they pre- 
ferred being sheltered by stockades. When, therefore, Mr 
Brooke pointed out to them that although the enemy were 

^ In the account of the Kashgar Mission, published in the ' Times ' of 
March 28, 1874, a description is given of a similar weapon stiU in use in 
that country. 



1840.] NIGHT ON THE FIELD. 35 

nearly as numeroxis as themselves they were saved the 
necessity of defending many detached posts and forts on 
diflferent sides of the river, and that therefore now was 
the opportunity to assault these in detail, this proposal 
was hailed as an extreme of rashness, almost amounting 
to insanity. At a council of war it was subsequently de- 
cided that advances should be made from the hill behind 
the stockade to Balidah, by a chain of forts, the distance 
being a short mile, and that when the proper spot was 
reached, a battery should be erected, and a bombardment 
(»)mmenced — with their guns and gunners, likely to be 
very noisy, but perfectly harmless. 

During the day there was comparative quiet, interrupted 
occasionally by the beating of gongs, shouts, and now and 
then a shot, to give life to the scene. With a spy-glass one 
could see the detachment of the Bomeon forces, gathered 
well up the side of the Serambo hill, on a jutting rock 
called Paninjow, or the " look-out," a spot shaded by mag- 
nificent palms, and from whence a splendid view of the 
interior of Sarawak can be obtained. No doubt these 
Malays were well pleased to see their comrades diverting 
from themselves the attention of the enemy. At night 
load shouts and firing from the rebels caused prepara- 
tions to be made for an attack, but it proved to be nothing 
but lights moving about the hillside, with what intent 
was not understood. The jungle on the left bank having 
been cleared, the enemies' skirmishers kept aloof; but a 
few spies approached the boats. With this exception no 
further disturbance took place, though the rebels kept 
up an incessant beating of gongs, and from time to time 
fired a few stray shots, whether against an enemy or not 
was doubtfoL 

Oct. 25th, — The grand army was lazy, and did not take 
the field until after the breakfast and the bath, when it 
moved and took possession of two eminences nearer the 



36 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. li. 

enemy, and commenced forts on each. About 11 A-M. 
intelligence arrived that the enemy was collecting on the 
left bank, as they had been heard by the scouts shouting 
one to another to gather together in order to attack the 
stockades in the course of building. Mr Brooke there- 
upon went up to one of the forts, when a universal shout 
from the rebels and a simultaneous beating of the gongs 
announced what appeared intended for a general action. 
But though the shouts continued loud and furious from 
both sides, and a gun or two was discharged in the air 
to refresh their courage, the enemy did not attack, and 
a heavy shower damped the ardour of the approaching 
armies, and reduced all to inaction. like the heroes of 
old, however, the advance parties spoke to each other. 
" We are coming ! we are coming ! " exclaimed the rebels ; 
*'lay aside your muskets and fight us with swords." 
" Come on ! " was the reply ; " we are building a stockade, 
and want to fight you." And so the heroes continued to 
talk, but forgot to fight, except that the rebels opened a fire 
from Balidah with swivels, all the shot from which went 
over the tops of the trees. Peace, or rather rest, having 
been restored, the Bomeons succeeded in intrenching them- 
selves, and thus gained a field which had been obstinately 
assaulted by big words and louder cries. The distance of 
one fort from Balidah was about 800 yards ; it was manned 
by sixty Malays, whilst a party of Chinese garrisoned 
the other. Evening fell upon this innocent warfare. The 
Bomeons in this manner contend with vociferous shouts, 
and, preceding each shout, the leader of the party offers 
up a prayer aloud to the Almighty, the response being 
made by the soldiery, "Allah ! Allah Urk hu ! " The besiegers 
kept up firing and holloaing till midnight to disguise the 
advance of a party that was to seize an eminence and 
build a stockade within a shorter distance of Balidah. 
When they reached the spot, however, the night being dark. 



1840.] PROGRESS OF THE SIEGE. 37 

the troops sleepy, and the leaders of diflferent opinions, 
they returned without eCTecting anything. 

26tt. — ^The advance of the party during the night was, 
as has been said, disguised by firing, drumming, and 
shouting from the fleet and forts ; and in the deep stillness 
of the fine night the booming of the guns, the clangour of 
the gongs, and the outcries raised from time to time, fell 
on the ear like the spirit of discord breaking loose on a 
fair and peaceful paradisa About 6 A.M. Mr Brooke 
visited the three forts. The Chinese, Malays, and Dyaks 
were taking their morning meal, consisting of half a cocoa- 
nut-sheU-fuU of boiled rice, with salt. The Dyaks were 
senred in tribes ; for as many of them were then at war 
among themselves, it was necessary to keep them separate, 
and though they would not fight the enemy, they would 
have had no objection to fall out with one another, and 
the slightest cause might have given rise to an instant 
renewal of intertribal hostilities. 

About 9 A.M. a party proceeded to the elevation 
previously marked out within 300 yards of BaUdah, 
and worked quickly till 2 p.m., by which time they had 
made considerable progress ; and being then reinforced, 
they soon finished this new stockade, with a strong face 
towards their adversaries, and an outer fence. 

This erection, however, being below the brow of the 
hill, was useless as a post whence to assault Balidah, but 
was meant to cover the working party that was prepar- 
ing to erect another on the summit, from whence the rebel 
fort could be bombarded. The enemy, discovering at 
length the Bomeon advance, opened fire for about half an 
hour, but finding it ineffectual, they sank into their usual 
apathy. The fact was that, deserted by their Dyak allies, 
the Sarawak Malays were unable to skirmish effectively 
in the woods, and hands were wanting to oppose stockade 
to stockada The Borneons by their successful advances 



38 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. n. 

appeared to gain confidence. To encourage them, and to 
make the issue favourable, Mr Brooke sent for two six- 
pounder carronades, together with a small addition to his 
European force. 

Surprised at the little enterprise shown by the Sarawak 
Malays, Mr Brooke asked Makota about the progress of 
his former campaign, when he had 1000 Malays and 
only a few Dyaks. He represented the enemy as active 
and daring then, very different from the want of spirit 
they showed during this campaign. He declsured with 
an animated voice that they had had combats by sea and 
combats by land ; stockade was opposed to stockade, and 
the fightiE^ was constant and severe, but he never lost a 
man killed during the whole time, and only boasted of 
having killed five of the enemy. I have often heard him 
myself dwell on this theme, though very unwilling to 
touch on his subsequent career. 

27th. — ^The night passed quietly, as usual. About 6 
A.M. Mr Brooke started for the hills, and inspected each 
fort in turn. They were about commencing the fort 
previously referred to from which Balidah was to be 
bombarded; but while Mr Brooke was reconnoitring it, 
he was perceived by the enemy, who immediately opened 
fire upon the party. They shot wretchedly ill ; but under 
cover of the smoke about thirty or forty men crept out 
and advanced stealthily to interrupt the work. The Ma- 
lays, however, received them steadily, whilst the Chinese 
in the other fort placed them between two fires, and by a 
discharge from one of their famous tubes knocked down 
one man, the only one who had as yet fallen during 
these attacks. The enemy showed anxiety to possess 
themselves of their comrade, whilst the opposite party 
shouted, " Cut off his head ! " But he was carried off, 
and the enemy, when they had saved his body, fled in all 
directions. Some fierce alarms were given of an attack 



1840.] PANGERAN USMAN's SPEECH. 39 

bj water, but they came to nothing, though both sides 
kept up a desultory firing until evening. 

28th. — ^The stockade was completed during the night 
with ranjows stuck round the outer defence : it was 
admirably situated for battering the opposing fort. 

During that day about 150 of the Sow and Singhi 
Dyaks joined, increasing the working portion of the army 
to about 500. Most of these men showed all the charac- 
teristics of a wild people, — never openly resisting their 
masters, but so obstinate that they nearly always got their 
own way, opposing threats and entreaties by a determined 
and immovable silence. 

On the 29th the English guns arrived, but it was not 
till the 31st that they were dragged up to the fort 
When once in position, however, they soon silenced the 
fire of the enemy, and struck down the stockade in such 
a way that a breach was opened by which several men 
could enter abreast Seeing the eCTect of the fire, Mr 
Brooke proposed to Makota to storm the place with 150 
Chinese and Malays, as the way from one fort to the 
other was protected. The enemy dared not show them- 
selves on account of the showers of grape and canister, 
and nothing would have been easier than to take the 
place by storm; but Mr Brooke's proposition caused a 
commotion which it was difficult to forget, and still more 
difficult to describe. The Chinese consented, and Makota, 
the commander-in-chie^ was apparently willing, but his in- 
feriors were backward, and there arose a discussion which 
showed the violence of Malay passions, and their infuriated 
madness when once roused This scene let Mr Brooke 
describe in his own words. "Pangeran XJsman urged 
with energy the advantage of the proposal, and in the 
course of a speech lashed himself to a state of fury : he 
jumped to his feet, and with demoniac gestures stamped 
round and round, dancing a war-dance after the most ap- 



40 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. n. 

proved fashion. His countenance grew livid, his eyes glared, 
his features were inflamed, and, for my part, not being 
able to interpret the torrent of his oratory, I thought the 
man possessed of a devil, or about to *run amuck ;'^ but 
after a minute or two of this dance he resumed his seat, 
furious and panting, but sQent In reply, Subtu urged 
some objections to my plan, which, however, was warmly 
supported by Illudin, who apparently hurt Subtu's feel- 
ings, for the indolent placid Subtu leapt from his s^it, 
seized his spear, and marched to the entrance of the stock- 
ade with his passions and his pride despemtely aroused. 
I never saw finer action than when, with spear in hand, 
pointing to the enemy's fort, he challenged any one to rush 
on with him. Usman and Sirudeen, the bravest of the 
brave, like madmen seized their swords to inflame the 
courage of the rest : it was a scene of fiends : but in vain, 
— for though they appeared ready enough to quarrel and 
fight among themselves, there was no move to attack the 
enemy. All was confusion ; the demon of discord and 
madness was among them, and I was glad to see them 
cool down, when the dissentients to the assault proposed 
making a road to-night, and attacking to-morrow. In the 
meantime our six-pounders were ready in battery, and it 
is certain that the assailants might walk nearly to the 
fort without any of the rebels daring to show themselves 
in opposition to our fire." 

Pangeran Usman was really a brave man, and in 1854 
I saw him perform an action worthy of the Victoria Cross. 
To this I shall have to refer at the proper moment 

November \st, — ^The guns were ready to open their fiery 
mouths, and their masters ready to attend on them, but 
both had to wait till mid-day, when the chiefs of the 
grand army, having sufficiently slept, breakfasted, and 
bathed, lounged up with their straggling followers. The 

^ In Malay, amok. 



\ 



\ 



1840.]. MR BROOKE RETURNS TO KUCHING. 41 

instant the main division and headquarters of the army 
arrived at the battery, Mr Brooke renewed his proposal for 
an assault, which was variously received. If the Malays 
would go the Chinese agreed to fight, but the Malays had 
grown colder and colder. In order to encourage them, 
Mr Brooke opened fire on the rebel fort to show the effect 
of his guns ; and having got a good range, every ball, as 
well as grape and canister, rattled against and through the 
wood. Air Brooke then urged them again and again, but in 
vain. The coward chief displayed that dogged resolution 
which is invincible, an invincible resolution to do noth- 
iog ; and the cold dumb looks of the others at once told 
the amount of their bravery. A council of war was 
called; grave faces covered timid hearts and fainting 
spirits. The Chinese contended, with justice, that in 
fairness they could not be expected to assault unless the 
Malays did the same. However, the latter would do 
nothing, and one of the chiefs delivered himself of a wise 
harangue to the effect that, "during the last campaign, 
when they had a fort, how had the enemy fired them, 
stabbed them, speared them ? — and without a fort assault- 
ing them ! how could it be expected they should succeed ? 
how unreasonable that they should go at all!" But 
even his stolid head seemed to comprehend the sarcasm, 
when Mr Brooke asked him how many men had been 
killed during all this severe fighting. 

After waiting a couple of days, and finding that there 
was no serious intention to do anything, Mr Brooke saw 
that it was useless for him to stay further with the army, 
and therefore intimated his resolve to return to his ship. 
This caused the deepest surprise and vexation; but Mr 
Brooke was firm, and having embarked his guns and 
followers, he started for Kuching. His arrival was greatly 
felt by the Eajah Muda Hassim, as he now saw that the 
leader on' whose assistance he had placed the greatest 



42 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. U. 

reliance was about to leave him. He begged and prayed 
him to remedn, but Mr Brooke fully explained to him 
the situation of affsdrs, the uselessness of his stopping 
with the army as long as the present system of procrasti- 
nation was allowed, — that, in fact, he saw no end ,to this 
devastating civil war under Makota's management Muda 
Hetssim was deeply moved by the thought of the dis- 
grace that would attach to him should he fail in putting 
down the rebels : he knew that the prestige he had 
acquired by having a white ally was one of the reasons 
why other aid was coming in. He therefore again begged 
and entreated Mr Brooke not to desert him, and o ffered 
him at last the government of the province of Sarawa k 
iTTiVwould stay and aid him to su ppress the insurgen ts. 
For the moment Mr Brooke declined to accept the grant, 
as he knew that it would be impossible for him to govern 
the country unless he had the Rajah's undoubted and 
spontemeous support. He remained at Kuching about 
a month, in daily communication with the Malay chief, 
and believing at length that the latter was really sincere 
and showed signs of true friendship, Mr Brooke no longer 
refused to return to Siniawan, particularly as Pangeran 
Bedrudin, Muda Hassim's favourite brother, was now with 
the army, and he was reported to be as brave as he was 
undoubtedly intelligent. 

Having prepared everything, Mr Brooke again started 
for the interior at the head of his sixteen gallant fol- 
lowers, with his guns and ammunition, and soon found 
himself with the grand army. The guns were mounted 
in their old positions, and everything was made ready for 
serious work. 

Mr Brooke found that during his absence nothing had 
been dona The Borneons were in a state of torpor, eat- 
ing, drinking, bathing, and walking up to the forts daily ; 
but having built those imposing structures, and their 






1840.] MAKOTa's subterfuges. 43 

appearance not having driven the enemy away, they were 
at a loss what to do next, or how to proceed. 

On Mr Brooke's arrival he renewed his proposal to 
assault Balidah under cover of the fire of his guns. As 
Bedrudin warmly seconded the proposal, Makota was 
forced to express his assent, and the assaulting party was 
arranged as follows : Mr Brooke and ten of his men to 
lead, the rest of the Europeans to remain in the battery 
to serve the guns ; Bedrudin, Makota, and all their chiefs 
and warriors were to attack by one path, while the Chinese 
were to push on by another. The Dyaks in the mean- 
time were to remove the obstructions that might delay 
die advance. 

At 8 A.M. the next morning Mr Brooke and his followers 
were in the battery, and at ten they opened fire and kept 
it up for an hour. The effect was severe : every shot told 
upon the thin defences of wood, which fell in many places, 
leaving practicable storming-breaches. Part of the roof 
was cut away and tumbled down, and the shower of grape 
and canister rattled so as to prevent the enemy from re- 
taming the fire except from a stray rifle. At mid-day 
the main forces came up to the fort, and it was then 
discovered that Makota had neglected to make a road, 
because it had rained during the night ! It was evident 
that the rebels had gained intelligence of the projected 
assault, as they had erected a chevatuode-frise of bamboo 
along their defences on the very spot that the besi^ers 
had agreed to mount Makota fancied that the want of a 
road would delay the attack ; but Mr Brooke knew well 
that delay was equivalent to failure, and so it was at 
once agreed that all should advance without any path. 
The poor man's cunning and resources were now appa- 
lently nearly at an end, but he proved equal to the occa- 
sion. He could not refuse to accompany the assaulting 
party, but his courage could not be brought to the point. 



44 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. n. 

and pale and embarrassed he returned. Everything was 
ready, Bedrudin, the Capitan China, and Mr Brooke were 
at the head of the men, when Makota once more appeared, 
and raised a point of etiquette which answered his pur- 
posa He represented to Bedrudin that the Malays were 
unanimously of opinion that the Eajah's brother could 
not expose himself in an assault ; that their dread of 
the Rajah's indignation far exceeded their dread of death ; 
and in case any accident happened to him, his brother's 
fury would fall on them. They stated their readiness 
to assault the place, but in case Bedrudin insisted on 
leading in person, they must decline accompanying him. 
Bedrudin was angry, all were angry, but anger was un- 
availing: it was clear that they did not intend to do 
anything in earnest, and after much discussion, in which 
Bedrudin insisted that if Mr Brooke went he would go 
likewise, and the Malays insisted that if he went they 
would not go, it was resolved that the English should serve 
the guns, whilst the Malays and Chinese should proceed 
to the assault. But Makota had gained his object, for 
neither he nor Subtu thought of exposing himself to a 
single shot. The artillery opened and was beautifully 
served, only three rifles answering from the fort Two- 
thirds of the way the storming-party proceeded without 
the enemy being aware of their advance, and they might 
have reached the very foot of the hill without being dis- 
covered had not one of the Malay chiefs, from excess 
of piety and rashness, or rather cowardice, began most 
loudly to say his prayers. The three rifles commenced 
then to play on them : one Chinaman was killed ; the 
whole party halted; the prayers were more vehement 
than ever ; and after squatting under cover of the jungles 
for some time, they all returned. In this afiair one of the 
Englishmen was wounded. 

As Mr Brooke and his men could not leave the battery. 



^ w 



1840.] A BATTLE AT LAST. 45 

they had a house erected near it. It was a rough affair, 
about 20 feet long, with a loose floor of reeds and a 
roof of palm-leaf mats. After a time different attempts 
at theft induced Mr Brooke to have it fenced in, and 
divided into apartments: one at the end was used by 
Mr Brooke and his oflBcers and servants, while the centre 
served as a store and a hospital, and in the room at the 
other end were the seamen. The unevenness of the reed 
floor was so uncomfortable, that at length they had it 
covered with the bark of trees, and then it appeared quite 
a luxurious abode. 

Days and days were now wasted in building useless 
stockades, but at length it was resolved to push on to 
Sekundis, a spot from which the enemy would be out- 
flanked, and the command of the upper reach of the river 
secured. It was a most important position, as, if once 
properly protected, the Sarawak Malays would be deprived 
of the means of receiving any supplies or succour from 
the interior, cutting off as it did the most facile route 
to Sambas, whose chiefs, as I have said, were accused of 
aiding the insurrection by many underhand means. 

Now took place the only battle, if such it can be called, 
of the whole war. The Sarawak Malays, seeing the 
danger that menaced them, crossed the river with a small 
force and endeavoured to drive the besiegers from the 
stockade they were erecting. They advanced firing, and 
had nearly succeeded in their endeavour when intelligence 
was brought to Mr Brooke of the danger of his allies, 
among whom was the old Orang Kaya of Lundu. Against 
the warnings and remonstrances of Makota, Mr Brooke 
started with his own men, and crossing the intervening 
jangle to an open field, saw the enemy advancing close to 
the incomplete stockade. He instantly charged across the 
open with his dozen Europeans, his faithful Malay boatman 
Subu, and an ally, a brave Lanun, called Si Tundo. The 



46 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. H. 

effect was immediate : surprised by a manoeuvre to which 
they were unaccustomed, as charging is not known in 
their warfare, the enemy turned and fled, throwing away 
arms and ammunition, and, jumping into their canoes, 
they escaped eu^ross the river. This bloodless victory 
raised the influence of Mr Brooke above that of all pres- 
ent: though no one was killed, the daring shown was 
equally admired, and from that time forward the better 
class of natives began to look upon Mr Brooke as their 
leader. They compared his prompt and energetic con- 
duct with that of Makota and his followers, who arrived 
when all danger was over, and loudly s«mg their own 
praises. But from this time forward the bravest leaders 
of the grand army stuck to the English, and this in- 
creased the influence of Mr Brooke in all the subsequent 
operations. 

From this time forward, however, the resistance of the 
enemy became weaker, and they gradually abandoned 
their upper forts on the left-hand bank, though they still 
held possession of the strong fort of Balidah on the 
same side. 

During these skirmishes there arrived on the scene of 
action Sirib JafiQr and a party of warlike Dyaks from 
Lingga, and the chief soon informed Mr Brooke that the 
Siniawan Malays were anxious to yield, stipulating only 
that their lives should be spared. These Sherifs, or Siribs, 
as the Malays pronounce the word, are for the most part 
descendants of Arab adventurers who formerly settled on 
the coast, and who, giving themselves out as of the lineage 
of the Prophet, were enabled to marry well, and acquire an 
influential position in the country. Their influence, how- 
ever, was generally for evil. Their religious position led 
them to despise the infidel, and then greed induced them 
to encourage piracy and warlike expeditions in order to 
obtain slaves and plunder. On Mr Brooke's arrival in the 



IMO.] AN ENVOY FROM THE REBELS. 47 

country, there were two or three of these Arabs exercising 
a certain influence in every district ; in some they gov- 
erned almost unquestioned. 

Sirib Jaffir was well acquainted with a Sirib Moksain, 
then with the Siniawan Malays, and by this means was 
soon enabled to arrange an interview between his friend 
and Mr Brooke. All parties present had agreed to this 
step being taken, but the whole affair was nearly spoiled 
by the meditated treachery of a Bomeon noble, who pro- 
posed that they should seize the envoy ; but on this being 
repeated in Mr Brooke's hearing he sprang to his feet, and 
drawing his pistol, declared he would shoot dead any man 
who dared to seize, or even to propose to seize, an envoy 
who had trusted himself to his honour. The scoundrel 
slunk away, and no more was seen of him. 

The place of meeting was arranged to be at Pangeran 

Dludin's fort, at Sekundis, and thither were collected Mr 

Brooke and his party, Sirib Jaffir and his warlike Dyaks, 

some Chinese, and a large crowd of armed Malays. I 

have often heard both Mr Brooke and Sirib Moksain 

describe this interview. The Sirib was a small man, 

perfectly polite in manner, and of good intelligence. He 

bad travelled, and had seen something of Europeans at 

Singapore, and at the Dutch possessions of Sambas and 

Pontianak, and therefore knew that the word of a white 

man was to be relied on. He, however, felt somewhat 

nervous when, landing from his boat on a dark night, he 

found himself surrounded by armed enemies, among whom 

be could distinguish some of the most treacherous of the 

Bomeons ; but he showed no sign of fear, and soon found 

bimself in the presence of the white stranger. He then 

explained his mission, which was that Mr Brooke should 

give his word that the lives of all should be respected. 

Tbis Mr Brooke was not authorised to do. During the 

whole interview the bearing of the envoy was firm, and 



48 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. IT. 

the only sign of uneasiness, as Mr Brooke remarked, was 
the quick glance of his eye from side to side. 

Though this first interview was not completely success- 
ful it led to others, and at last the insurgents surrendered at 
discretion, gave up the fort of Balidah, and destroyed their 
stockades, under Mr Brooke's guarantee that they should 
not be plundered or ill-treated until the pleasure of the 
Bajah Muda Hassim was known. Then came Mr Brooke's 
great difficulty — the greater from his being imperfectly €tc- 
quainted with the causes of the rising — to save the lives 
of the chiefs of the insurgents, which he was fully con- 
vinced Muda Hassim intended to take. For this pur- 
pose he went down to Kuching, and begged as a favour to 
himself that the Eajah should pardon them. To this the 
Malay prince would by no means consent. He urged that 
their lives were justly forfeited, and that they must pay 
the penalty of their rebellion. To this Mr Brooke could 
only reply that he had taken part in the war, and aided 
to bring it to a successful conclusion, under the full con- 
viction that the Sajah would exercise clemency ; but as 
he refused this favour to himself, he could not help doubt- 
ing the sincerity of his friendship, and that therefore he 
bade him farewell. On this the Eajah yielded. Throughout 
the interview Mr Brooke was oppressed by the conviction 
that the leaders had justly forfeited their lives ; whereas, 
had he known the truth — to what oppression the people 
had been subjected before they rose in arms — he would 
rather have demanded the punishment of Makota, who 
was the cause of all the evils that had occurred. 

Thus ended the civil war. The SarayraL-MilsJss^r- 
rendered their arms, ammunition, and propertyjaS3~~the 
chiefs gave their wives and families as hostages. Sinia- 
wan was now abandoned, the inhabitants were dispersed, 
the chiefs had fled, the army was disbanded; and the 



1840.] END OP THE WAR. 49 

Chinese, finding themselves alone at Siniawan, destroyed 
the Malay houses, and built a village for themselves in 
the neighbourhood. 

The civil war in Sarawak is now looked upon by the 
Malays as one of the most noteworthy incidents in the 
history of their province ; and as it jwas, Jhfi_indirect 
means effacing, them unde r EqgU sh rulgj it is j^erhaps 
the most im portant event m their local hist ory. 



D 



50 



CHAPTER III 

WRETCHED STATE OF THE COUNTRT — BROOKE ASSUMES THE 

GOVERNMENT OP SARAWAK. 

1840-1843. 

After these warlike operations there followed a period of 
comparative peace, during which Mr Brooke could look 
around and study the true position of the country. Tg^ 
those who are accustomed only to thejnegulwjaarch of 
alaii^ under European"TJovernments, it is^ difficult to 
convey' an idea of what passes in countries so far re- 
moved from civnisation as Sarawak. SaSwak was a 
dependency of the Sultan of Brunei, inhabited by Malays 
and Dyaks, and a few nobles from the capital The gov- 
ernor was appointed by the Sultan, and Pangeran Makota 
had, before the commencement of the civil war, been nom- 
inated to the post. Under him were three Malay chiefs, 
— two who had charge of the Dyaks in the interior, called 
the Datus Patinggi and Bandar ; the third, the Tumang- 
gong, looked after the coasts, the mouths of rivers, the 
fisheries, and the villages on the sea-shore, and ruled those 
Dyak tribes established on the streams which ran into the 
sea between Cape Datu and the river Lundu. 

The laws and usages of Borneo strictly defined the rel- 
ative duties of these difierent authorities ; but Pangeran 
Makota was no respecter of either laws or traditions, 
and immediately endeavoured to get all power into his 



iwo.] makota's MISGOVERNMENT. 51 

own hands. Uufortunately for the inhabitants, a bright 
mineral was discovered, which was at first mistaken for 
silver, but which was in reality antimony, and would 
fetch a fair price in the British settlement of Singapore. 
Makota thereupon set every one to work for it on whom 
he could lay hands. Malays, Dyaks, and Chinese were 
pressed into his service, and shiploads were soon pro- 
cured; but Makota did not choose to remember that 
workmen must eat to live, and the price he paid for the 
ore was so small that it was impossible for the people to 
obtain sufficient food. The natural consequence was that 
the mines were deserted, and force had to be employed to 
induce the people to return to their work. 

The next manoeuvre of Makota to obtain money was 
founded on a custom of the country, though doubtless a 
gross abuse. This is the aerra dagang or forced trade. A 
Malay Rajah will send to a tribe specially under his con- 
trol a certain amount of salt, iron, and cloths, which the 
Dyaks are expected to take at a fixed price — generally a 
veTy exorbitant one. When this is purchased the tribe is 
free to trade with whom it pleases. The Rajah's followers 
generally stick a spear in front of the Dyak chiefs 
house, to show that the Rajah's trade is still going on ; 
or if a narrow river leads to the village, a string is drawn 
across it, with the flowers of a palm attached to it, as a 
sign that no one is to pass. Any one trading with the 
tribe until these signs are removed is liable to a severe 
fine. In Sarawak the Malay chiefs had almost similar 
privil^es to the Rajahs, and exercised them with some 
severity, but seldom with enough to induce resistance. 

On Makota's arrival, however, all this was changed. 
Not content with one serra, he would keep his followers 
thus engaged all the year round ; and as he was followed 
by a number of the greatest scoundrels in Borneo, they 
worried the people on their own account quite as much 



52 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. III. 

as they did for their master. When the rice and other 
commodities of the Dyaks were exhausted, they seized on 
the best-looking girls and the most likely lads, and carried 
them off as slaves ; and whenever the tribes murmured, 
they were threatened with an attack of the sea Dyaks, 
the piratical tribes of Seribas and Sakarang, always ready 
to come at any one's call, so that heads and plunder could 
be promised. 

The poorer Malays fared as ill as the Dyaks : they were 
lent a few dollars' worth of goods at heavy interest — ^ten or 
twelve, even fifty per cent per month. This soon accumu- 
lated to a formidable sum, and as they could never pay, 
they and their families were seized as slave-debtors, and 
had to work for their masters, and were too often treated 
as real slaves and sold out of the country. 

This oppression, pushed to its utmost limits, at length 
exhausted the patience of one Dyak tribe, the Sows, and 
they refused to give up the rent of their rice or to permit 
their women and children to be taken. This resistance 
was of evil omen, and had to be suppressed at once ; so 
the sea Dyaks were called in, and 3000 wUd savages, 
under the guidance of Sirib Sahib of Sadong, were let 
loose on the country. They surprised the villages of the 
Sow tribe, killed about thirty of the men, and carried off 
upwards of two hundred women and children. As one of 
the Sows feelingly said to Mr Brooke : " You might, sir, a 
few years ago, have sought in this river and not found a 
happier tribe than ours. Our children were collected, we 
had rice in plenty, and numerous fruit-trees; our hogs and 
fowls were in abundance : we could afford to give what 
was demanded of us, and yet live happily. Now we have 
nothing left. The Sadong people and the Sakarang Dyaks 
attacked us ; they burned our houses, destroyed our prop- 
erty, cut down our fruit-trees, killed many of our people, 
and led away our wives and young children into slavery. 



mo.] PROSPECTS OF SARAWAK. 53 

We could build other houses ; we could plant fruit-trees 
and cultivate rice; but where can we find wives ? Can we 
foi^get our young children?" Though premature, let me 
state here that Mr Brooke did ultimately force Sirib Sahib 
and his followers to return about two hundred women and 
children they had captured from the Sow Dyaks. 

Such acts as these at length aroused all to resistance : 
the Sarawak Malays and Dyaks combined to expel Makota 
from the country, but he found allies in the neighbouring 
provinces, with whose assistance he held his own. At 
length Muda Hassim was sent down from the capital 
to put an end to the civil war, but he could do little or 
nothing except add to the misery of the country. The 
opportune arrival and assistance of Mr Brooke saved him, 
and put an end to the insurrection. But pestilence and 
comparative famine then desolated the land, and reduced 
the remnant of the people to a fearful state of poverty. 
Half at least of the inhabitants had fled from the coimtry 
— many of the Dyak tribes having crossed the frontier 
and entered Sambas, while the Malays were dispersed 
through all the surrounding districts. There was no trade, 
the antimony was scarcely worked, little rice was culti- 
vated, — in fact the task of governing and regenerating the 
people appeared wellnigh hopeless. 

Mr Brooke thought over these things, and often felt 
inclined to continue his voyage of geographical discovery, 
and leave Sarawak to its fate. He reasoned that, with his 
very limited means, he could scarcely do much good, that 
he was surrounded by enemies, that Makota would nat- 
urally oppose all his measures and endeavour to ruin him, 
that he was only supported in a lukewarm fashion by 
Muda Hassim ; and he had yet to discover what reliance 
he could pleu^e on the support of his late opponents, the 
ilalays of Siniawan. 

However, he was not dismayed: he first of all deter- 



54 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. UI. 

mined to connect Sarawak with Singapore, and therefore 
proceeded to the latter place in the Eoyalist and pur- 
chased a schooner, the Swift, to carry on trade between 
the two places. He loaded his two vessels with an 
assorted cargo, and returned to Kuching. 

The first step taken by Mr Brooke showed how totally 
unfit he was to fill his new character as a trader. The 
Eajah Muda Hassim, on hearing of the arrival of the 
cargoeS) promised to load the two vessels with antimony 
ore in exchange, and Mr Brooke permitted him to take 
all his goods without being assured that any antimony 
ore was ready, or even that any one was engaged in 
procuring it. Mr Brooke treated Muda Hassim as a 
gentleman, whose word was sacred, forgetting that though 
he might be of good faith at the time, there were others 
who were deeply interested in Mr Brooke's never obtain- 
ing payment for his goods. He soon found that where 
before there had been zeal, now there was lukewarmness : 
no one talked of the return cargo, nor was any mention 
made of the promise to hand over the government of the 
country to the Englishman. 

Mr Brooke waited with patience, but finding months 
elapse, he determined to send away the Swift to Singapore 
with the few tons of antimony that he had been enabled 
to collect, and to start the Eoyalist for Borneo Proper to 
endeavour to relieve the crew of a shipwrecked English 
vessel that was detained there in confinement by the 
Sultan. He, with three followers, stayed behind in a sort 
of native house that Muda Hassim had built for him, and 
continued to urge on the Malay prince the necessity of 
paying for the goods which he had received. 

Mr Brooke had also many other causes of anxiety. His 
two vessels were gone to sea, and he knew that they would 
have to run the gauntlet of the pirate fleets which were 
cruising outside. One of these squadrons which had visited 



1840.] A DYAK EXPEDITION STOPPED. 55 

Eaching during the previous mouth consisted of eighteen 
vessels, well anned with guns, swivels, and musketry, and 
manned by at least 500 fighting men, and an equal num- 
ber of rowers. The pirates were principally brave Lanuns, 
whose prowess is well known to all frequenters of the 
Eastern seas. 

Other pirates were also ofT the coasts, less formidable 
to European vessels, but, if possible, more destructive to 
native trade, and these were the Sakarang and Seribas 
Dyaks, led by the warlike Malays of those districts. Be- 
fore the sailing of the Boyalist, above a hundred of their 
long swift bangkongs, or native war -boats, had ascended the 
river — nomincdly to pay their respects to the Bajah, but 
really to obtain permission to attack an inland Dyak 
tribe living on the borders of Sambas. Although Muda 
Hassim knew perfectly well that these men would respect 
neither the lives nor the property of his own Dyaks, he 
gave them leave to proceed up the river to attack the 
tribe in question. All the land Dyaks and Chinese were 
in fearful alarm, knowing what was in store for them, as 
all heads are good that come in the way of the Dyak on 
the war-path. Fortunately Mr Brooke was warned, and by 
energetic remonstrances forced the Bajah to give the order 
for their immediate return, which they did sulkily, and 
with an evident intention to try their strength with the 
white power that had interfered with their raid. But the 
signs of complete preparation induced them to waive their 
intention : they soon fell down the river, and disappeared 
for the time. This action of Mr Brooke raised his fame 
among the people, and they now began to put their trust 
in him, and the belief soon grew general that he could and 
would beMend them. 

The conduct of Muda Hassim on this occasion was 
another proof of the incapacity of the Malay princes to 
rule that or any other country; and was, in fact, but an in- 



56 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. III. 

stance of what is constantly done by other Sajahs in those 
countries in which they have influence. This particular 
raid, however, had been organised with a deeper motive 
than mere plunder. All the descendants of the Arab 
adventurers who infest the coasts of Borneo have an in- 
stinctive feeling that where the white man gains influence 
their power declines. Makota also felt that Mr Brooke 
was more considered and consulted by the Borneon prince 
than he was, and that should Mr Brooke be installed as 
governor of the province, farewell to his own power. He 
therefore entered into a plot with the Arab Sirib of Sadong, 
and it was agreed between them that the latter should 
collect a large force of piratical Dyaks, while the former 
obtained the necessary permission from Muda Hassini 
that the Dyaks might ascend the river to attack an in- 
terior tribe. The bribe offered was a large share of the 
slaves taken, and a proportionate amount of the valuable 
plunder. As the Bajahs were interested in the business, all 
having to receive shares, there was no one found near the 
ruler to counsel him not to commit so great an infamy. 

Makota thought that if once the Dyak force were in the 
interior, Mr Brooke's authority would decline among the 
Sarawak Dyaks and Malays, and also among the indus- 
trious Chinese, as it would be a proof of his want of both 
power and influence to protect them. He also reasoned 
that Mr Brooke, disgusted by the breach of faith shown by 
Muda Hassim, would sail away and leave the Malays to 
themselves, when his own influence would be again su- 
preme. But the event had a contrary effect. Mr Brooke 
was kept in a state of constant uneasiness by the prolonged 
absence of his vessels, particularly as he knew that large 
fleets of pirates were cruising outside. At length the Swift 
and the Eoyalist arrived, but the latter did not bring the 
shipwrecked crew, as the Sultan had refused to deliver 
them up; but immediately after, the HE.L Company's 



1841.] BROOKE OBTAINS THE GOVERNMENT. 57 

steamer Diana arrived, and finding that the Eoyalist had 
not succeeded in obtaining the captives, steamed off to 
Brunei The Sultan was thoroughly frightened when he 
saw the ** fire-ship" advance into the midst of his town, and 
hastily surrendered his captives. The visit of the Diana 
greatly strengthened Mr Brooke's hands. Makota, how- 
ever, continued his evil ways : he plundered the Dyaks to 
their little children and slaves, and, under threats of fine 
and imprisonment, he prevented the natives from visiting 
Mr Brooke, for fear that they should complain of their ill- 
treatment. He also continued his intrigues with the Sultan 
of Sambas, in order to retard the pacification of the country, 
fearing that Muda Hassim would then fulfil his promise 
to Mr Brooke, and return himself to the capital. At 
length a robbery and attempted murder, by some of Ma- 
kota's followers, brought things to a crisis. Mr Brooke 
determined that a settlement should be made, one way 
or the other ; and therefore he armed his vessels, landed 
his crew, and marched to the palace, where he explained 
to the Malay prince the treachery and crimes of Makota. 
Mr Brooke soon found that he might count upon sufiScient 
support The Siniawan Malays sent and offered their 
assistance, while none but a few of his immediate slaves 
rallied round Makota. As Mr Brooke says, " After this 
demonstration, affairs moved cheerily to a conclusion. 
The Bajah was active in settling; the agreement was 
drawn out, sealed, and signed ; guns fired, flags waved ; 
and,^n the 24th September 1841, 1 became the governor 
of Sarawa k with the fullest power s.*' One thing, however, 
Muda Massim completely forgot to do, and that was, to 
pay for the cargoes. 

The acceptance of the government of Sarawak was in- 
deed a venturesome step. We are so accustomed to hear 
of the riches of the isles of the Eastern seas, that many 
imagine we have but to step in to reap a rich reward. 



/ .:.A 



' N 






58 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. III. 

But the fact is, that the riches spoken of have to be de- 
veloped or created ; that, though the soil of Sarawak will 
bear most tropical productions, it did not then yield any- 
thing in a commercial sense — and even now, almost forty 
years after, it produces very little but the natural resources 
of the forest, minerals of course excepted. Capital and an 
intelligent government are necessary to develop a country; 
and these necessities Sarawak has not had to the extent 
one might have expected. 

When Mr Brooke took over the government of Sarawak, 
the Dyaks did not cultivate sufficient for their own sus- 
tenance; the Malays were dispersed, and picked up a pre- 
carious living by fishing, and by the produce of a few small 
gardens; two or three hundred Chinese were washing for 
gold and working antimony on a small scale. From 
what sources, then, were revenues to be raised ? Mr 
Brooke's faith in the future was all he had to supp ort 
him iif these Trials. 

Mr Brooke's tliree chief objects in assuming the govern- 
ment of the country were : to obtain the women and chil- 
dren of the Siniawan Malays, whom Bajah Muda Hassim 
still held as hostages ; to collect together again the old 
Malay population ; and, thirdly, to conciliate the Dyaks. 
In the first he fairly succeeded, though he could not obtain 
all the women, as the Bajah's brothers having honoured 
them with their notice, they could not be permitted to 
leave their harema However, all but ten were returned 
to their families. 

Makota, after the conclusion of the civil war, had made 
every effort to collect the Siniawan Malays together ; but 
he was too little trusted to succeed. He might force some 
families to establish themselves in the town, but in a few 
days they or others disappeared, so that his efforts had 
but little success. Mr Brooke, however, gave out that the 
Malays were free to come or go as they pleased — ^to live 



1841.] CONSOLIDATING THE GOVERNMENT. 59 

at Enching or elsewhere, as it best suited their convenience 
—and that no one had a right to interfere with them. 
This and the recovery of the hostages had a great effect ; 
and gradoallythe population collected, and began to form 
the nucleus of the present town. 

The greatest difficulty, however, was with the Dyaks : 
they had been so long used to oppression, that they looked 
with suspicion upon any one who talked to them as a 
friend. Mr Brooke, however, assembled their chiefs, and 
it was agreed that each Dyak family shoiQd pay a pasu 
(I bushel) of rice as a yearly revenue, and that then they 
should be free to trade with whom they pleased; and that 
no man had a right to demand anything further of them. 
SiK)uld any one attempt such a course, the chiefs were 
instantly to bring the case before the governor. 

From the 24th September 1841, when Mr Brooke was 
appointed Chief of Sarawak, to Ap ril 1843, he was em- 
ployed in consolidating the gover nment He remained 
dnnng the whole of this time in Borneo, to watch over his 
rising settlement, to protect the Dyaks, curb the licentious 
followers of the Rajahs, and oppose the intrigues of Ma- 
kota, whose chief end was to disturb the confidence that 
was beginning to show itself. 

The most difficidt task, however, was the administration 
o f jnsti ce. Almost every day the Court was opened in a 
long room in Mr Brooke's residence. He sat as chief, 
with the brothers of Muda Hassim beside him ; to the 
right and left were rows of chairs, on which were seated 
the ihiee Malay chiefs of Kuching, and any other respect- 
able native who chose to take part in the proceedings ; in 
&(mt sat on mats the persons whose case was to be ad- 
judged; and behind them a miscellaneous crowd of Malays, 
Chinese, and occasionally a few Dyaks, or some wondering 
stranger from the coast. 
My own experience entirely confirms Mr Brooke's, when 



60 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. Ul. 

he states that he received the greatest assistance from the 
knowledge, acumen, and sense of justice shown by the 
Siniawan Datus. Unless some personal interest of theirs 
was involved — unless a relative was engaged in the litiga- 
tion — these three chiefs might be completely depended 
on ; and those who succeeded them were equally, if not 
more, worthy of trust. And it now became an established 
rule, that if a Datu was in any way interested in a case he 
stayed away, and left it to be settled by the others. 

As long as the cases only involved the interests of the 
Dyaks, the Chinese, or the Siniawan Malays, all went 
smoothly — the Eajahs cared for none of these ; but directly 
their own followers were accused and brought up for jus- 
tice, their susceptibilities were aroused. The Bomeons 
who had accompanied Muda Hassim from the capital 
were bad specimens of a very bad class: they robbed, 
cheated, even murdered, with comparative impunity, and 
were rarely, if ever, punished by their chiefs. To be a 
follower of a Borneon Eajah was to secure immunity from 
every punishment But Mr Brooke was decided, come 
what may, that, whenever a case came before the Court, 
he would have even-Jbanded justice administered ; and this 
was soon so well understood, that the Rajah's followers, 
rather than be brought up before the stem white man, 
would hasten to compromise a case, and thus give an 
instalment of justice. 

The education of a Malay Bajah is such that he cannot 
be made to comprehend that others are entitled to any 
consideration at his hands. He thinks, like the French 
lady, that the Almighty will consider twice before pun- 
ishing persons of such distinction. Makota himself, clever 
as he was, could not constrain his avaricious greed. He 
often said, "I know that the principles on which you 
govern are good; I have seen the success of Singapore 
under your rule; but I was brought up to plunder the 



1841.] "THE FRIEND OF THE DYAK." 61 

Dyaks, and it makes me laugh to think that I have fleeced 
a tribe down to its very cooking-pots." 

Mr Brooke's courage and patience were, however, equal 
to the calls made upon them, though a great diffi- 
culty from which he suffered was the want of power. 
By one or two stern examples he had put down head- 
hunting and resistance within the territory of Sarawak, 
yet he could not completely prevent his own Dyaks from 
the attack of his neighbours. Sirib Sahib of Sadong was 
the most mischievous : he incited the piratical Dyaks to 
make inland incursions, and news was continually reach- 
ing Kuching of the death of now three, now eight of a 
tribe. 5irib Sahib also often sent parties over to collect 
the taxes that were really due to Mr Brooke, and occa- 
sionally attempted, with the aid of Makota, to raise dis- 
turbances in Sarawak itself. As yet Mr Brooke was 
not strong enough to suppress these disorders : he did 
something, however, and the little he could do inspired 
confidence. Tribe after tribe came over the frontiers, for, 
as one of them said, " They had heard, the whole world 
had heard, that the so n oF Europe~was "the frien J of the 

There is one thing that I may note here, and on which 
I shall hereafter have often to dwell, and that is, that 
whatever was done in Sarawak at this time was done by 
Mr B p[^Ea^ aAone^ He "had no aidT or assistance: his 
followers were, a colotired interpreter from Malacca — a 
useful but not a very trustworthy man; a servant who 
could neither read nor write ; a shipwrecked Irishman, 
fonnerly a clerk, brave as a lion, but not otherwise of 
much use ; and a doctor — a first-rate companion, but so 
httle interested in the country that he never even learned 
the language. 

When Mr Brooke left on his last visit to Singapore, 
Muda Hassim made a promise to build for him a suitable 



62 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. lU. 

house. As usaal, however, he did not keep his word, so 
that on Mr Brooke's return to Kuching, he found that it 
had not even been commenced. However, better late 
than never : his Highness at length set to work, and the 
promise was fulfilled. 

As it will give a good idea how Mr Brooke lived at 
that time, I will let him give the account in his own 
words. 

" I may now mention our house, or, as I fondly style it, 
our palace. It is an edifice 54 feet square, mounted on 
numerous posts of the Nibong palm, with nine windows 
in each front The roof is of Nipa leaves, and the floor 
and partitions are all of plank. Furnished with couches, 
tables, chairs, books, &c., the whole is as comfortable as 
man could wish for in this out-of-the-way country; and we 
have besides a bathing-house, cook-house, and servants' 
apartments detached. The view from the house to the 
eastward comprises a reach of the river, and to the west- 
ward looks towards the blue mountains of Matang ; the 
north fronts the river, and the south the jungle. Our 
abode, however, though spacious, cool, and comfortable, 
can only be considered a temporary residence, for the 
best of all reasons, that in the course of a year it will 
tumble down, from the weight of the superstructure being 
placed on weak posts. 

"The time here passes monotonously, but not un- 
pleasantly. Writing, reading, chart-making, employ my 
time between meals. My companions are equally en- 
gaged, — Mackenzie with copying logs, learning naviga- 
tion, and stuffing specimens of natural history " (he was 
afterwards killed by Chinese pirates); "Crymble" (the 
brave Irishman) " is teaching our young Bugis and Dyak 
boys their letters for an hour every morning, copying my 
vocabularies of languages, ruling charts, and the like; 
whilst my servant Peter learns reading and writing daily, 



1842.] CHINESE DECEIT. 63 

with very poor success, however. Our meals are about 
nine in the morniiig and four in the afternoon, with a 
cnp of tea at eight The evening is employed in walk- 
ing, never less than a mile and a half, measured distance; 
and after tea, reading and a cigar. Wine and grog we 
have none, and all appear better for it, or at least I can 
say 80 much for myself. Our bedtime is about eleven." 

At this time the coast of Sarawak was completely 
blockaded by large fleets of Lanun and Balagnini pirates 
who with perfect impunity cruised along the coast, fre- 
quented the Natuna and Tambilan groups of islands, 
carrying oflf captives by hundreds, and taking every 
native trading vessel that came in their way. The only 
intercourse with the neighbouring districts was by small 
boats, which kept inshore, and generally made their 
voyages under cover of the night. 

The head-hunting Dyaks were also out on their forays, 
which made it dangerous even for small boats, and for the 
fishing villages, which were generally concealed up small 
creeks. 

In 1842 Mr Brooke had his first specimen of the 
obstinacy and deceit of the Chinese. In recompense for 
some services, Eajah Muda Hassim had granted to a com- 
pany of Chinese permission to work gold and antimony 
on the right-hand branch of the river, in Upper Sarawak. 
This company was placed under the strictest discipline by 
its own self-dected chiefs, and every member was expected 
implicitly to obey the behests of the governing council. 
AfBdrs proceeded quietly enough at first, but at length some 
other Chinese expressed a wish to establish another com- 
pany on the left-hand branch of the river. This roused the 
jealousy of the older company, and they announced their 
intention to oppose any concession tx> their countrymen. 
A bug conference ensued, when it was found that the 
Malay document, simply allowing them to work, had 



64 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ill. 

been converted in the Chinese translation into a deed of 
gift of the interior. It is not necessary to enter into the de- 
tails of this affair, as it ultimately came to nothing. Mr 
Brooke firmly adhered to his deteimination to grant to a 
new company on the left-hand branch the same privileges 
which had been granted to those on the right, but it was 
only by a display of force that the latter could be brought 
to give their consent. Here was evidently an imperium 
in imperio, from which Mr Brooke foresaw future trouble ; 
but his own power increased so rapidly that he had no 
serious difficulty with the Chinese for fifteen years, until 
the union of a number of unfortunate circumstances 
weakened his prestige, and brought about the bloody 
insurrection of 1857. 

I may at once say that the company on the left-hand 
branch never came to much, and, after a sickly existence, 
vanished from the, scene. 

About this time Mr Brooke calculated that the revenue 
of the country was about £5000 a-year. How he arrived 
at this estimate I do not understand, as the whole income 
of the country consisted of a few hundred bushels of rice, a 
little profit from opium, and the net proceeds of the anti- 
mony. I can readily imagine that he was incorrectly in- 
formed by his treasurers, who were such poor accountants 
that, on examining their books, I found that all expendi- 
ture was put under the head of revenue. His agents, too, 
were very careleas, and on one occasion an error was dis- 
covered in which a bill of £1000 drawn by him was put 
to his debit. Mr Brooke knew nothing of accounts, and 
those he employed knew very little more. In the course 
of a Chancery suit, it became necessary to give detailed ex- 
planations of what had been the revenue and expenditure 
of Sarawak before 1848. Mr Brooke naturally employed 
his treasurer to get up the figures, but the Court of Chan- 
cery sent back the document : it was so confused that no 



1842.] KEVENUES OF SARAWAK. 65 

one could understand it One of the chief officers, Mr 
Crookshank, could have mastered the figures, but he was 
otherwise engaged, so later on Mr Brooke in despair asked 
me to undertake it. Never was there such confusion seei^. 
The poor treasurer could give no explanations. DoUars 
valued at 4s. 2d. and reals worth 3s. were treated as 
equivalent coins, and added together. It required weeks 
to unravel all these mysteries, and in the end it was pos- 
sible to arrive at only an approximate result. 

Thus Mr Brooke never really knew what was the true 
state of his affairs. What he did know was, that every 
now and then he was informed that there was a balance 
against him, and h e^drew biUs on his privat e fortune, until 
it b^an gr a duaUy^ vamshjto notching. 

The revenues of Sarawak never met its expenses until 
after the great influx of Chinese in 1850, which enabled 
Mr Brooke to establish various imposts in the indirect 
fomi of farms: then things went on prosperously, and 
have continued so until the present time, opium being 
the most productive of all the taxes. 

Mr Brooke soon became convinced that as long as 
Muda Masslm, with the other JKomeon Kajahs" and" their 
^nrol y followers, remained in Sarawak, it would be quite 
i mposs i ble to dev elop the trade, or to inspire true confi- 
dence in the people. Nolradmg prahvs would enter with 
cargoes from the neighbouring districts, as it would have 
been impossible to prevent the Bajahs from going or send- 
ing on board to obtain as presents or on credit the most 
valuable articlea Besides, the natives would not believe 
that Mr Brooke might not some day tire of his task and 
sail away. So nothing was done : no trading vessels were 
built, no cultivation undertaken, and a feeling of rest- 
lessness prevailed all over the country. 

Mr Brooke therefore made up his mind to visit the 
capital of Brunei, and see the StQtan himself. Muda 

£ 



66 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. hi. 

Hassim was pleased, directed two of his brothers to ac- 
company the governor, and prepared letters for his royal 
nephew and chief. After many tedious formalities and 
an affectionate farewell, Mr Brooke got away from Kuch- 
ing on July 14, 1842, and immediately setiled for the 
capital. The parting between Muda Hassim and his two 
brothers was very touching, and is thus feelingly described 
by Mr Brooke : " The Kajah addressed a few words to 
his brother, requesting him to tell the Sultan that his 
heart was always with him ; that he could never separate 
from him, whether far or near ; and he was, and always 
had been, true to his son. Bedrudin then rose, and, ap- 
proaching the Rajah, seated himself close to him, bending 
his head to the ground over the Eajah's hand, which he 
had grasped. The Eajah hastily withdrew his hand, and, 
clasping round, embraced, kissing his neck. Both were 
greatly agitated, and both wept ; and I could have wept 
for company, for it was no display of State ceremony, but 
genuine feeling. It is seldom, very seldom, they show 
their feelings, and the effect was the more touching from 
being unexpected. It is a part of our nature — our better 
nature — to feel when we see others feeL Pangeran Marsale 
followed. Both brothers parted from Muda Mahomed in 
the same way, and they certainly rose in my opinion from 
this token of affection towards each other. My adieux 
followed. \Ve all rose ; the Eajah accompanied us to the 
wharf, and as we embarked I could see the tears slowly 
steal from his eyes. I could not help taking his hand 
and bidding him to be of good cheer: he smiled in a 
friendly manner, pressed my band, and I stepped into my 
boat." 

Mr Brooke had now an opportunity to view the north- 
western coast of this great island. It is not very inter- 
esting seen at a distance from the shore — generally 
lowland, with a few bluff points, and lofty mountains in 



1842.] VISIT TO BRUNEI. 67 

the interior. The true beauty of the coast begins to the 
Dortb of the capital In a few days the Boyalist reached 
the mouth of the river Brunei, and cast anchor off the 
low^ sandy island of Muara, famous for its wild pigs and 
its good fishing. 

The Brunei river is really a pretty one. As you enter 

the small bay into which flow so many rivers, to the south 

you see a row of pretty hiUs. As you advance you pass 

several islands, — to the right, one whose summit is cut flat, 

with a heavy embankment and embrasures fit for the 

heaviest guns — an old Spanish construction, it is said. 

From this island a mole has been thrown across, so as 

to completely shut up the true entrance of the river ; but 

as the water was forced to seek a passage, it has found one 

on the eastern side, where the river deepens to four 

fiathoms. It is a difficult entranca You then leave 

Pulo Cherimin, or Looking-glass Island, on the left, and 

advance up the stream between two rows of lovely hills, 

from 500 to 800 feet in height, gay with every variety of 

colour. Generally the verdure in the East is sombre ; here 

it is not You have the dark green of the forest, the 

bright green of cultivation, the waving cocoa-nut, the 

graceful areca palm. Cottages scattered here and there, 

a fisherman's house poised on the banks, and occstsionally 

patches of red soil, add brightness to the scene. And the 

waters of the Brunei river are generally gay. You meet the 

Singapore trader heavily laden with sago ; the unwieldy 

but picturesque Malay prahu ; the fast fishermen's boats 

palling as no one but Bomeons can pull, to be the first 

arrival at the market ; and then the prawn - catchers 

gracefully poising themselves on the prows of their little 

caDoes, and throwing the cast-net with such marvellous 

skill that, though often eight yards in diameter, it falls in 

a perfect circle on the water. If you lazily pull up in a 

small boat, you will see the alligators swimming, or rather 



68 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ill. 

floating, near the surface of the water, a line of their back 
and their two ravenous eyes alone visible. After a few 
miles' advance you turn sharply to the right, and then 
catch sight of the first houses of this "Venice of hovels," 
as Mr Brooke called it. It is at high water a pretty place 
— a sort of basin into which several rivers and streams 
flow. It is almost surrounded by hills ; and on the mud- 
banks formed in this little lake, but seen only at low 
water, are built the houses, on slight piles, so that the 
inhabitants can pull roimd or under or between long 
rows of houses that at the distance look picturesque. It 
is, however, but a wretched place ; the dwellings are 
mean, being mostly composed of the stems of the Nibong 
palm, and thatched and walled with different kinds of 
mats made from the leaves of the Nipa palm. A few are 
roughly planked, but it is a tumble-down, wretched place. 
I knew it well, having lived there so many years that I 
seemed to recognise every face in it ; and every nook and 
corner in its neighbourhood were familiar to me. 

Mr Brooke had visited Brunei for three reasons. The 
first was, to assure a reconciliation between the Sultan and 
Muda Hassim, in order that the latter might be enabled 
to return to the capital ; to secure the release of twenty- 
five shipwrecked Lascars of a recent wreck, the Melbourne; 
and thirdly, to obtain from the Sultan a confirmation of 
his appointment as (Jovemor or Eajah of Sarawak. After 
some preliminary ceremonies Mr Brooke went up to the 
capital, and was much struck and pleased with the lively 
scenery of the river. The town he saw in all its filth. 
He was received and lodged at the palace in a small room 
behind the audience-hall, and soon became familiar with 
the people around him. I must describe a few of them, 
as they are all important personages in this biography. 
The first in point of dignity was the Sultan. Mr Brooke, 
in his Journal, has well described him ; and as he knew 



184i] THE COURT OF BRUNEI. 69 

him 80 much more intimately than I did, I shall rather 
trust to his account than to my own recollections. At 
the time of this visit (1842) the Sultan was a man of 
abont fifty years of age, short and puffy in person, with 
a countenance that very obviously showed the weakness 
of his mind, which, as indexed by his face, appeared a 
perplexed map of confusion, without astuteness, without 
dignity, and without good sense. He was ignorant, mean, 
and avaricious, fond of low society and of stupid jokes ; 
and, when I knew him, he was suffering so much from a 
cancer in the mouth, that it was disagreeable to approach 
him. He was, however, full of pride, and had a high 
opinion of his own dignity. 

Pangeran Mumein, the next in position, and the present 
Sultan, was more fitted to be a trader than a ruler ; but 
he was not cruel, and I found him a likeable man. 

Pangeran Usup, however, was the ruling spirit in 
Borneo; very active and intelligent, and though nomi- 
naUy a great friend of Muda Hassim's, was in his heart 
that prince's most determined opponent. At this time, 
however, Mr Brooke did not see through his ambition. 
The objects of Mr Brooke's visit were soon settled : the 
most flattering invitations to return to Brunei were written 
to Muda Hassim ; the imprisoned Lascars were released ; 
and that most important document, the confirmation of Mr 
Brooke's appointment as Governor of Sarawak, was signed, 
sealed, and delivered. 

When these afiairs were arranged, Mr Brooke took leave 
of the Court, and set sail for Sarawak, where he was re- 
ceived with such demonstrations of welcome as were most 
gratifying to him. The Bomeon Pangerans were delighted 
with his success, as they longed to return to the charms of 
the capital The scene that took place at the reception 
of the despatches was highly curious and characteristic. 
On the evening of the 18th August the Sultan's letters 



70 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. III. 

were produced in all the state which could possibly be 
attained. On their arrival they were received and brought 
up amid large wax torches, and the person who was to 
read them was stationed on a raised platform. Standing 
on the step below him was Muda Hassim, with a sabre 
in his hand ; in front of the Bajah was his brother, Pan- 
geran Jtiffir, with a tremendous kampUan, or Lanun 
sword, drawn; and around were the other brothers and 
Mr Brooke, all standing, the rest of the company being 
seated. The letters were then read, the one appointing 
Mr Brooke to hold the government of Sarawak last. 
After this the Bajah descended from the steps of the 
platform and said aloud, ''If any one present disowns 
or contests the Sultan's appointment, let him now declare 
it." All were silent He next turned to the native chiefs 
of Sarawak and asked them, — they were obedient to the 
will of the Sultan. Then the question was asked of the 
other Fangerans, " Is there any Rajah that contests the 
question ? Fangeran Makota, what do you say ? " Makota 
expressed his willingness to obey. One or two other ob- 
noxious Fangerans who had always opposed themselves to 
Mr Brooke were each in turn challenged, and forced to 
promise obedience. The Eajah then waved his sword, 
and with a loud voice exclaimed, " Whoever dares to dis- 
obey the Sultan's mandate now received, I will split his 
skull ! " At the same moment some ten of his brothers 
jumped from the veranda, and drawing their long knives 
began to flourish and dance about, thrusting close to 
Makota, striking the pillar above his head, and pointing 
their weapons at his breast. This amusement, the vio- 
lence of motion, the freedom from restraint, this explo- 
sion of a long-pent-up animosity, roused all their passions; 
and had Makota, through an excess of fear or an excess of 
bravery, started up, he would have been slain, and other 
blood would have been spilt. But he was quiet, with his 



1843.] DISCOMFITURE OF MAKOTA. 71 

face pale and subdued, and as shortly as decency would 
permit after the riot had subsided, took his leave. Had 
he been slain on this occasion, many hundreds, nay, 
thousands, of innocent lives might have been saved. 

An interval of tranquillity followed, and Mr Brooke 
could indulge in serious reading. No. XC. of the Oxford 
Tracts fell into his h ands, a nd he set to work to an swer it. 
as he cons idered it a very^ Jesuitical performance . I have 
the original MS., but I must confess that I have not read 
it. Though he himself at this time complained that he 
had read every book in his library, I do not think he went 
so far as the English planter in Java, who, finding himself 
banished into the interior for twenty years, turned to the 
only book he had, the ' Encyclopcedia Britannica,' and 
beginning at the letter A, read it through to the end, 
and with such profit, too, that he was enabled to take an 
important post in Singapore, and to creditably fulfil its 
duties. 

Things appeared now so quiet, the country being tran- 
quil, and having some desire to refresh himself with a 
Uttle civilised society, Mr Brooke thought that he might 
safely indulge in a trip to Singapore, from which he had 
been absent about two years ; but before he started he inti- 
mated to Pangeran Makota that he must leave the country, 
as it was certain that as long as that clever, but always in 
the end unsuccessful, intriguer remained, the people would 
be uneasy. Makota began therefore preparing his prahu, 
and collecting his people, but was so slow in his move- 
ments that Mr Brooke had left for Singapore (February 8, 
1843) befoi'e his arrangements were complete. 

The idea of visiting Singapore was indeed a happy one, 
as he was destined there to become acquainted with Cap- 
tain Keppel, whose energy and dash, and quick apprecia- 
tion of the earnest purpose of Mr Brooke, had so great an 
effect on the future of Sarawak. 



72 



CHAPTER IV. 

FIRST EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE 8ERIBAS AND 8AKABANG 

PIRATES — CAPTAIN KBPPEL. 

1843-1844. 

Mr Brooke arrived in Singapore in February 1843, and 
after a short stay proceeded to Penang, and foimd there 
H.M.S. Dido, Captain the Hon. Henry Keppel, the senior 
officer in the Straits Settlements. They soon became ac- 
quainted^ and that acquaintance ripened into friendship, 
as they at once recognised each other's good qualities. Mr 
Brooke could readily admire the dash, the vigour, the eager- 
ness for action, which was displayed by Captain Keppel ; 
while the latter, above all littleness and petty jealousy, 
qualities too often shown on these occasions, was eager to 
aid in the good work of pacifying the coast^_5f Borneo, 
and saw at a glance, with the instincts of a gentleman, 
that he had no adventurer, no schemer to deal with, but 
a true-hearted man, whose whole soul was concentrated on 
one object — which was, to raise in the scale of civilisation 
and comfort the natives of his adopted country. 

It was about this time that Mr Brooke began to dwell 
on a subject which was, in my opinion, the great error of 
his life, and one of the causes of the comparative want of 
success of Sarawak. In his eager desire to establish a 
permanent government on the coast of Borneo, he began 
to doubt his own power to command success, and to urge 



1845.] PIKATES. 73 

on the British Grovernment the necessity of taking over 
the country. Already he hinted at other alternatives — a 
powerful company, or even a foreign Government, if our 
own would have nothing to do with it. There was at 
this time some cause for uneasiness, as although he had 
established perfect tranquillity in Sarawak, yet the coast 
was infested with the Lanun and Balagnini pirates, and the 
strong marauding tribes of Seribas and Sakarang, under 
tiieir Arab and Malay chiefs, were continually cutting off 
the traders who ventured to leave the ports for Singa- 
pore and Java. In England his chief trust was first in his 
agent, Henry Wise, who in reality cared nothing for Mr 
Brooke or for Borneo, but who thought only how he could 
best serve his own ends by working the question. He was 
a clever, active, plausible man, who hung about the public 
offices requesting and obtaining audiences of Ministers, 
and acquiring thus a little reflected importance. The 
second friend was Mr Templer — familiarly termed Jack 
Templer. I never knew him ; but, judging by his actions 
and his correspondence, I should say he was clever, but 
so injudicious in his conduct and advice that he was the 
cause of much of the estrangement between the Eajah and 
the British Government. 

In May 1843 the Dido set sail from Singapore with Mr 
Brooke as a guest on board, and, being a good sailer, soon 
arrived on the coast of Borneo. After cruising for pirates 
during a few days. Captain Keppel sent away his heavy 
boats on the same errand. The expedition wds commanded 
by lieut Wilmot Horton, and Mr Brooke accompanied 
the party, as he alone was versed in the language, and had 
a sound knowledge of the kind of vessels used by the 
pirates. The very day they left the ship they came on a 
fleet of Balagnini vessels ; but though distant shots were 
exchanged, the marauders got away easily on account of the 
superior swiftness of their vessels, propelled as they are both 



74 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. 

by sail and by thirty to fifty oars. As they sailed in the 
direction of the Natnnas, the English boats steered also on 
the same course, and anchored for the night under one of 
these islands. At daylight, while reconnoitring in a cutter, 
Lieut Horton and Mr Brooke came upon six war prahus^ 
which advanced upon them, beating their gongs, shouting, 
and making every warlike demonstration. Lieut. Horton 
returned to his force, and there drew up his three boats in 
line of battle : the enemy, confident in their numbers and 
in the size of their vessels, advanced with all the speed that 
their oars could give them ; but as they approached near, 
Mr Brooke felt confident that there was some mistake, as 
the build was not that of pirate vessels. A white flag was 
therefore hoisted, and he shouted to them for a parley, but 
the only reply was a discharge of musketry. Lieut. Horton 
kept his men well in hand, and not a shot was returned 
until the prahus were within 50 yards, when he poured 
in a most destructive fire of grape and canister, and the 
marines bowled over every one who attempted to show 
near the enemy's guns. In a few minutes the affair was 
over ; the largest prahu surrendered, and the other five 
fled, keeping up a running fire on the chasing cutters. 

The captured prahu turned out to be one belonging to 
the Bajah of Khio, an island dependent on the Dutch, 
that had been sent with the others to raise tribute in the 
Katuna group. They were greatly astonished to find that 
they had been engaged with the boats of an English ship- 
of-war, — declared that it was all a mistake, that they were 
at that moment searching for a fleet of pirates that had plun- 
dered one of the islands, that the sun being in their eyes 
they had not distinguished the flag, and urged every other 
excuse possible. Lieut Horton, thinking perhaps that 
they had been sufficiently punished by the loss of twenty- 
five killed and wounded out of a crew of thirty-six, accepted 
their excuses, and sent the surgeon on board the prahu 



1843.] THE DIDO. 75 

to attend to the wounded^ and gave up his prize, as well 
as the others which the cutters had captured, deserted on 
the beach. These rascals had in fact mistaken the Eng- 
lish force for boats from some wreck, or as some pretended, 
Dutch boats from Sambas ; and as the Bajah of Bhio, in 
these days^ sent the greatest scoundrels in his dominions 
to collect tribute, they would have had no hesitation in 
plundering or murdering any unfortunate survivors from 
a wreck who could not defend themselves. 

After this adventure, the boats proceeded to Sarawak, 
and found the Dido anchored at the entrance of the Tabas, 
called the Muara Tabas,^ or mouth of the Tabas. Captain 
Keppd could also laughingly tell of how he had been de- 
ceived by the artful trick of three pirate boats, and how 
they had got away scot-firee from under the guns of the 
Dida 

This was an eventful day for Mr Brooke. It was the 
first time that the natives could understand that true 
Englishmen are rarely abandoned by the force that above 
all others is the visible sign of the power of England. 
The Dido was a beautiful 18-gun corvette, in splendid 
order; and when she first anchored in the Stu^wak river 
below the town, her tapering masts overtopping the tallest 
jungle-trees, her crowds of white-dressed sailors running 
up the rigging, her 32-pounders booming forth a salute, 
were enough to strike the coolest native with awe, and 
to drive wild with excitement the warmest well-wishers 
of Mr Brooke's success. It was a beautiful sight, the 
whole river covered with boats and prahtis of every 
description, draped out with gay flags, crowded with 
half the population in gala costume. Every old musket 
^as brought into requisition, guns were fired, muskets 
were discharged, gongs were beaten, and an everlasting 
dinning was kept up. Presently Mr Brooke landed with 

^ Generally spelled ** Morotabas.'' 



n 



76 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. 

all the honour of a governor, under another salute of the 
heavy guns, which awoke the echoes in many a surround- 
ing mountain, and no doubt made many a Dyak heart 
jump, as the roar of these guns must have appeared to him 
worthy of a combat of the gods. 

Captain Keppel visited Muda Hassim in state, and no 
ceremony was left undone which might please the royal 
prince, and cement his growing friendship for the English. 
He soon returned the visit> and was evidently astonished 
with what he saw, as previously nothing had entered the 
Sarawak river but the Boyalist and a few small trading 
vessels from Singapore. Here was order, cleanliness, and 
power, and this he felt. 

Captain Keppel, in his ' Voyage of the Dido,* has given 
us a very good account of the house in which Mr Brooke 
lived in 1843, and of which I have already given Mr 
Brooke's description, though the engraving in that work 
representing a Sarawak house was really that of Pangeran 
Makota. Captain Eeppel says that Mr Brooke's residence, 
although equally rude in structure with the abodes of the 
natives, was not without its English comforts of sofas, 
chairs, and bedsteads. It was larger than any other house 
in the place, but like them was built on Nibong piles, and 
to enter it, it was necessary to make use of a ladder. The 
house consisted of but one floor : a large room in the centre, 
neatly ornamented with every description of firearms, in 
admirable order and ready for use, served as an audience- 
hall and mess-room, and the various apartments around it 
as bedrooms, most of them comfortably furnished, with 
matted floors, easy-chjdrs, pictures, and books, with much 
more tetste and attention to comfort than bachelors usually 
display. But the fact is, you could never enter any place 
where Mr Brooke hcwi passed a few days without being 
struck by the artistic arrangement of everything : his good 
taste was shown even in trifles, though comfort was never 



\ 



IMS.] DINNER AT MR BROOKEfS. 77 

sacrificed to show. The house was surrounded by pali- 
sades and a ditch, forming an enclosure, in which were to 
be found sheep, goats, pigeons, cats, poultry, geese, ducks, 
monkeys, dogs, and occasionally a cow or two. 

Then, as later, the great hour of meeting was sunset, . 

when, aflier the preliminary cold bath to brace the nerves \; 

relaxed by the heat of the day, all the party met to dine. ' 

When Captain Keppel was at Kuching, all the officers of 

the Dido were welcome, and many a merry evening was 

passed at Mr Brooke's house. I have often heard Mr 

Brooke speak of that glorious time : then the future was 

all hope — ^no disappointments had soured the mind, and 

the cheerfulness of the host was sympathetic. I have 

never met any one who in his playful mood was more 

charming at a dinner-party : he told a story well, he was 

animated in discussion, fertile in resource, and when beaten 

in argument would shift his ground with great dexterity, 

and keep up the discussion, to the entertainment and 

admiration of us alL An appreciative observer once 

wrote : " The Bajah certainly has a most uncommon gift 

of fluency of language Every subject he touches derives 

an additional interest from his mode of discussing it, and 

his ideas are so original that to hear him speak is like 

opening out a new world before one. His views about 

Saraws^ are so grand that it is with real pain one thinks 

how very little has been done to aid him in his noble 

efforta" Captain Keppel was also a capital story-teller, so 

that between the two, with occasional assistance from 

others, the time never lagged, and it was often well on 

in the small hours before the party broke up. 

Already the custom of the natives coming in during 
and after dinner was observed. The house was open to 
all— rich or poor, Malay, Dyak, or Chinese, any were wel- 
come. Often a very poor man would creep in, take up his 
position in the most obscure comer, and there remain 



78 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP- iv. 

silent but attentive to all that passed. There he would 
wait till every other native had left, neither addressing Mr 
Brooke nor being addressed by him, but when the coast 
was clear the Governor would call him to his side and 
gently worm his story from him. Generally it was some 
tale of oppression, some request for aid. None of these 
stories were forgotten : in the morning careful but cautious 
inquiries were made as to their truth, and rarely was it 
found that the suppliant had attempted to deceive wil- 
fully. Eedress or aid soon followed ; and the custom was 
kept up, and should have been kept up to this day, but the 
presence of ladies and the advancement of civilised ways 
of governing have made those who have at various times 
acted for Mr Brooke during his absence and since his death 
neglect a custom, not without its inconveniences, but pro- 
ductive of much good, not only to the poorer natives, but 
to the governors, as a hint may be then thrown out of con- 
spiracy or of danger which a Malay or Dyak would never 
dare give but under the shelter of night, and when almost 
alone with the white man. 

But gaiety did not absorb the tima Captain Keppel 
had come with the firm determination to attack both the 
Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks, and put an end to their 
piracies ; but sudden orders for China forced him to content 
himself with giving one blow, and Seribas was selected to 
receive it. Captain Keppel had heard much of their pira- 
cies before he reached the coast of Borneo, but here he 
was indeed surprised at the extent to which it was carried, 
and at the horrors that were almost daily enacted, as it was 
rare that during the fine season one or two squadrons were 
not foraging for heads, slaves, and plunder. 

To imderstand the operations now about to be described 
the map should be examined, and it will be readily per- 
ceived that in the deep bight lying between Datu and 
Serikei Points, are the rivers Batang Lupar and Seribas. 



1843.] THE SEKIBAS. 79 

These were the districts occupied by the two marauding 
tribes, who had even pushed their way down to the banks 
of the next great river, the Rejang, and occupied the 
Eanawit and Eatibas branches. The Seribas is a fine- 
looking river, and is navigable for a considerable distance ; 
but the tides are rapid, and near the town of Boling there 
commences a " bore " that is exceedingly dangerous. The 
first of the flood-tide comes up with great force, and when 
it meets a narrowing river and sandy shallows it rises 
Uke a foaming wall from bank to bank, and upsets what- 
ever boat or prahu it may meet in its impetuous passage, 
unless these are in deep water or sheltered in regular 
anchorages; and the crews, when such accidents occur, 
are generally drowned. 

The Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks are of the same tribe 
and speak the same language, and in 1843 they were under 
the influence of Malay chiefs and Arab adventurers, who 
had first taught them piracy and encouraged them to fre- 
quent the seas for plunder and slaves. At first the Dyaks 
were contented with the heads taken during the expedition 
as their share, but now they had become the real masters, 
and only shared the plunder when Malays accompanied 
the expedition with guns and musketry. 

It was soon known that a force was preparing to attack 
the pirates in their stronghold, and every eflbrt was made 
by them to perfect their defences. Their forts were 
strengthened, booms were placed across the river, and 
lofty trees were partially cut through, so that when the 
supporting ratan ropes were severed they would fall 
athwart the stream and stop the progress of the attacking 
force. 

Mada Hassim having officially called upon Captain 
Keppel to put a stop to the piracies of the inhabitants of 
the Seribas and Sakarang, preparations were made for the 
expedition. Mr Brooke determined to accompany the 



80 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. IV. 

boats of the Dido with as large a force of natives as he 
could collect. At first all hung back, and his native 
chiefs entreated him not to go. The Seribas were so great 
a terror to them that they thought them invincible, but, 
seeing Mr Brooke determined, they gave in and com- 
menced fitting out their war-boats. 

While these preparations were going on, Mr Brooke was 
fortunate enough to get rid of Pangeran Makota. Though 
ordered to leave in January, he was found in May still 
getting ready, but the sight of the Dido was enough for 
him. He instantly packed up and disappeared with his 
people, going off to join Sirib Sahib of Sadong, the 
greatest instigator of piracy on the coast. 

It is strange, but true as it is strange, that those who 
have attacked the policy pursued of putting down the 
piratical communities of Seribas and Sakarang have rarely 
found fault with Captain KeppeFs proceedings, but have 
reserved their censure for those of Captain Farquhar. I 
will follow their example, and reserve my account of the 
conduct of these tribes until I have to treat of the afiairs 
of the year 1849, when the "great battle'' of Batang 
Marau was fought. 

The force which left Sarawak during the first week of 
July 1843 was a large one. It consisted of the pinnace, 
cutters, and gig of the Dido ; a native-built boat called 
the Jolly Bachelor, manned by thirty Didos ; and a vessel 
laden with stores and ammunition. 

The native force consisted of about 300 Malays and 
400 Dyaks, all thirsting for revenge, but considering the 
expedition as almost desperate. As the mosquito fleet 
ascended the Seribas, it passed, on the right bank, first 
the Eembas branch, and then the Paku, up each of which 
there were fortified towns, which it was their intention 
to destroy later. Padi, the furthest inland town, was 
now the object of attack. The boats brought up at Boling 



1848.] A PIRATE TOWN ATTACKED. 81 

the first night — ^a deep bend where the dreaded "bore" 
has but little effect, though the tide runs with great force. 
During the night no enemy came to disturb them ; but 
the distant beating of gongs, and the occasional discharge 
of ordnance, served two purposes : it kept up their own 
courage, and might intimidate the enemy. Next morning 
Ae force advanced with the flood-tide: the beating of gongs, 
the yeUs of thousands of Dyaks in the woods, heralded the 
approach to the scene of action. Mr Brooke was with 
Captain Keppel at the head of the force; and as they 
were swept up the river by a strong flood-tide, it was 
indeed an exciting scene. Presently they came upon a 
cleared hill, with a fortified house on the summit, upon 
which dozens of men were performing a most awe-inspiring 
war-dance. As they neared, however, hundreds of war- 
riors sprang up from the long grass, and rushed down upon 
what seemed an easy prey ; but after giving them a couple 
of shots, the boat swept past them. An instant after, 
the report of a heavy gun showed that the pinnace was 
near. On they went, and in a few moments found them- 
selves opposite a strong boom, with a very narrow open- 
ing in it For this. Captain Keppel had steered his gig : 
and the speed at which they went enabled them to squeeze 
through, and to find themselves in front of three formidable- 
looking forts, which instantly opened fire on the little gig. 
Fortunately the guns were laid for the boom, and the shots 
went over their heads ; but hundreds of warriors rushed 
down to the banks, and hurled their heavy javelins at the 
daring strangers. The pinnace was now thrown up against 
the barrier, and all the other boats were stopped ; but the 
natives, with their sharp - cutting parangs or choppers, 
soon severed the fastenings, and the boats got through 
and opened fire on the enemy with both grape, canister, 
and musketry. -While the pinnace used her 12-pounders, 
the others dashed on, and the blue-J£u>kets, under their 

F 



82 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BEOOKE. [cHAP. iv. 

gallant officers, sprang ashore, and rushed at the nearest 
fort This method of warfare was so new, so unexpected, 
that the garrison, without for a moment considering their 
superior numbers, or the strong position they held, fled 
panic-stricken into the jungle, and the fort in a few min- 
utes was in the hands of the Didos. After this stockade 
had fallen there was little further resistance, and the na- 
tive force dashed on for the town, and after having plun- 
dered it, burnt it, as well as all the surrounding villages. 
Next day parties ascended both branches of the river to 
complete the work ; but finding that the left-hand branch 
was the most encumbered with obstructions, a strong 
party was sent up this. The Seribas Malays and Dyaks 
determined to make a last effort, and to endeavour to de- 
stroy this detached party. As night closed, an attack was 
made on the boats from all sides, particularly from a slop- 
ing bank, where the pirates could wade to within a few 
yards of the invaders ; but the pinnace's heavy gun, and 
the steady musketry-fire, proved so destructive, that they 
were forced to beat a retreat. There was no sleep for any 
one that night : the rain poured down, but the marines 
had to stand sentry through it all ; and the big gun had 
constantly to be used to stop the work of obstructing the 
river. A simple signal-rocket having been fired, however, 
the enemy retired before what they did not understand, 
and left the English at peace. 

Next morning preparations were made to continue the 
advance, when a white flag was seen to be hoisted by the 
enemy, and in a few minutes a truce was established. 
The chiefs came down ; and after Mr Brooke had fully 
explained to them the causes which had led to the attack, 
called upon them to give up piracy, and take to honest 
trading. This they promised to do, but they pointed out 
that, unless the same punishment was inflicted on the 
two other towns, they could not prevent pirate squadrons 



1843.] DEFEAT OP THE SERIBAS. 83 

from leaving the river, while they were assured that the 
compact would not be neglected by the English. During 
the previous skirmishes, there had arrived reinforce- 
ments in the shape of about 1000 Balow warriors — brave 
Dyaks, from the Lingga branch of the Batang Lupar — 
who, though of the same tribe originally as the pirates, 
had never joined in piratical acts. These men had suf- 
fered so much from the Seribas that they did not miss 
this occasion to retaliate, and the country was laid waste 
for miles around — a most just and necessary measure, and 
the only way to put an end to piracy when it is encouraged 
and fostered by a whole people. Let them feel in their 
own homes the misery they so often inflict on others. 
The Padi forces were estimated at 500 Malays and 6000 
Dyaks, brave against native enemies, but incapable of 
opposing any disciplined force. 

The English and native forces now dropped down the 
river, and soon found themselves at Boling, where the 
store -vessel was anchored. She had received and re- 
turned a few shots, but no serious movement had been 
made against her. 

Then followed attacks on the pirate settlements of Paku 
and Bembas. There was little resistance, as the defenders, 
both Malay and Dyak, had been cowed by the defeat and 
destruction of their allies at Padi. It is worth while, 
however, mentioning that at Kembeis there was found a 
vessel 92 feet in length, and of 14 feet beam, capable of 
carrying several guns, and a crew of 150 men. The in- 
habitants of these places soon hoisted flags of truce, and 
the chiefs agreed to proceed to Sarawak to arrange the 
terms of future peace. The chastisement they received 
was enough to discourage them for the moment — and even 
for a few years they ceased sending fleets to sea ; but the 
spirit of piracy was too ingrained in them to be driven 
out by one lesson. 



84 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. 

Sakarang was the next point of attack ; but when Cap- 
tain Keppel reached the Dido he found imperative orders 
for China, so that expedition had to be put oflf. On their 
arrival at Kuching, they were treated as conquering heroes ; 
and, to the native mind, their achievements merited that 
honour — for in the space of a fortnight they had done 
what, for fifty years, the whole power of the Sultan had- 
failed to do, — they had bruised the head of piracy as rep- 
resented by the Seribas, and the other black sheep trem- 
blingly waited their turn. 

Twelve months elapsed before Captain Keppel could 
return a second time to the coast, and during that year 
many interesting events occurred. No sooner had the 
Dido left than the Samarang, commanded by Sir Edward 
Belcher, arrived. This visit was strictly an official one, 
and was as useless as such visits usually are. What can 
the most acute naval officer in the world understand of a 
country during a few days' or weeks' visit ? He can de- 
scribe more or less accurately its outward appearance ; 
but to imderstand its internal politics is not possible in 
the time. And yet on such comparatively valueless re- 
ports the British Government relies in a majority of cases. 
Mr Brooke suffered more than any other pioneer of civil- 
isation from this system. 

Mr Brooke explained everything fully to Sir Edward, 
showed him the country, and pointed out to him the 
favourable and the unfavourable side of the question. 
After a short sojourn at Sarawak, Sir Edward invited 
Mr Brooke to accompany him to Brunei, where he wished 
to inspect the coal ; but in descending the river the Sama- 
rang grounded on a rocky bank, and when the ebb came, 
fell over on her side and filled. This, in some respects, 
was a fortunate circumstance for Mr Brooke: it drew 
the attention of the Admiral to Borneo ; and Mr Brooke 
was enabled to aid so materially in the recovery of the 



1843.] SECOND VISIT TO BRUNEI. 85 

vessel as to merit tlie official thanks of that chie£ The 
recovery of the vessel was a triumph of naval skill, which 
reflected the greatest credit on the captain, officers, and all 
concerned. 

Among the young officers on board was a midshipman 
named Brereton, a bright intelligent lad, who afterwards 
joined the Eajah in his arduous task of governing the sea 
Dyaks. 

In August Mr Brooke proceeded to Brunei in the 
Samarang, that vessel having been recovered in the 
short period of eleven days. A squadron — sent to her 
aid, but arriving too late — ^was with them, consisting of 
H.M.SS. Harlequin, Wanderer, Vixen (steamer), and 
Diana, with the Soyalist, and a merchant vessel, the 
ArieL Never had such a squadron appeared in Sarawak 
waters. 

I cannot help noticing here what false notions are given 
of countries by the imaginative pens of young travellers. 
One of the officers, in describing the kind way in which 
Mr Brooke housed the shipwrecked, speaks of the nightly 
visits of wild hogs, porcupines, wild cats, guanas, and 
various other animals, not to speak of swarms of mosqui- 
toes, scorpions, lizards, and centipedes, that failed not to 
disturb them with their onslaughts during the whole night. 
All this is pure imagination. A wild hog might come near 
the house, and so might a guana. During thirteen years 
in Borneo, I saw two guanas near a house, once a wild 
hog, never a porcupine or wild cat. Scorpions and centi- 
pedes were almost equally rare, except among old wood ; 
while the lizards are of the smallest and most harmless 
description. So much for travellers' tales 

During this visit to the Sultan, his Highness confirmed 
his grant of Sarawak to Mr Brooke, and, in addition to the 
previous stipulations, ^ve hi m the powe r of n aming his 
heir in the government. As this concession was possibly 



86 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. 

due to the presence in the river of a British squadron, Mr 
Brooke, with great delicacy, considered that H.M.'s Govern- 
ment was now entitled to the refusal of the country. Mr 
Brooke soon returned to Sarawak and passed three months 
of quiet there, necessary to him, as he had been living al- 
most in public for the last five months. No man enjoyed 
those periods of rest more than he. After having carried 
on active operations, after having passed through a round 
of entertainments — receiving every day a dozen officers at 
dinner — ^he rejoiced in repose, when he could enjoy his 
books, his writings, and meet his people, and carry on the 
government in a quiet, unpretending manner. Besides, 
after so much suspense, the almost inevitable fever and 
ague followed, and he thought it better to make a short 
voyage to Singapore, where he hoped to meet Sir William 
Parker, the Admiral, who then commanded the station, and 
explain to him the position of affairs in Borneo. But on 
his arrival there he found that the Admiral had left for 
Penang, and he received at the same time the news of the 
death of his mother. This was a great affliction, for not 
only had he the greatest love for her, but she was one of 
the few who thoroughly understood her shy, sensitive boy, 
and who urged him on in his careerjof use fulness. To the 
last hour of his life he ever spoke of her with that tender 
affection which was one of the most winning points in his 
character. 

Mr Brooke followed the Admiral to Penang, and arrived 
about the time that an expedition was preparing to punish 
the piratical towns on the coast of Sumatra. These towns 
were nominally under the sway of the Sultan of Achin, 
but in reality were independent; in fact, the coast of 
Sumatra was, like the coast of Borneo, a series of nests 
of pirates. Mr Brooke, finding that his services would be 
highly appreciated, offered to accompany the expedition, 
as a knowledge of Malay and an acquaintance with the 



1848.] EXPEDITION TO ACHIN. 87 

court life of Asiatics were unknown accomplisliments in 
the fleet^ 

H.M.SS. Harlequin and Wanderer, with the steamer 
Diana, were. told oflf to punish the pirates of Batu and 
Murdu ; but first of all they set sail for Achin, to meet 
the nominal suzerain of these districts. Achin is a decay- 
ing empire, but the late war with the Dutch shows that 
courage is not wanting. As the Sultan could do nothing 
to punish the pirates, the squadron sailed for Batu, and 
all satisfaction being refused the town was burned. At 
Murdu greater preparations were made for defence, and 
various stockades were erected to repel the invadera The 
last crime committed by the people of Murdu was to 
seize a merchant vessel, pillage the cargo, and murder a 
portion of the crew. It was intended to land a party 
above the stockades, but a very strong tide carried 
some of the boats past the landing-place, among others 
the gig in which Mr Brooke was a passenger. It was 
swept right under a stockade full of Malays, who instantly 
opened fire on the English. There was nothing to be done 
but spring on shore and dash for the defence, and try and 
shoot down every one who showed himself. The Malays 
resisted with vigour, and Mr Brooke soon found himself 
among the wounded : a shot struck him inside the right 
arm, and as he approached the stockade, a spear was 
jobbed over, which caught him on the eyebrow, and cut 
through to the bone. The rush of blood firom the wound 
blinded him and made him look a ghastly object, and 
gave the idea of a much more serious injury. The blood 
streamed over his face and clothes, and almost closed his 
eyes. The action was kept up for about five hours, the 

x^iss Jacob, desirous to give her hero every accomplishment, speaks of 
the facility with which Mr Brooke picked up native langnages, including 
the Lanon. In reality, however, Mr Brooke never spoke but one native 
language — the Malay — but that, though acquired slowly and laboriously, 
he ipoke well ; and in court Malay he had no equal among the Europeans. 



88 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iv. 

resistance being obstinate ; but ultimately discipline pre- 
vailed over irregular valour, the town was taken and 
destroyed, the enemy losing heavily, while the English 
had two killed and twelve severely wounded. Among the 
latter was Lieutenant Chads, who, dashing ahead, found 
himself face to face with a Malay chie^ who boldly ad- 
vanced to the combat They both struck together: the 
Am, with the edge of a razor, nearly cut through the left 
arm raised instinctively to guard the blow, and inflicted 
a severe wound on the body ; while the cutlass did not 
penetrate the silk jacket. Before, however, the Malay 
could finish his work, a ball from a marine's musket laid 
him low. It is a curious circumstance that Lieutenant 
Chads was considered one of the best single-stick players 
in the fleet, and yet, in actual combat, he forgot his sword 
exercise, and cut instead of parrying. Single-stick exercise 
is generally of little use, as players seldom strike homa 

The battle of Murdu took place on the 12th of February 
1844, and Mr Broo ke's gal lantry was so appreciated by 
the blue-jackets that they asked permission to give him a 
parting cheer when he left the Wanderer ; and this they 
did right heartily, manning the rigging as he went over 
the sida On their return to Penang, Mr Brooke met the 
Admiral and his friend Keppel, and was delighted to hear 
that the Dido was to be sent again to the coast of Borbeo. 
Sir William Parker had highly approved the conduct of 
Keppel and his dashing achievements on that coast, and 
wished him to complete the work. Sir WiUiam was most 
kind to Mr Brooke, and fuUy appreciated the enlightened 
views which he laid before him for the development of Bri- 
tish influence and commerce in the Eastern Archipelago : 
but these views are unappreciated by the public still, and 
particularly by statesmen and politicians, though the gov- 
ernors of Singapore have commenced a new system which 
is likely to awaken from its torpor the fruitful peninsula 



1844.] HIS NEW HOUSE. 89 

of Malacca. The British Government usually leaves to 
its agents the initiation of a new policy, and its agents 
are in general afraid to undertake the responsibility. 

Mr Brooke remained in Singapore awaiting the arrival 
of Eeppel and the Dido till the end of May, but finding 
when she came in that she was carrying treasure to China, 
he left in the Harlequin for his home. Captain Hastings 
was in command. They found a large pirate force on the 
coast At the time, Mr Brooke was disappointed that 
nothing was done to destroy this fleet ; but even had the 
boats of the Harlequin been a match for the enemy, such 
an engagement would not have had the moral effect which 
arises from the destruction of the strongholds of the pirates, 
who, after months of preparation, reckoned confidently on 
repulsing any attack. 

Mr Brooke, after six months* absence from Sarawak, 
arrived to find all prospering : there had been no serious 
crime committed, no attack had been made on his people, 
trade was increasing, and now he could write — " I like 
couches, and flowers, and easy -chairs, and newspapers, 
and clear streams, and sunny walks." All these he had 
in the new house which he had built on the left bank 
of the Sarawak river, on a rising knoU between two run- 
ning streams, with the broad river flowing below. It was 
a pretty spot. A four-roomed, lofty house, surrounded by 
broad verandas ; in front his well-stocked library, a splen- 
did hall or dining-room, with a couple of bedrooms behind 
them. When I knew it, a special wing had been added 
for Mr Brooke's own use, and the rest was given up to 
his followers. Around the house was the thick foliage 
of fruit-trees, with lawns and paths bordered by jasmiue 
plants and the Sundal Malam, that only gives out its fra- 
grant perfume during the night. Pigeon-houses, kitchens, 
and servants' rooms were partly hidden by trees, and here 
and there were planted and tended with uncommon care 



90 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. 

some rose plants, Mr Brooke's favourite flower. "All 
breathes of peace and repose, and the very mid-day heat 
adds to the stillness around me. I love to allow my 
imagination to wander, and my senses to enjoy such a 
scene, for it is attended with a pleasing consciousness that 
the quiet and the peace are my own doing." 

While in the full enjoyment of this repose, he was 
rudely awakened by the news that the piratical Dyaks 
had attacked and killed a couple of his people. In- 
stantly, with his usual energy, he called out his war- 
riors, manned his war-boats, and started off in pursuit, 
and was fortunate enough to inflict some loss on his 
savage enemy. " Oh for Keppel ! " was his constant cry, 
and he could not but spur the willing horse. 

At length, on the evening of the 29th July, the Dido 
anchored in the Morotabas entrance of the Sarawak river, 
and found there the Phlegethon steamer, that had been 
sent on ahead to await her arrival. At daylight on the 
30th Keppel arrived at Kuching, to receive a welcome 
such as so appreciative an oflScer deserved. 

As everything had been prepared for his arrival, the 
expedition was ready to start on 5th August, and this 
was a more formidable one than the last, when fear of 
the pimtes caused many to hesitate and hang back. 
Even Pangeran Bedrudin had insisted upon accompany- 
ing his friend, and Muda Hassim had given his consent, 
for all had confidence in the "Eed-haired Devil,'* — for by 
that euphonious name was Henry Keppel called by friend 
and enemy. 

The Batang Lupar river, into which the Sakarang flows, 
was to be the scene of the new expedition. Its entrance 
is marked by two hills, one on either bank, with the 
island of Trisan in the centre. It is a broad, noble-looking 
stream, being from three to four miles wide for the first 
six leagues; but the land is low, and there is nothing 



1M4.] THE PATUSAN PIRATES. 01 

Striking in the scenery. The forests are dense, and filled 
with firuit-trees, affording nourishment to herds of pigs, 
which boldly swim the stream when in search of pastures 
new. We once fell in with a drove there, which gave us an 
exciting chase ; when, in endeavouring to decapitate one 
with a cavalry sword, I nearly performed the same ofiBce 
for a too eager follower. Here also is found the Mias 
Papan or the gigantic Orang Utan,^ which is, in my 
opinion, a very different creature from the Mias Eambi 
about which Mr "Wallace writes. About twenty miles 
up the river on the left-hand bank the Lingga joins 
the great stream. This is inhabited by the numerous 
tribe of Balow Dyaks, brave, but untainted with piracy. 
There was also a village of Malays under the com- 
mand of an Arab, Sirib Jaffir, the chief who initiated 
the peace negotiations with the rebels at Siniawan in 
1840. The river still ntaintains a great breadth, but it 
is more encumbered with shoals, and soon the spot is 
reached where the bore commences, a terrible enemy to 
strangers or unskilful mariners. Passing the hill of Tisan, 
) the rapid stream carries you on to the town of Patusan, 
and then, after twenty miles' further ascent, to where the 
river divides into three — the Undup, the Sakarang, and 
the Mani, still called the Batang Lupar. Two Arab pirate 
chiefs commanded her. Sirib Sahib, formerly of Sadong, 
had retired to this river, and had strengthened the forts at 
\ Patusan, until he believed them impregnable; and Sirib 
Mulla had a position further in the interior. Makota, 
or the Serpent, had established himself as Sahib's chief 
adviser; and, secure in the difficulties of the river, the 
strength of their fortifications, and their numerical supe- 
riority, these men awaited the attack of the English. 
) I have often been up the Batang Lupar river, and shall 
never foi^t the fearful velocity of its current, when at 

1 In Malay, " Man of the forest." 



92 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iv. 

new or full moon the hore is at its height. And this was 
the place that, with the steamer Phlegethon, the boats of 
the Dido, and the native squadron, Keppel determined to 
attack. The unknown was the greatest element of danger, 
as Borneon pilots were not accustomed to handle steamers. 
The expedition moved up the river, and when off the 
mouth of the Lingga, directions were sent to Sirib Jaffir 
not in any way to support or countenance the pirates. 
It then moved on and anchored a short distance below 
Patusan, Sirib Sahib's stronghold. Next morning, with a 
slashing stream, the force moved up the river, and soon 
came in sight of the enemy's forts, that opened fire 
immediately on the coming foe. The Phlegethon's anchor 
was let go, the boats formed in line, and a rush was made 
for the nearest defences. The forts continued their fire 
until the blue-jackets and marines were at the embrasures, 
and then the garrison broke and fled, not understanding 
this peculiar mode of fighting. In a few minutes the 
enemy were driven out of all their stockades, and the 
whole town was in the possession of the combined forces, 
as this time the Sarawak men were but little behind their 
white allies. The town proved extensive, and nearly all 
newly built, as it had been made the rendezvous of the 
neighbouring pirates, when Sirib Sahib, no longer feeling 
himself safe at*Sadong, left that place for a stronger. At 
Patusan there is a small river, the Grahu, up which Ma- 
kota had established his village. He was not forgotten : 
in fact, three days were spent in destroying every vestige 
of dwelling, embarking sixty brass guns, and throwing 
a large number of iron ones into the river. Thus the 
rendezvous of the worst pirates established near Sarawak 
was destroyed with the loss of but one killed and a few 
wounded. 

There were stiU three other communities to punish, — 
the Sakarang, the Undup, and the Batang Lupar. The last 



1S44.] DISASTER TO THE SPY-BOAT. 93 

two attacks were but repetitions of previous ones : trees 
cot and dropped across the river to arrest progress, firing 
from the banks, dreadful yells, followed as usual by defeat, 
destruction of forts and villages, and the dispersion of the 
pirates. In the attack on the Undup, the first lieutenant 
(Wade) of the Dido was killed, from rashly rushing ahead 
of his men. Keppel in vain warned him, but as the 
two were 100 yards ahead of the others, it would seem 
that the commander did not practise the caution that he 
preached. 

During the attack on the Sakarang, the Dyaks showed 
much skill in defending the approaches to their capital, 
and one of their stratagems, which caused the attacking 
party considerable loss, is worth recording. 

After proceeding a certain distance up the river, the 
flotilla either anchored or the boats were fastened to the 
banks of the stream, and all hands were piped to break- 
fiat While Captain Keppel and Mr Brooke were thus 
engaged, Patinggi Ali, the most daring of the Sarawak 
chiefs, asked permission to go ahead with the fast spy- 
boat to reconnoitre. He was permitted to do so, but 
strict directions were given that at the least sign of 
the enemy he was to return and report. Unfortunately, 
a Mr Stewart, a young merchant, who had volunteered to 
accompany the expedition, found means. to conceal him- 
self mider the mats in the spy-boat, and passed on with 
the rest It is supposed, and it is highly probable, that 
being imacquainted with native warfare, he urged on 
the brave but usually cautious Patinggi Ali to proceed 
further from his supports than prudence warranted. The 
spy-boat proceeded onward until the river narrowed, and 
the confined stream came down with a swift current 
which slackened the speed of the advancing party. No 
enemy was seen, no yell heard : this ought to have warned 
them that some ambuscade was prepared The moment 



94 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iv. 

the Sarawak party was well in the narrows, loud shouts 
and yells arose on all sides, and at the same instant 
bamboo rafts were thrown across the stream to cut oflf 
retreat, and six large war bangkongs came sweeping round 
the point, and closed on the doomed party. The spy-boat 
had no chance, — the crew could only sell their lives as 
dearly as possible. As their boat sank under them, Mr 
Stewart and Patinggi Ali endeavoured to board the nearest 
of the enemy's boats, but they were soon overpowered and 
their heads secured. On the first shot being fired, and the 
diabolical yell heard, Keppel pushed oflf in his gig, and soon 
came upon a mass of confusion, — rafts, boats, war bang- 
kongs, all pell-mell together ; the Sarawak Malays in re- 
duced numbers still defending themselves, and fighting 
single combats on the rafts ; enemies and friends mixed so 
together that it was impossible for the English to fire. At 
last a raft caught a snag in the river, which made an open- 
ing through which Keppel pushed his gig, and giving the 
helm to Mr Brooke, he opened a rapid fire on the enemy. 
Seeing only half-a-dozen whites on their side of the con- 
fused mass, the Dyaks rushed down to the banks to 
secure their prize ; but the steady fire kept up at so short 
a range disconcerted them, and soon another English boat 
came up, and the rockets dispersed the enemy who 
crowded the banks. The entire force was soon on the 
ground, and the Dyaks fled in all directions, after incur- 
ring very heavy loss. The attacking party had also suf- 
fered: the killed amounted to twenty-nine, and the wounded 
to about sixty. No further serious resistance was offered 
to the advance ; and shortly after, the flames and smoke 
issuing from near the banks told all the country round 
that the Sakarang capital had been reached by the invin- 
cible invaders, and that the " Eed-haired Devil " had in- 
flicted a severe lesson on its piratical inhabitants. The 
deaths of Lieut. Wade, Mr Stewart, and Patinggi Ali, were 



1844.] MUD A HASSIM's DEPARTURE. 95 

greatly regretted, as each in his own manner had nobly 
distingnished himself. 

The expedition now returned to Sarawak, meeting on 
its way the boats of H.M.S. Samarang, which had come 
to help, but waa too late to join in the attack. No sooner, 
however, had the force reached Kuching, when news ar- 
rived that Sirib Sahib had fled to the inner waters of the 
lingga branch of the Batang Lupar, and that, with the 
assistance of his brother, Sirib Jaffir was rallying his 
forces. With his usual energy, Captain Keppel imme- 
diately returned to lingga, and the boats of the Dido 
and Samarang proceeded in search of the enemy. This 
energy was too much for the late fugitives from Fatusan : 
they fled in all directions, Sirib Sahib taking refuge over 
the mountains in the Dutch tributary states. 

To complete the work, Jaffir was deposed from the 
government of Lingga, and new authorities named in his 
place. Thus these three Arab adventurers disappeared 
from the scene, and almost ceased hereafter to exercise 
any influence. Makota was also taken prisoner, but was 
allowed to go free : far better would it have been, how- 
ever, for the inhabitants of north-western Borneo, had 
Mr Brooke suffered Muda Hassim to punish his crimes 
with death. 

It is important to notice that when these proceedings 
were brought before the High Court of Admiralty in 
England, the Sakarangs were declared to be pirates. 

The Dido and Samarang soon left — the former for Eng- 
land; while the latter, after visiting Singapore, returned 
with the Phlegethon to remove Muda Hassim and his 
family to Brunei, and to search for a white woman said 
to be held captive at Ambong, a pretty bay to the north 
of Brunei 

The families of Muda Hassim and his brothers were 
with the greatest precaution removed from the houses 



96 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. iv. 

to the steamer. Screens were put up, each woman well 
wrapped up, and covered with cloths, so that no indecent 
eye should be able to view her charms. To render the 
operation more secure, midnight was chosen, when the dull 
light of the torches showed little more than that bundles 
of dirty linen were being carried below. As a rule the 
female relatives of the royal family are not more worth 
looking at than the ugly men. Sir Edward Belcher thought 
that by the light of the torches he could detect sorae 
fair women among them, but the fairest are of a light 
yellow, — a sickly yellow, obtained from living in darkened 
rooms and being never exposed to the sun ; a sickly 
yellow, like the leaves of plants which have never been 
exposed to the light of day. The poor women, who with 
their slaves might be numbered by dozens, were crowded 
into the small cabins below, and were suffocated by the 
heat, and one died during the voyage from the effect of 
the vitiated atmosphere, and all were covered with rash. 
Yet Muda Hassim would not permit them to come on 
deck, even under the protection of screens. It was an 
absurd jealousy, as from his own experience he might 
have known that none of his precautions would render 
his women faithful : on the contrary, enough was seen 
on board the Phlegethon to show that the harem system 
was an absurdity. 

I have seen many of the young women belonging to 
the royal family, and my own experience confirms that 
of Mr Brooke. They are generally broad-faced and ugly, 
though their manners are pleasing and gentle, A favour- 
ite pastime among them is to go on picnics, and when 
they passed any house in covered boats, the women would 
pull down the mats to have a good look at the stranger ; 
and after I had built the Consulate-General at Brunei, 
there was quite a movement among the wives and daugh- 
ters of the Bajahs to inspect the imposing building, and 



\ 






1844.] . BRUNEI. 97 

see the wonderful mirrors and other furniture supposed 
to exist there. On one occasion, notice was sent me 
that some of the Sultan's relatives were coming to inspect 
the house, and a request was made that I would send all 
the men-servants away. I oflfered to go myself as weU, 
but that was not permitted. They came, about eighteen 
in number, the elderly taking little care to conceal their 
features, and about a dozen with silk sarongs over their 
heads, showing only a bright black eye. Presently one 
of them sprang into an American rocking-chair, which 
immediately turned over. As I ran to pick up the young 
girl, the rest dropped their head-covering, as if by acci- 
dent, and came forward to help. I then had a good look 
at them all, and certainly there was not a pretty one 
among them. They were from fourteen to twenty years 
of age, almost all flat-faced, but with bright black eyes, 
and long black hair. The impression was certainly not 
favourable, and I had a fair chance of judging, as after I 
had seen them once, little trouble was taken to conceal 
their faces during the rest of the visit 

The Phlegethon started for Brunei, and the Samarang 
followed : on their arrival at the mouth of the river, they 
found the whole place in arms. The English were coming 
to seize the country, and all the batteries were manned. 
However, it was sooii known that Muda Hassim and .his 
&mily had arrived, and the hostile party were obliged 
to succumb and to receive him. His family were dis- 
embarked from the Phlegethon, to the relief of the oflScers, 
and Muda Hassim was established beside his nephew, the 
Sultan, as his chief adviser ; while his late minister, Pan- 
geran TJsup, was allowed to occupy an inferior position. 

Mr Brooke and Sir Edward both expressed their sur- 
prise that any hostilities should be dreaded from the 
^gUsh after all the late amicable intercourse ; but the 
piratical party, ignorant of the strength of the foreigner, 

G 



98 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BBOOKE. [ohap. iv. 

were longing for a rupture. Muda Hassim, however, with 
the consent of the Sultan, sent large parties down the 
river to destroy the batteries, and peace appeared to be 
established in 'the capital War squadrons then left for 
Ambong Bay to search for the lady said to be in captivity, 
but it was soon proved that no such person had ever 
been held captive there. Mr Brooke was delighted with 
the country, — in fact, there is no part of Borneo equal 
to that neighbourhood for beauty. Taking leave of Sir 
Edward, who sailed for Manilla, Mr Brooke returned in 
the Phlegethon to Sarawak. 

It was during this visit to Brunei that Mr Brooke 
obtained from the Sultan the ofifer to cede the island of 
Labuan to the British Crown ; and at the same time 
coal was found near the north-eastern point of the island. 
As I shall have much to say hereafter on the subject of 
Labuan, I will defer any description of that island until 
the period of establishing our Government there. Coal 
was also found at several places near the capital, and the 
quality was pronounced good. 



99 



CHAPTER V. 

EVENTS IN BRUNEI AND ON THE NORTH-WEST COAST — MURDER OP 
MUDA HA88IM AND HIS FAMILY — CAPTURE OF BRUNEI. 

1844-1847. 

Mr Brooke returned to Sarawak in November 1844, and 
b^an nQw to rPAlly gP Yern the country. He ha d pre- 
yious to this time been hampered hy thft prpsence of the 
MaIay"Bajah 8, but the removal of Mu da Hasgjm, and 
His insubordinate followers swept at one stroke the chief 
difficulties from Jiia path. He now remained the_QiiIy 
c hief to whom all looked up ; he had his Europeans and 
ins three Sarawak Datus to aid him, and quiet being 
restored in the interior, trade commenced to prosper. 
The Dyaks living in the surrounding countries began soon 
to send emissaries to Sarawak to discover whether it was 
true that the " son of Eui-ope was the friend of the Dyak;" 
and on their reports, hundreds of families began to move 
into Mr Brooke's territory. In two months over two 
hundred had passed the Sarawak frontiers, to the intense 
disgust of the Malay rulers, from whose tyrannical gov- 
ernments they were flying. 

On the coast, also, peace was almost established. The 
severe lessons given by the Dido had for the moment 
awed the piratical tribes, and now there were only the 
Lanuns and Balagdinis who infested the neighbouring 
seas. And even these had observed that ships of war 



100 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. 

were now more numerous on the coast, and therefore 
they themselves visited it less, as these pirates' trade is 
to plunder, not to fight. 

While enjoying this precious tranquillity, Mr Brooke 
was startled by the arrival of his agent, Mr Wise, and 
of Captain Bethune in H.M.S. Driver, which anchored 
in the Sarawak river on the 17th of February 1845, and 
brought a despatch from Lord Aberdeen appointing Mr 
Brooke confidential agent in Borneo to her Majesty, and 
directing him to proceed to Brunei^ to convey a letter 
on the subject of the suppression of piracy ; and Captain 
Bethune was authorised to select a spot on the coast 
where a British settlement could be formed. Mr Brooke 
spoke of Captain Bethune as intelligent and liberal, and 
he proved himself to be so. 

Little time was spent in Samwak, as the Driver started 
on her mission the 21st of February, and on the 24th 
anchored oflF the Brunei river, to find all quiet at the 
capital The Queen's letter was received with all honour, 
the presents were accepted with pleasure, and every one 
pretended to be delighted with the determination of her 
Majesty's Government to put down piracy. I say pre- 
tended, as the nobles felt that if piracy were effectually 
put down, slaves would be more difficult to procure, and 
they were too blind to see how their riches would increase 
by the natural development of their country. It was quite 
clear, however, that Muda Hassim could do nothing to 
put down piracy, unless backed up by our English force. 

On March 12th Mr Brooke and Captain Bethune arrived 
at Labuan to examine its capabilities, and firom thence re- 
turned to Sarawak and Singapore in order to meet the new 
Admiral, Sir Thomas Cochrane. I do not dweU on these 
journeys, as they were so similar in most respects, but 

^ It may be mentioned here that Brunei is the ** Borneo Proper " of old 
maps and voyagers. 



1845.] PANGERAN USUP. 101 

reserve details for more important expeditions. Another 
visit to Brunei convinced both Mr Brooke and Captain 
Bethune of the dangers to which Mnda Hassim and his 
party were exposed from the intrigues of Pangeran Usup, 
supported as the latter was by the piratical communities 
of the north, headed by the dreaded Sirib XJsman, an 
Arab adventurer, who had gained considerable influence 
at Maludu Bay and in the neighbouring countries, — an 
influence which was much increased by a marriage with 
one of the daughters of the Sultan of Sulu. The Sultan 
of Brunei also, who was a pirate at heart, secretly favoured 
the enemies of Muda Hassim : in fact, though this was not 
known at the time, the Malay prince was only supported 
by the traders, or the men of the district of Burong Ping^. 
Mr Brooke saw the danger to his friends, and returned to 
Singapore again to lay the whole case before the Admiral. 
Sir Thomas Cochrane now determined to act, and collect- 
ing a squadron, the largest that had ever appeared on the 
coast of Borneo, sailed for Sarawak, where after a short 
stay he proceeded to Brunei. Sir Thomas felt that there 
could be no peace on the coast until Pangeran Usup was 
driven out of the capital, and until the piratical strong- 
hold at Maludu was destroyed. Fortunately, Pangeran 
Usup held two British subjects in slavery, and had re- 
fused to give them up. Upon this the Admiral, who had 
ascended the river to the capital with H.M.S. Vixen and 
two other steamers, called upon the Brunei Government 
to punish the man who not only had committed this 
crime, but who was in constant correspondence with the 
pirates, and was encouraging them in their pursuits. 
The Sultan, awed by the fine present, pretended to be 
willing, but said that Pangeran Usup was too strong for 
him, and begged the Admiral to take his punishment 
into his own hands. Usup was sent for, but refused 
to come : he assumed a defiant attitude, loaded his guns 



102 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. v. 

and said he would resist force by force, — in fact, he 
did not believe that the English would act. There were 
three war-steamers in the river, besides the boats of the 
squadrons— enough force to capture the whole island of 
Borneo; but stiU this boasting noble would not peld, 
though during the night he removed his treasures and 
his women to a place of security, and gave out that he 
intended to surprise one of the steamers. Precautions 
were, however, taken on board the ship of war. 

Next morning a shot was fired over Pangeran Usup's 
house, which he returned by firing at the steamers. In a 
few minutes such an iron shower had fallen on the place 
as never before had been known in Borneo. Pangeran 
Usup and his followers, however, had discreetly dis- 
appeared after firing their first volley. Having thus 
energetically supported Muda Hassim's authority in 
Brunei, Sir Thomas set sail for Maludu, on the north 
coast of Borneo, to look into Sirib Usman's proceedings. 
Mr Brooke, though on board H.M.S. Agincourt, the flag- 
ship, was not actually present at the attack on Maludu, Sir 
Thomas very properly thinking that a civilian should not 
expose himself unnecessarily in such expeditions. But the 
account given of the afiair shows how severe a struggle it 
was. I have been to the spot several times, and am rather 
surprised at the comparatively small loss. The attacking 
force, under the command of Captain Talbot, consisted of 
24 boats and 550 men — blue-jackets and marines. They 
ascended the river to a spot where a strong boom pre- 
vented further progress. A treacherous attempt was made 
to take prisoners some of the leaders of the force, but this 
failing, the action began by the enemy opening fire upon 
the boats. This was returned ; but for fifty minutes the 
boom resisted all attempts, and during this time the Eng- 
lish were exposed to a very heavy fire indeed. Fortu- 
nately Malays and Sulus fire badly, or we should have 



1S45.] DESTRUCTION OF MALUDU. 103 

suffered worse. Once the boom was cut and broken, the 
boats pulled on, and in a few minutes the forts were in 
our power. We had but about twenty killed and wounded, 
but the enemy had suffered severely. Sirib Usman was 
carried away severely hurt, and soon after died : many of 
his most warlike chiefs were likewise killed, and all their 
riches were lost. The place was full of evidences of piracy 
— the spoils of many a captured European vessel In this 
action one of the officers engaged was Charles Johnson, 
the present Bajah of Sarawak, who here, for the second 
time,^ became practically acquainted with the pirates of 
Borneo. 

Among the little incidents which marked this affair, I 

may notice that a woman was found, twenty-four hours 

after the action, lying in a canoe with her arm fractured, 

unable to move, and dying for a drink of water. Playing 

about her was a little child, who was vainly seeking its 

accustomed nourishment. She was taken on board one of 

the vessels, her arm amputated, and Mr Brooke, on finding 

that she was a slave, offered to take her to Sarawak, to 

which she assented. I often saw her there coming up to 

visit her benefactor, with her little child; and although she 

quickly found a husband, she occasionally showed herself 

in order that Mr Brooke might not forget his accustomed 

largess. 

The destruction of Maludu was the greatest blow that 
had been struck at piracy, and did infinite honour to Sir 
Thomas Cochrane's judgment. The effect was great ; for 
although it afterwards became necessary to punish other 
pirate communities, no stronghold was again formed, and 
the good done was permanent. 

After the action a visit was paid to Balambangan, an 
island lying off the north of Borneo, and formerly held by 

^ Mr Johnson was present at the attack on Patusan with the Dido's 
force in 1844. 



104 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. v, 

the English. The first time we were driven out by the 
Stilus, the next it was abandoned as useless. 

The Admiral now departed with his squadron, and Mr 
Brooke and Captain Bethune left in the Cruiser to touch at 
Brunei, and from thence to Sarawak and Singapore. At 
Brunei they had the welcome intelligence of the energetic 
action of Bedrudin, Muda Hassim's favourite brother, in 
repelling an attack of Usup, and in driving him out of 
the country, forcing him to leave the capital and take 
refiige in Kimanis, a district about thirty-five miles to 
the north of Brunei When it was known that Usup 
had taken refuge there, a chop^ or order was sent by 
the Sultan to the headman to seize and put lo death the 
rebellious nobla I have listened to the chief's account 
of what occurred, and it strangely illustrates the ways of 
the natives. The Orang Kay a* of Kimanis was a very 
respectable man, who was exceedingly puzzled what to 
do. Usup had been kind to him, but if he disobeyed 
the order he would very likely sufiFer death himself oa 
the first occasion that he visited the capital Usup had 
naturally great suspicion that the Orang Kaya had re- 
ceived the order for his execution : he therefore took every 
precaution. His followers had dispersed, and there re- 
mained with him but one man, and that was his younger 
brother. When Usup slept, his brother sat by him with a 
drawn Am, or sword, in his hand ; when he bathed, similar 
precautions were taken : Usup in his turn performed the 
same office for his brother. Two or three weeks passed 
in this way, the Orang Kaya doing the honours of his 
house as if nothing had occurred, but at the same time 
keeping near him two or three strong men who were to 
take advantage of the first favourable opportunity. "It 
was here,*' said the Orang Kaya, pointing out to us the 

^ A mandate with the seal of the Saltan or ruler. 
* Orang Kaya means chief, or literally "rich man." 



f 



m] EXECUTION? OF PANGERAN USUP.. 105 

steep steps that led to the stream, '^ that I at last seized 
them. Usup was batlung ; his brother sat at the head of 
the steps, kris in hand ; my followers and I sat near chew- 
ing our 9iri; when Usup called from below that he should 
like a little of that leaf. The brother bent forward to give 
it, and in doing so let his kris rest flat on the floor. At 
this moment I gave the signal, and my followers sprang 
upoD him and secnred him and the arms. Usup would 
have fled, but it -was useless : my men rushed down the 
steps and secured him. They were taken into an inner 
loom, and there strangled with all the respect due to their 
relationship to the Sultan. Usup bitterly reproached me 
with my ingratitude and treachery, but I could not but 
obey the orders of my sovereign. There is his grave," 
added he, pointing to a neighbouring low hill, where a 
stone marked the spot of Usup's last resting-place.^ 

Pangeran TJsup was an able man, but unfortunately 
could not read the signs of the times: he thought the 
English were but birds of passage, and knew nothing 
of our power. Had he frankly accepted our advent, his 
ability might have been of singular service in a country 
where ability is rare. Mr Brooke returned to Sarawak, 
and Captain Bethune, after another tour among the Dy- 
aks, departed for England in order to lay his report on 
tlie north-west coast of Borneo before the British Gov- 
eimnent 

A little before this time an American frigate had visited 
Brunei, and had endeavoured to secure a cession of the 
coal, offering in return to protect the Government This 
Midueed Mr Brooke to compare the energy of the Amer- 
icans with our own slow proceedings. But a Uttle reflec- 
tion would have shown him that the captain of the frigate 
wanted to get the cession, and that the subsequent protec- 

I There were variotis versions of this story, though differing only in 
iBuior details. I think the one I now give is perhaps the most correct 



L 



106 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. 

tion would have been nominal, 'as the United States had 
only one vessel in those seas, and nothing but a force con- 
stantly in or very near the capital could have saved Muda 
Hassim's Government 

The rest of this year was passed in peace. An attempt 
made by some Arab adventurers to lead a Sakarang fleet 
to sea was defeated by the bravery of the Bolings, who 
surprised them ; and the pirates, thinking that these Dyaks 
were but the advance-guard of the Sarawak force, fled, 
leaving eighteen war prahus in the hands of the brave 
warriors of Lingga. 

In Sarawak everything was peaceful — trade was im- 
proving ; the people, instead of being half starved, now 
began to import rice, which showed what quiet could do 
for their prosperity. Thus closed the eventful year of 
1845, during which much had been done to secure Mr 
Brooke's position. 

Before proceeding further, let us glance at those who 
now aided Mr Brooke in his attempt to govern Sara- 
wak. His chief foreign supporters were Messrs Euppell, 
Williamson, and Crookshank. Mr Buppell was. a good- 
hearted and a good-natured man, but did not understand 
administrative work : though bred to trade, he showed a 
similar incapacity in account-keeping. Mr Williamson, 
originally an interpreter, had the faults of those who are 
bom and educated in the East : he was able, and under- 
stood the natives, but was not suflSciently frank in his 
dealings with the poorer Malays. He was distrusted by 
Mr Brooke during the last years of his life, as it was evi- 
dent that he was too much influenced by the female rela- 
tives of the Malay chiefs. It is necessary to tell the exact 
truth about his oflScers, or otherwise Mr Brooke's career 
would be but half understood. Mr Crookshank, who had 
been bred to the sea, wjw one of those few men who 
are not thereby rendered unfit for shore pursuits. Of all 



IWe.] DEATH OP MR WILLIAMSON. 107 

those who entered Mr Brooke's service, Mr Crookshank 
was the one who best understood the natives : no other 
ever arrived at that perfect knowledge of the language, 
that almost instinctive insight into Malay character, that 
patience to follow a difficult case, or to unravel a web 
of native intrigue. He was certainly a most useful and 
competent officer, and did what none other did, — he re- 
mained a faithful follower till long service entitled him 
to a pension. Perhaps I should add that he was one of 
the few sportsmen who succeeded in providing the larder 
vith venison ; and his hunts of the wild boar were as 
famous as was his good dog Kejang. 

Two melancholy events ushered in the new year : the 
first was the death of Mr Williamson, who, falling from 
his boat, was drowned. The circumstances were indeed 
3ad. I have mentioned that he was too much under the 
infiuence of the relatives of the Malay chiefs, — so much 
ao indeed, that Mr Brooke had reason to suspect that jus- 
tice was not administered to the poor during his repeated 
absences ; that, in fact, they were left without protection, 
and that some of the old abuses of Malay government were 
creeping in. Inquiry having proved this to be the case, 
Mr Brooke had been forced to leave the administration in 
the hands of Mr Euppell, and to direct Mr Williamson 
to act as his assistant : he treated the latter also with 
marked coldness, and never invited him to join the plea- 
sant diimers at Government Housa At length the Malay 
chiefs interfered: they pointed out to Mr Brooke that 
Mr Williamson's errors had probably arisen from thought- 
l^sness ; and the Datu Patinggi also felt inwardly that if 
the English subordinate had erred, he himself had been 
the great culprit, as it was through his instigation that 
his relatives had exercised the wrong influence. At 
length Mr Brooke relented, as he felt that the severity he 
had already shown would probably deter Mr Williamson 



108 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. V. 

in future, and be an example to be avoided by others. 
The next morning he sent him an invitation to dinner, 
and in the evening he came. Everybody noticed how 
cheerful Mr Williamson was, now that the cloud between 
him and his chief had passed away. He stayed later than 
usual, and after a most affectionate farewell to all, went 
down to the river's side and stepped into his canoe. In- 
stead of sitting down, as w£^ his custom, he stood up, and 
his servant began to paddle him across. Unluckily the 
canoe bumped against some driftwood, Mr Williamson 
lost his balance, and was pitched head-foremost into the 
river. He did not rise; and though the neighbourhood 
was roused by the shouts of his servant-boy, and people 
hurried thither in canoes, it was not possible to do aiiiy- 
thing, as the tide swept the body away from the spot 
where he fell. Thus Mr Brooke lost an experienced and 
useful follower, who with many faults had yet many 
qualities, which made his death appear a public loss. I 
have described what occurred thus fully, as in later days, 
when passion was at its height, Mr Brooke was accused 
of having murdered this young officer. 

I have already noticed the removal of Muda Hassim, 
his brothers, and their followers to Brunei. Sir Edward 
Belcher having kindly undertaken this task, and estab- 
lished this branch of the royal family in the capital, it 
was believed that they would be advantageous to British 
interests. I have also noticed the opposition with which 
they met, and the spirited conduct of Pangeran Bedrudin 
in driving Pangeran Usup, their most prominent enemy, 
from the neighbourhood of the capital The death of 
this redoubted chief, however, did not clear the city of 
the enemies of the legitimate branch of the royal family. 

The Sultan of Brunei, like many men of weak intellect, 
delighted in the society of persons of inferior rank, and had 
collected around him a set of scoundrels inferior to none in 



IMS,] PLOT AGAINST MUDA HASSIM, 109 

villany. He bad also near him his own illegitimate children, 
or those who passed for his children, and these had gained 
a decided influence over him. The presence, therefore, of 
Mnda Hassim and his brothers was irksome to all those 
who saw that they were aiming at supreme power, and 
that their own ambitious projects were likely to be foiled. 
When, therefore, Muda Hassim forced the Sultan to recog- 
nise him as heir to the throne, although a strictly legal 
act, conspiracies arose, and it was d etermine d toget rid 
of this branc h of the ro yal family. Mr Brooke at the time 
bought that the determination to massacre Muda Hassim 
and his brothers had its origin in the engagements entered 
into by them with the English to aid in putting down 
piracy, and to protect legitimate commerce. No doubt 
this added fuel to the fire; but I believe that, whether 
they had entered into engagements or not, they would 
have been destroyed, as the Sultan would have no equal 
near his throne, and the comparatively respectable charac- 
ter of Muda Hassim and his family was utterly opposed 
to his own conduct. The advocates of friendship with the 
pirate communities no doubt supported the scheme, Haji 
Saman being at the head of this party. 

Numerous meetings were held in the palace, and it w£^ 
some time before the Sultan would give his consent to the 
massacre of these his nearest relatives ; but after Muda 
Hassim had obtained from him the declaration that he was 
the Intimate heir to the crown, he no longer hesitated, 
and preparations were made to surprise all the brothers. 
So secretly was this scheme conducted that no details of 
the plan reached them. They did, however, receive some 
warnings; but feeling confident after the destruction of 
Maludu and the deaths of Sirib Usman and Pangeran 
Usup, and thinking that they had adequate support in 
the friendship of Mr Brooke and the aid of the English 
navy, they took no efficient precautions. 



110 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. 

One nighty when the brothers were scattered, the signal 
was given : bands of armed men left the palace, and pulling 
silently in the darkness, arrived unobserved near the houses 
of the different brothers. They attacked simultaneously. 
The young princes had but few followers with them. 
Bedrudin fought gallantly : he defended the entrance of 
his house for some time, but with three or four followers 
he could do little against a murderous band of forty or 
fifty. Finding that he with his kris held his own, and 
that they could not force an entrance into the house, one 
of the assailants fired. The shot took effect in Bedrudin's 
left wrist, and as that arm fell he received a severe wound 
in the right shoulder and several wounds in the body. 
His few followers were either killed or fled. He managed, 
however, to gain the inner apartments, where he found his 
sister, a favourite concubine, and Japar, a slave lad. The 
latter he commanded to reach down a barrel of powder, 
and spread the contents on a mat. He then called the 
women to sit near him, and turning to the lad said : " You 
will take this signet-ring^ to my friend, Mr Brooke, tell him 
what has occurred, let him inform the Queen of England 
that I was faithful to my engagements, and add," he 
said, " that my last thoughts were of my true friend, Mr 
Brooke." He then ordered the lad to save himselt Japar 
opened the lattice-like flooring, slipped down a post into 
the water, and swimming to a small canoe was enabled 
to paddle quietly away, while the murderers, suspicious, 
were cautiously making their entrance into the house. 
Japar had not proceeded many yards when a loud explo- 
sion told him that the gallant prince had set fire to the 
powder, rather than fall into the hands of his enemies. 

Muda Hassim was attacked at the same time, and pro- 
bably would have escaped had he pulled directly to the 
Burong Ping^ kampong, the inhabitants of which would 

^ One which Mr Brooke had given him. 



1846.] MURDER OP MUDA HASSIM, 111 

have protected him. After a gallant defence, he too, 
wonnded and overpowered by numbers, was forced to 
destroy himself. Of the fourteen brothers, but two or 
three escaped : one, Muda Mahomed, whom I knew after- 
wards, was desperately wounded ; another became insane ; 
and this unfortunate family ceased to exist as a power. 
Although Mr Brooke endeavoured to do something for 
the survivors, they have almost disappeared as a political 
element in Brunei. 

Mr Brooke has often said before me that the destruction 
of this family was a misfortune to their country. Perhaps 
it was ; but I who lived several years in the capital heard 
many things which accounted for the unpopularity of these 
princea Malay court etiquette, when carried to extreme, 
is etiquette run mad. With all the apparent servility of 
the Malays, they are a democratic people, and during late 
years had become more so. One of the customs of Brunei 
was, that when a non-noble passed before a house inhabited 
by a royal personage, he was obliged to fold his umbrella 
and expose himself either to the hot rays of the sun or to 
the rain. The custom had fallen into desuetude, but 
these princes determined to revive it The principal 
street of Brunei is the main river. Whenever a non- 
noble was seen passing before Muda Hassim's palace 
with his umbrella up, officers were ordered to pursue and 
bring his canoe to the landing-place, and he himself was 
to be brought before the Eajahs to be fined. This gave 
rise to much abuse. The insolent followers of the princes, 
secure from aU punishment, beat and otherwise ill-treated 
the most respectable members of the commercial class, 
and thus alienated from the cause the most devoted par- 
tisans of Muda Hassim. I give this as but one instance ; 
but similar efforts to revive an obsolete etiquette, and 
many acts of great oppression whilst raising revenue, 
practised by irresponsible agents, loosened the bonds of 



112 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. V. 

respect which once united the cause of the people with 
that of the family of Muda Hassim. 

With these faults of education, however, it was not 
possible to treat with indifference the claims to respect 
to which Bedrudin was entitled. Brave, courteous to a 
degree even to be remarked by the most punctilious of a 
punctilious service, ready to be influenced by a foreign 
civilisation, and wanting near him but a wise and appre- 
ciative European to render him a superior ruler, I have 
ever regretted the death of Bedrudin at a moment when 
English influence was about to be established on the 
north-west coast of Borneo. 

I can well imagine the effect which was produced on 
Mr Brooke by the news of the death of his friends. His 
excitable nature was roused almost to madness : it made 
him ill to feel that he was without power to fall upon 
their murderers and exterminate them. He blamed the 
British Government for not having followed his advice, 
and stationed a vessel in the Brunei river until the power 
of his friends was fully established ; but he could not but 
afterwards confess that such an act of treachery on the part 
of the Sultan, after the recent triumphs of Bedrudin, was 
not to be foreseen. In fact, all appeared in their favour ; 
but we had yet to learn how utterly without forethought 
are the Malays, — how, in their ignorance of the power 
of foreigners, they brave their enmity, when it could be 
avoided by the dictates of the most ordinary prudenca 

Directly the news of the massacre of Muda Hassim 
reached Sarawak, Mr Brooke applied to the Government 
of the Straits Settlements at Malacca for a steamer to 
enable him to keep the coast quiet pending the decision 
of the Admiral. At that time Lieut-Colonel Butterworth 
was the Governor, and he readily complied with the re- 
quisition. . He sent the E.I.C. steamer Phlegethon to 
Borneo, and directed Commander Scott to place himself 



1846.] SIR THOMAS COCHRANE. 113 

at the service of H.M.'8 Agent. With the aid of this 
steamer Mr Brooke was enabled to keep the piratical 
rivers quiet, and to prevent the contagion from Brunei 
from spreading. Already secret emissaries had been sent 
from the capital to endeavour to incite disturbances in 
Mr Brooke's province, and, if an opportunity offered, to 
get rid of that agent of new ideas, the disturber of the 
good old order of things, and the possible future avenger 
of the death of his friends. 

Mr Brooke chafed at his inability to move with his own 
force, and the necessity of waiting for the decision of Sir 
Thomas Cochrane ; but he afterwards felt how much better 
it was to act with the power of England at his back. 

Directly the Admiral heard of the death of those who 
had so earnestly urged an alliance with England in order 
to extirpate piracy, he determined to look into the matter, 
and if necessary to act. He felt, as the responsible agent 
of England in these seas, that we had no right to inter- 
fere in the internal arrangements of the country, or to 
punish crimes that might arise from local jealousies, or 
from causes with which England had no concern. He 
had admired Bedrudin, had felt how superior he was to 
those around him, but at the same time he knew that the 
Saltan who had committed these crimes was the lawful 
ruler of the country, and that England had no right to 
call him to account for them, unless at the same time he 
broke his engagements with his new ally. It is seldom 
that a naval chief has either the time or the inclination 
to master the politics of a native state, but it is to the 
honour of Sir Thomas Cochrane that he did attempt to 
understand the position of parties in Borneo Proper, and^ 
understanding them, had the courage to act. 

As soon as circumstances permitted, he set sail from 
Sii^pore with a powerful fleet, and in a few days reached 
Sarawak. Anxious to promote the peace of the coast, he 

H 



114 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. v. 

cruised quietly along, and left the squadron, to visit the 
Bejang, the finest river on the north-west coast ; steamed 
above a hundred mUes up it in the Phlegethon, and warned 
the different chiefs against giving any aid to the piratical 
tribes, or listening to the evU advice of the emissaries from 
Brunei The sight of this powerful squadron had a great 
effect for the moment, but the natives used to look upon us 
as birds of passage, so that the effect was not permanent. 

The fleet anchored at length off the island of Muara, at 
the entrance of the Brunei river, and preparations were 
made for a visit to the capital Mr Brooke had received 
full information that the Sultan had summoned aU his sup- 
porters, that the inhabitants of the capital had been forced 
to work at extensive fortifications, that guns were mounted 
on many batteries, and that the armed bands comprised 
more than 5000 men. While the fieet was preparing for 
an expedition, a boat was observed pulling towards the 
flag-ship, and the yellow umbrellas denoted that some man 
of rank was approaching. It soon drew alongside, and 
two persons dressed in great state came on board bear- 
ing a letter from the Sultan, addressed to Mr Brooke. It 
requested him to pay no attention to rumours ; but shoxdd 
he desire to visit his Highness, to come in two small boats 
only, as no other force would be allowed to pass the bat- 
teries. Mr Brooke asked the messengers a few questions, 
and instantly suspected that these were low men who had 
been sent to act the part of nobles ; and it proved to be so. 

The Admiral determined to take no notice of the re- 
striction as to numbers, but to ascend the river as he had 
done the year before, with a similar force to support him. 
Two steamers and two sailing vessels were told off, and 
all the principal boats of the fleet were prepared. On 
passing the bar of the Brunei river the Hazard grounded, 
and the Admiral was forced to proceed with the other 
three vessels. The Phlegethon led the way. For some 



1846.] CAPTURE OP BEUNEI. 115 

time nothing of an opposing force was seen ; but no sooner 
did the squadron arrive at the reach below the great bend 
than they saw several formidable batteries before them, 
crowded with armed men. These batteries were posted 
with great judgment, and were mounted with very for- 
midable artillery. When the advance party was within 
about 1000 yards, the enemy opened fire, fortunately 
aiming too high, so that the whole volley passed over the 
English force and ploughed up the water in their rear 
The fire was quickly returned; guns, rocket-tubes, and 
musketry were brought into requisition ; the blue-jackets 
and marines dashed ashore, and in a few minutes the 
enemy abandoned their guns and fled into the jungle. 
The squadron then advanced and steamed up the main 
street In front of them, where the mosque now stands, 
Haji Saman, the head of the piratical party, had erected 
a battery that he considered invincible. As soon as he 
saw the English force before him he fired, and the heavy 
shot from his guns did some damage to the advancing 
ships ; and even his grape pierced the thin iron plates of 
the Phlegethon, which would have sunk had she not been 
built in compartments. But resistance was useless ; the 
English guns soon drove the Malays from the batteries, 
and the landing - parties took possession of the guns. 
These batteries were formidably armed. Some of the 
cannon were 30 and 40 pounders, mostly of old Spanish 
manufacture, and were elaborately ornamented. Thirty- 
nine pieces (nineteen of which were brass) fell into the 
hands of the British force. 

The marines were landed and occupied the hill behind 
the palace to prevent annoyance during the night; but 
the Bomeons were too cowed by the large force to attempt 
doing anything further. 

The city was found completely deserted, and thousands 
of houses full of property lay at the mercy of the con- 



116 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. 

querors. But private property was strictly respected. 
The Sultan fled into the interior, and tried to fortify 
himself, but he was followed up by anned parties under 
the command of Captain Mundy of the Iris, and he had 
again to fly into the swamps, leaving his property to be 
destroyed. Some of the less guilty chiefs, finding that the 
town was respected, began to return, and in a few days 
Mr Brooke was enabled to establish a sort of provisional 
government. The Admiral went so far as to say that, 
although the ultimate decision remained with the English 
Qovemment, yet, on proper submission, the Sultan would 
be permitted to return to his capital 

The capture of Brunei by the English squadron was a 
great event in the annals of the country. When, some years 
later, I travelled in the interior, the oppressed aborigines, 
after cautiously glancing round to see that no Bomeon was 
present, would express to me their delight at the defeat of 
their own Government, and describe in vivid colours the 
flight and terror of the nobles. " Tou should have kept 
the country," was the invariable finish to their stories. 

The provisional government which was established 
consisted of Pangeran Mumein, who, though not of really 
royal blood, was at the time considered the best man 
that could be found — a reason which some years subse- 
quently induced all parties to make him Sultan, — and of 
Pangeran Muda Mahomed, brother to Muda Hassim — a 
man originally of little wit, and that little much lessened 
by the terror of that night of murder, and the desperate 
wounds which he himself had received. Afiairs being 
thus settled, the squadron left Brunei, a single ship re- 
maining to preserve order, and proceeded along the 
north-west coast to look after the piratical communities 
of Pandassan and Tampasuk. These were punished for 
recent marauding acts. Maludu was visited, but found 
deserted. The Admiral then proceeded to China, Captain 



1846.] THE sultan's SUBMISSION. Il7 

Mundy of the Iris being left to look after the coast and 
punifih Haji Saman, the promoter of piracy, who, when 
driven out of Brunei, had retired to Membakat, where he 
fortified himself. He was quickly routed oat of this, and 
Mr Brooke proceeded to Brujifi^jvhere he found the 
Saltan ready to make every submission. Our agent in- 
sisted on the punishment of the murderers of Muda 
Hassim, but as the true murderer was the S ultan himself, 
only inferior agents could be punished. TEe^ Sultan was 
very humble, renewed all his engagements, even to a re- 
gift of Sarawak, and granted the right of working coal 
to Mr Brooke. This last he accepted to prevent any 
other nation obtaining exclusive rights, and held it at the 
disposal of her Majesty's Government. 

Having thus finished the political part of the business, 
Mr Brooke collected the survivors of Muda Hassim's 
family and removed them to Sarawak, where for some 
years they remained at the sole charge of Mr Brooke. 
There were about thirty or forty women and children, and 
a few men, none of whom were csdculated personally to 
excite any interest. 

While these events were taking place, the English Gov- 
ernment had determined to take possession of Labuan, an 
island opposite the mouth of the Brunei river. There had 
been a change of Ministry, and Lord Palmerston acted, as 
usual, promptly. It was during this year that my atten- 
tion was first turned to Borneo. I had read KeppeFs book 
with interest, and my father being acquainted with Mr 
Wise, Mr Brooke's agent in England, we.were kept informed 
of all that was passing on the momentous Borneon question. 
My father had constant interviews on the subject of Labuan 
with Lord Palmerston, both before and after he returned to 
the Foreign Office, and that enlightened statesman was 
glad to be able to obtain information from one who had 
really studied and taken great interest in the question. 



118 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. v. 

When the orders arrived to take possession of Labuan, 
Sir Thomas Cochrane directed Captain Mundy to proceed 
with a small squadron to Brunei and obtain a cession of 
the island, and then to take possession in the name of her 
Majesty. This he did, while Mr Brooke proceeded to 
Singapore to meet the Admiral, with whom he was desirous 
to communicate before his return to England. 

Mr Brooke remained absent from Sarawsik four months, 
only returning there in May 1847, having passed the in- 
terval with the Admiral at Penang, where the delicious 
climate of the Government house, 2500 feet above the 
level of the sea, aided in restoring his health, somewhat 
shattered by exposure. 

Having received instructions from her Majesty's Grovem- 
ment to negotiate a regular commercial treaty with the 
Sultan of Borneo Proper, he left Singapore in the East 
India Company's steamer Nemesis, Captain Wallage, and 
after touching at Sarawak to find all quiet and prosperous, 
proceeded to Labuan, and from thence to Brunei, accom- 
panied by Commander Grey of the Wolf, and Lieutenant 
Gordon of the Royalist, and a guard of marines. He 
found the capital quiet, and had little difficulty in induc- 
ing the Sultan to sign the treaty, by which Labuan 
became definitively a British possession, and future 
commercial and other arrangements settled. 

With the treaty in his possession, Labuan under the 
English flag, and secure of the Sultan's conduct after the 
lesson he had received from Sir Thomas Cochrane, Mr 
Brooke began to think of home. He made up his mind 
to pass a few days in Sarawak, and then to start for Eng- 
land overland. But before he left he was destined to 
have another brush with his old enemies the pirates. As 
the Nemesis steamed towards the mouth of the river she 
was hailed by a Borneon prahu, and Mr Brooke was able 
to msike out that there was a squadron of Balagnini out- 



1847.] THE NEMESIS AMONG THE PIRATES. 119 

side that had chased the Bomeon to the entrance of the 
river. Whenever the steamer cleared the point, the look- 
oat man at the mast-head shouted that he could see some 
prahus chasing another ; in a few minutes he could make 
out eleven in full pursuit of a fishing-boat that was be- 
ing urged with vigour towards Labuan. As soon, how- 
ever, as the smoke of the steamer became visible, the 
pirates gave up the chase and pulled into shallow water, 
and tried with might and main to get down the coast to 
some smaU river in which they might seek temporary 
shelter. But the Nemesis, though forced to make a detour 
to avoid the shoals, gained rapidly on the Balagnini, who, 
seeing flight impossible, as their vessels made slow way 
in a chopping sea, drew up in battle array in a small bay. 
Their stems were placed towards the shore, their bows to 
the sea, and to keep them well in line they were con- 
nected by a line of cable stretched across their bows. 
The Nemesis approached them, and Commander Grey, the 
senior oflBcer, to prevent any idea of mistake, directed a 
boat to be lowered, and an oflScer volunteered to approach 
them and discover who they were. It proved a useless 
precaution. Before the boat could shove off from the side, 
the pirates opened fire on the steamer, by which one man 
was killed. The fire, of course, was immediately returned, 
and rotmd-shot and grape were vomited forth from two 
32-pounders on this formidable-looking enemy. The fire 
was kept up by the pirates with great spirit. The practice 
on board of the Nemesis was not good, even allowing for 
the roll of the sea, as the action lasted three hours and a 
half before it was thought advisable for the boats to make 
a dash, and even then it was too soon. When the pirates 
saw that the boats were about to attack them, three put to 
sea and steered to the northward, a fresh breeze having 
sprung up. The Nemesis gave chase. No sooner did the 
Balagnini observe that the steamer was off, than the crews 



y 



120 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. V. 

of three praJiua which they had abandoned ran down and 
manned them, and boldly engaged the boats. Had they 
fired decently they would have got the best of it, but the 
steady fire from our side kept them oflE In the mean- 
time Captain Wallage of the Nemesis, becoming aware of 
the danger of the boats, gave up the chase and returned. 
This soon chamged the face of affairs ; some of the prahus 
were again driven on shore, while three more were en- 
abled to escape. The action, while it lasted, was severe. 
The English lost two killed and many wounded, while the 
enemy had above fifty killed, whose bodies were seen, be- 
sides those who may have suffered in the other prahus : ^ 
there were also fifty or sixty men who were forced to take 
refuge on shore. 

The firing was heard at the capital, which, in a straight 
line, is not very distant from the coast, perhaps eight miles, 
while not a sound was noticed on board the English 
war -vessels at Labuan, though not more than fifteen 
miles distant, otherwise not a prahu would have escaped. 
As it was, of the six who got clear qf the Nemesis, 
three foundered from the injuries received during the 
engagement^ so that but few returned home to tell the 
tale. 

The Nemesis, after this encounter, communicated with 
the capital, Mr Brooke writing to the Sultan to request 
him to take care of the captives taken by the pirates, 
many of whom had been enabled to escape ashore. They 
were taken care of, and subsequently forwarded to Singa- 
pore. They were mostly either Chinese or Dutch subjects. 

The firing being, as I have said, heard in the capital, 
much alarm was felt, and the authorities collected together 
their armed men to be ready for any eventuality. Very 

^ These prahus carry from 40 to 50 men each,— besides captives, who 
row in doable tiers. The vessels are lateen-rigged, and are armed with 
two bow-gons, several swivels, muskets, spears, swords, &c. 



1S47.] BORNEON JUSTICE. 121 

soon the villagers came flockiiig in to report what they 
had seen from the neighbouring hills. In the meantime 
the pirates who had landed were left without any ineans 
of escape. Six of their prahus had disappeared, and the 
English had seized the five remaining. Being without 
provisions they marched inland, and coming upon some 
small cottages after dark, they surprised the inhabitants 
in them' and wantonly killed those who had no time to 
escape. When this news spread, the whole country was 
in arms, and by the morning hundreds of men arrived 
from the capital and surrounded the houses where the 
pirates were staying. They were summoned to surrender, 
and being without food or chance of escape, they agreed 
to do so provided their captors would take them into the 
Sultan's presence. This was done. His Highness first 
offered to permit the escaped captives to kill with their 
own hands those who had treated them so barbarously, 
but they declined the task Upon this the Sultan gave 
the signal, and the young Sajahs rushed upon the pirates 
and hacked them to pieces. One of the young nobles who 
was engaged in this affair told me that these Balagnini 
behaved with the utmost courage, not one having begged 
for his life, but all declaring that their death would be 
thoroughly avenged by the Sultan of Sulu. 

The result of this action was most important : for many 
years after the Balagnini gave the north-west coast a wide 
berth, not caring to meet again one of the English Eajah's 
fire-ships. This engagement proved also how dangerous it 
is to send small boats to attack large pirate prahus, whose 
crews must fight or be taken. The inhabitants of all the 
north-west coast greatly rejoiced at the result of the fight. 
For many years the Bomeon seas had been rendered in- 
secure by them, and trade had languished, as every one 
feared to expose himself to a hopeless captivity. It took 
the Balagnini about fifteen years to forget the lesson. 



122 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. V. 

Mr Brooke left Sarawak under the care of Mr Arthur 
Crookshank, to whom I have before referred, feeling per- 
fectly secure that nothing would go wrong in his province. 
His reputation was then at its height on the coast, and no 
one dared to oppose him. Dr Treacher and Mr RuppeU, 
with their subordinates, were associated with Mr Crook- 
shank in the task of holding Sarawak during its Bajah's 
absence. 

I have no details of the voyage to England. Mr Brooke 
embarked with his friend Mr Hugh Low. He left Singa- 
pore in July, but on arriving at Point de Galle found the 
Calcutta steamer gone, and that he must wait in Ceylon 
for a month. Not to have to pass this time in such a 
place as Galle, he determined to visit Colombo, and then 
the up-country, where he fell in with an old friend, Mr 
Jolly, with whom he spent his time very pleasantly. He 
used often to recur to this visit, and express his admiration 
of the beautiful culture to be seen in the coffee plantations. 
In August Mr Brooke was enabled to start again, and 
finally reached Southampton on the 1st October 1847, after 
an absence of nearly nine years. He was met at South- 
ampton by Captains Keppel and Mundy, many members 
of his family, and by some of his old friends. What a 
happiness it must have been to his affectionate heart to 
find assembled there all whom he loved best ! 

This visit to England was one of the most interesting 
episodes of his life. He could not co mplain that his 
countrymen had overlooked his merit s : on the contrary, 
no one was ever better received, nor has any one's qualities 
been more generally appreciated. I fear, however, that 
but few materials are at my service to give a clear account 
of all that took place, as his letters during that time are 
brief, and personally I saw but little of what passed, 
though I had the pleasure of being introduced to him 
at Mivart's. 



123 



CHAPTER VI. 

MB BROOKE VISITS ENGLAND. 
1847-1849. 

Mr Brooke's visit to England was in every way satisfac- 
tory. He found himself surrounded by an affectionate 
family and by a crowd of enthusiastic admirers, was 
treated with friendly consideration by the Ministers, and 
he acquired the respect and friendship of many who ever 
after remained steadfast to him. Among the most in- 
fluential of these were Lords EUesmere and Grey, the 
latter of whom has lately shown how fully he understood 
and admired Mr Brooke's noble qualities. 

Mr Brooke could not but feel that his countrymen 
thoroughly appreciated his services. London presented 
him with the freedom of its ancient city ; the principal 
clubs and City companies paid him every attention, and 
made him an honorary member; and Oxford honoured 
herself in honouring him with her distinctions. The 
undergraduates received his name with enthusiasm, for 
he was pre-eminently the man to create that feeling among 
young men. 

I find by his notes that he was dining with Lords John 
Bussell, Grey, Lansdowne, Leicester, and Auckland, making 
a round of country visits to Lords Lansdowne, EUesmere, 
Haddington, and to Sir Patrick Stewart, yet giving as 
much time as he could spare to his family and frienda 



124 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. Ti. 

Whilst in London he lived at Mivart's Hotel, and there 
surrounded himself by his most intimate friends, and con- 
tinued his Bomeon habit of staying up half the night in 
merry converse. One day, at breakfast, a waiter brought 
in a letter, which Mr Brooke asked permission to open 
immediately. He then said, "This is a very curious one." 
It was from some lady, who, enamoured of his deeds, pro- 
posed herself in marriage. The letter continued, that if 
Mr Brooke had no intention of manying, he was to destroy 
a note which was enclosed, and which contained her name, 
her address, and all particulars as to her family and fortune. 
The guests laughingly said, " Have an intention to marry, 
and open the note:" but Mr Brooke immediately rose 
from the table, saying, " I have no intentionjDfjaarrying/' 
and put the letter and the enclosure into the fire. If 
the lady be still living, it will be a comfort to her to know 
what became of her communication. 

My father used greatly to enjoy these meetings, and 
many a night has he sat up with his friend talking to two 
and three in the morning. 

I must notice one incident particularly, as it may tend 
to explain many an attack subsequently directed against 
Mr Brooke. In 1846, Mr Wise called to express his 
thanks for the tone of the articles my father had written 
about Borneo in the ' Morning Chronicle,' * Foreign Quar- 
terly Eeview,' &c. From this there arose a great intimacy, 
and Mr Wise urged me to turn my attention from Persia, 
where I expected an appointment, to Borneo. We noticed 
how enthusiastic Mr Wise always appeared to be when 
he referred to Mr Brooke ; but as my father used to say, 
he was too enthusiastic. This lasted about a year, when 
one day, after a very long conference with Mr Wise, my 
father said to me, " Our friend has been letting out a great 
many things about Mr Brooke : he accuses him of all sorts 
of crimes, but says these must be kept a profound secret 



\ 






1847.] VISIT TO ENGLAND. 125 

Perhaps you had better give up the idea of going to Borneo." 
When, however, Mr Brooke arrived, Mr Wise was the first 
to get him to attend a large dinner at his house, and then 
made a most fulsome speech when proposing his health, 
citing him as a paragon of goodness, philanthropy, and 
humanity. When my father told me this, I instantly set 
Wise down as a humbug; and further intercourse with 
Mr Brooke made us understand that some secret cause of 
enmity existed on the part of his agent. I afterwards dis- 
covered that his change of tone commenced from the date 
when he found that he could not induce Mr Brooke to 
intrust him with full powers to form a great company 
which was to acquire Sarawak for a very large sum, of 
which Mr Wise was to have half. He had stomached 
the expression that " a friend was worth a dozen agents," 
which by carelessness he was allowed to see in one of Mr 
Brooke's letters to his mother, but he could not stomach 
the loss of the great fortune which he had anticipated. 
This particular account is necessary to understand what 
followed. 

Another circumstance must not be forgotten. Captain 
Mundy having decided to bring out an account of the 
voyage of the Iris, had received permission from the 
Bajah to incorporate into his book that portion of his 
journals which had not already been published by Cap- 
^^ KeppeL My father undertook to prepare this work 
for the press; but as his partial blindness prevented 
him reading the proofs, that share of the work fell to 
roe, and I regret to add that my want of familiarity with 
the names of Dyak tribes caused several transpositions, 
which were subsequently used to attack the Rajah out 
of his own mouth. The Eajah tried to correct the proofs, 
bat his engagements were too numerous. However, he did 
tty, as I find by the following extracts from notes to my 
father: ** January 13, 1848. — I send this corrected, but 






126 LIFE OF SIE JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vi. 

it is nonsense, written on my first acquaintance with Bor- 
neon affairs." " I cannot write any more journal" " The 
names are frightful — much of the information valueless, 
from subsequent inquiiy." It is important to note these 
remarks, as even to this day his detractors have endeav- 
oured to attack his fame on account of some contradic- 
tions in his journals. 

Not only did the Ministers show their appreciation of 
what Mr Brooke had done in Borneo, but her Majesty 
testified her approbation by inviting him to Court — so 
that among the numerous visits which Mr Brooke paid, 
one of the most interesting was that to Windsor Castle. 
He gave a description of what occurred in a short letter 
to a niece, and although it has been already published, 
I will reprint it It is as follows : — 

" Wdtdsor Cabtli, 25^ OcUiber 1847. 

" I know, my dear Mary, that all you young ladies will 
be dying of curiosity to hear all about my visit here, 
and I hasten therefore to tell you that I am sitting 
in a room, a very comfortable room, with a good fire, a 
neat bedstead, and every other comfort and luxury which 
a gentleman could desire. I am sitting in this said room 
writing to my dear niece, and I much regret to say that 
I have not met with one single adventure, nor have I 
seen one precious face since being in this celebrated 
Castle, excepting Prince Albert's vald de cluimbre, who 
is a very well-spoken, well-dressed, civil gentleman — at 
which circumstance I am rather astonished, as I had 
always entertained an idea, a very vague and indistinct 
one, that all subordinate persons in all palaces were 
addicted to insolence and vainglory. Thus, my dear 
girl, you have the wonderful and entire history of all the 
events which have befallen me since I arrived; and as 
the time draws towards half -past seven, I must lay down 



1847.] VISIT TO THE QUEEN. 127 

my pen and dress for dinner. By the by, I asked the 
civil and well-spoken valet (whom you must know is a 
German) what dress it was strictly proper to appear in, 
and he very discreetly informed me that a black or blue 
coat, white waistcoat, white cravat, tight peintaloons, with 
black stockings, was the right thing — ^your shoes without 
buckles^ and neither hat nor gloves. Heaven help me ! 
how little I dreamed once that 1 should ever think of 
dress more ! how little I thought in my wildest imagina- 
tion that I should be here, her Majesty's guest ! So let 
us say with all our hearts, God bless the Queen ! 1 will 
go on to-morrow morning, if I have time. 

" 26th, — Three minutes before eight, the groom of the 
chambers ushered me from my apsu^tment in the York 
Tower, conducted me along a splendid gallery, resplen- 
dent with lights, and pictures, and statues, decorated with 
golden ornaments, the richest carpets, and bouquets of 
fresh flowers, and ushered me into a drawing-room as 
fine as mortal eye could wish to see. Directly afterwards 
Lady Westmorland and Lady Peel, with Lord Westmore- 
land and Sir Eobert, entered, with the lord-in-waiting 
(Lord Morley), equerries, and grooms : then came the Duke 
and Duchess of Bedford, &c., &c., and last the doors were 
throMm wide open, and the Queen and Prince Albert and 
the Duchess of Kent were ushered in, attended by the 
Court ladies. I had to kiss hands on my presentation : 
her Majesty said very sweetly that she was happy to 
make my acquaintance. 1 bowed to the ground. The 
Queen took the arm of the Prince, and led the way to 
the dinner-room. I handed out Lady Emily Seymour, 
the music played, the lights glittered, reflected from golden 
ornaments, the hall was splendid, the sideboard resplen- 
dent. What shall I say of the dinner, the plate, the 
cookery, all befitting royalty, and neither coldness nor 
stifiness ? The Queen was seated between Prince Albert 



128 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. VL 

on one side and the Duke of Bedford on the other, and — 
can you conceive it, Mary ? — she ate and drank just like 
any other mortal, but all in the most ladylike manner 
possible. After dinner we all stood, and her Majesty 
conversed first with the Duke of Bedford, then with 
Sir Eobert Peel, aud lastly with myself. She said all 
that was kind, talked with me for nearly ten minutes, 
and then we returned to the drawing-room. Prince Albert 
likewise honoured me with a long conversation, the Duke 
of Bedford talked to me. Sir Bobert shook me by the hand, 
and said I was no stranger to him. I was presented to 
Lady Peel, et hoc germs omne, which being translated 
means, " all them there nobs." Such are my adventures, 
my dear Mary; and in return I beg of you not to let 
any person read or see this letter, excepting our own 
families of Lackington, Cheltenham, and Hillingdon. Fare- 
well, dear Mary. It is now nearly time to go to chapel, 
after which I breakfast with the equerries, and start for 
London ; and I may conclude by saying that, highly hon- 
oured as I have been, delighted and pleased, yet I shall 
be glad when it is over." 

The Queen asked Mr Brooke, how was it that he found 
it so easy to manage so many thousands of wild Borneons ? 
His reply was characteristic. He said, " I find it easier 
to govern 30,000 Malays and Dyaks, than to manage a 
dozen of your Majesty's subjects. At which reply the 
Queen laughed, and said, "I can easily imagine that." 
Mr Brooke ever spoke of that visit to Windsor Castle 
with pleasure, and was pleased in after -years to learn 
that though not again invited to Court, it was from no 
want of sympathy on the part of her Majesty, but rather 
from the desire which Prince Albert expressed, not to 
appear to take even an indirect part in the discussions 
which waxed warm before Mr Brooke again returned home. 



1847.] APPOINTED GOVERNOR OP LABUAN. 129 

Among the many schemes to which Mr Brooke's arrival 
in England gave rise, was that of establishing a mission 
in Borneo. A great meeting was held in Hanover Square 
Sooms, where friends were collected and speeches made. 
Among the speakers was the Eev. F. T. McDougall, who 
had been selected to be the chief of the mission. The 
tone of his speech made Mr Brooke sigh, but it was 
hoped that his actions would be more sensible than his 
words. 

Many of Mr Brooke's friends and admirers thought that 
the Government would have taken the opportunity of his 
visit to England to give him some special mark of its 
approbation; but whatever hints he may have received 
of coming honours, he left England as he arrived, plain 
Mr Brooke. 

It was during this visit to England in 1847 that the 
late President of the Eoyal Academy painted that life- 
like portrait of the Bajah which shows what he was in 
his bright days, when hope still kindled his eye, and 
disease and sorrow had not bowed his frame. The Bajah 
fully appreciated, and often spoke of, this handsome gift 
of Sir Francis Grant.^ 

During his stay in England, Mr Brooke was appointed 
Crovemor of the new settlement of Labuan, and several 
officers were selected to serve under him. As these 
were numerous, it was determined that they should pro- 
ceed to their destination in a ship of war, vid the Cape 
of Grood Hope, instead of taking the overland route — a 
most unwise determination, as during this long voyage 
were sown the seeds of strife and heartburning, which 
sprouted and grew, and later on ripened into very un- 
pleasant fruit. 

Besides being Governor of Labu an, Mr Brooke was 

^ I bought this picture at a sale of the effects of the late Rey. Charles 
Johnson, Sir J. Brooke's brother-in-law. 

I 



130 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vi. 

Commissioner and Consul-Generaj ^in Borne o, and through 
this appointment I became associated with his work, I 
had read Keppel's book, had taken a warm interest in 
everything appertaining to Borneo, and had written in- 
numerable articles on the subject; and, as I have said, 
when Mr Wise suggested to me that I should seek an 
appointment in Borneo, I quickly caught at the idea, and 
determined to carry it out. My father introduced me to 
Mr Brooke at Mivart's, and I was then struck with that 
winning manner which in those days made every one who 
approached him his friend. 

Mr Brooke applied to Lord Palmerston to name me as 
his secretary, but as there were some diflSculties in that 
straightforward course, I received my appointment in a 
peculiar manner. Mr Hawes, Under Secretary of State 
for the Colonies, wrote to Governor Brooke that I was 
appointed his private secretary, and Lord Palmerston 
allowed me in a roundabout way £200 a-year. I re- 
ceived this announcement on the 24th January, with 
orders to be ready to start from Portsmouth on the 1st 
February 1848. 

From that time to the day of his death I was in con- 
stant communication, either personally or by letter, with 
the subject of this biography. 

As I have said, our party being a large one, the Govern- 
ment determined to send us out in the Meander Mgate, 
Captain the Hon. Henry KeppeL The vessel was spe- 
cially prepared for action against the pirates, being fur- 
nished with extra boats drawing but little water, so as to 
be able to carry a large force up the shallow rivers. 

How full of hope we all were on that, to me, memorable 
day when we sailed from Portsmouth under our renowned 
Captain, February 1, 1848 ! We had on board the follow- 
ing passengers: Mr Brooke, Governor of Labuan, and 
Commissioner and Consul-General in Borneo ; Mr Napier, 



1848.] THE PASSENGEBS OP THE MEANDER. 131 

lieutenant-Grovemor ; Mr Scott, Surveyor, now Sir John 
Soott ; Captain Hoskins, Harbour-Master ; Mr Hugh Low, 
Secretary to the Government, now H.M/s Eesident at 
Perak ; Mr Spenser St John, Secretary to Mr Brooke as 
Commissioner, now H.M/s Minister Eesident at Peru. 
There were also several other passengers, as Mrs Napier, 
Miss Napier, Mr Gwynne, Captain Peyten, &c. 

There is no greater error in the world than turning 
vessels of war into passenger-ships, particularly when 
ladies are concerned. Every spot is occupied beforehand, 
so that the unfortunate passengers soon discover that they 
are de trop wherever they endeavour to find a resting-place. 
And the comfort of the officers and the discipline of the 
ship suffer from having a miscellaneous crowd of idlers 
on board. 

Though every desire was shown both by the Captain 
and officers to render the passengers comfortable, it had 
but poor success Mr Scott, Mr Hoskins, myself, and 
a Lieut. MuUer, were stuffed into one small cabin with 
only two beds, and I had to resign myself to swinging in 
a hammock during the voyage, and dressing as I could in 
the cabin of an officer, a good-natured feUow of the name 
of Jeans. Mr Brooke was naturally better off, and was 
provided with a very spacious cabin constructed on the 
main deck ; while M^ Napier and the ladies had all the 
cabins on the starboard side to themselves. 

The beginning of our voyage was a rough one. Scarce 
had we left the harbour when a heavy wind and a head 
sea drove the unfortunate passengers to seek shelter 
where they could. The luggage was banged about, the 
sea broke in the glass ports and deluged us, and all was 
discomfort until, after calling in at Plymouth and Cork, 
we found ourselves at Funchal. 

We did enjoy Madeira. Mr Brooke called on and after- 
wards dined with the Queen Dowager, who was residing 



132 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap, vl 

on the island for the sake of her health ; and baUs and 
picnics and parties marked our stay. We were sorry to 
leave. 

I now began to have opportunities to study Mr Brooke's 
character, and I notice frequent references in my journal 
to the growing enthusiasm which our intercourse created, 
though I was not bUnd to the inconvenience of the pres- 
ence of so good-natured a man on board of a ship of war. 
Mr Brooke, as I have said, had a large cabin, and this 
was the rendezvous of as unruly a set of young officers 
as it has been my fortune to meet. He had a nephew 
on board, Charles Johnson, a staid sub-lieutenant, who 
endeavoured to preserve order, but it was of little avail 
The noisy ones were in the ascendant, led by a laugh- 
ing, bright-faced lad, who, when he was a midshipman 
in the Agincourt in 1845-47, had become acquainted 
with Mr Brooke, and whose fondness for cherry-brandy 
was only equalled by his love of fun. No place in the 
cabin was respected: six or seven would throw them- 
selves on the bed, careless whether Mr Brooke was there 
or not, and skylark over his body as if he were one of 
themselves. In fact he was as full of play as any of 
them. 

The grave Secretary seated at the writing-table could 
but look on with astonishment at the liberties taken with 
his chief, for whom he felt then almost veneration, so 
highly did he esteem the work he had been performing in 
the East But these young imps thought of nothing but 
fun: they ate his biscuits, drank his cherry - brandy, 
laughed, sang, and skylarked, till work was generally 
useless, and nothing was done. 

One can readily imagine how all this was injurious to 
disciplina There were some twenty in the midshipmen's 
berth, and nearly all considered themselves at liberty to 
use Mr Brooke's cabin as a sort of club. The conse- 



1848.] VOYAGE OF THE MEANDER. 133 

quences were soon felt : the senior officers thought them- 
selves slighted in favour of their juniors, whose natural 
impatience of control was heightened by the injudicious 
encouragement they received; and I, who lived in the 
gun-room, soon began to fear that this coolness augured 
ill for our future proceedings in Borneo. 

To add to our troubles, disagreements soon arose among 
us about the lady passengers ; and what was intended to 
cement the friendship of all those who embarked on board 
the Meander, had the effect of producing disagreements 
from which we all suffered afterwards. Mr Brooke passed 
the principal portion of his time in reading, reclining in 
his bed or on an easy-chair ; for although capable of great 
exertion, he was very fond of lounging. Occasionally he 
wrote, but much work was impossible, unless the bolt 
was drawn, and intruders thus shut out 

From Madeira to Bio Janeiro the voyage was pleasant. 
The trade-winds blew steadily, and we forged ahead at a 
good pace, sometimes touching 13 knots an hour. No- 
thing worthy of notice occurred at this capital of Brazil, 
and we soon passed on, making the shortest cut to Anjer, 
in Java, by trying the great-circle sailing. We did not 
actually go far enough south, but quite far enough for 
comfort, as we had heavy winds, rough seas, and bitter 
cold. 

Captain Eeppel had a passion for making rapid passages, 
and carried on sail until the ship was half buried in the 
sea: the consequences were loss of spars and canvas to 
the ship, and loss of comfort for aU. Wq grumbled — 
officers, men, and passengers — ^but it was of no use ; drive 
ahead we must, and drive ahead we did. 

It was a great pleasure to be invited to one of Captain 
Keppel's dinners. When in good spirits, Mr Brooke kept 
the table alive with his talk, and Eeppel was an excellent 
TOJOcmJUnt/r. On one of these occasions the band kept on 



134 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vi. 

playing after dinner; and on striking up a polka, Mr 
Brooke jumped up from his seat, seized hold of an ofBcer, 
and danced about the cabin to our great amusement : the 
band changed into a waltz, and Mr Brooke immediately 
continued his dance with one of the ladies, and, after every 
species of fun, sat down to piquet, and laughed and talked 
the whole evening, to our great satisfaction. 

As we approached towards the end of our journey, every 
one seemed to gather fresh spirits; and on the quarter-deck 
in the evenings games were inaugurated, and high-cocko- 
lorum was greatly appreciated. Mr Brooke, active as a 
kitten, made the most wonderful jimips, only approached 
by one or two on board. It was an amusing sight — ^first 
a little naval cadet, then the tall lieutenant-Govemor of 
Labuan, then a fat mid, till the line was most irregular 
in height, and a heavy-weight would send the whole 
floundering on deck together. 

One day we had suffered from calm and light winds ; 
the sea was unrufiSed as a mill-pond; the mids were 
whistling for a wind ; Mr Brooke and I were leaning on 
the taffrail and talking of the future. The ship was still, 
the sun had set; we gradually sank into silence, fix)m 
which I was drawn by a sort of ejaculation from my 
companion, "What a beautiful scene!'* — and beautiful 
indeed it was. The moon, but a few days old, appeared 
brighter than usual, and shed its soft rays on every side, 
tinging the waters, and illuminating the ship's wake 
The sky was of the deepest blue, and the stars appeared 
to stand out from it, while occasionally the light fleecy 
clouds coursing above added charm to the scene, and gave 
signs of the coming breeze. 

What an interesting moment it is on board to watch 
the springing up of a breeze after a long calm ! We stand 
anxiously at the stem, and watch with intense anxiety the 
approaching wind, as it raises the waves and curls them 



IMS.] *' TAKING A PRIEND'S WATCH." 135 

in the distance. The course of the breeze is easily dis- 
tinguished by the darker appearance of the water. This 
time, as the breeze caught us, we flew before it, and 
presently found ourselves in a calm : again the wind came 
up, and sent us merrily on our way. 

Mr Brooke was so great an admirer of these scenes at 
sea that he would often get up and keep the middle watch 
with a friend, walking the deck from 12 P.M. to 4 A.B1, or 
at least a good portion of it. When in London, Mr Brooke 
was describing to a very ingenuous American lady the 
pleasures of a long voyaga "For example," he said, 
"you c€ui take a Mend's watch" "What! Do you 
gentlemen on board steal each other's watches ? " was the 
startled reply. 

I seldom troubled the deck myself during the middle 
watch, but as we approached land I so longed to sight it 
that I got up at half-past two one night to catch a glimpse 
of Java, and asked Mr Brooke to accompany me. When 
we came on deck we found the ship almost still, although 
the wind blew freshly ; but we had hove to, for fear of 
running on shore. The rain fell heavily, and towards the 
north a deep loom proclaimed the vicinity of land. The 
scene, however, looked cheerless : the rolling of the vessel, 
the dripping rigging, the sloppy decks, the splashing of 
the rain, all combined to render it desolate, but I felt an 
inward satisfaction in knowing that we were near land. 
Mr Brooke soon went below, while I stayed to enjoy a 
mid's simple supper, served on the capstan, where five, 
possessing only a couple of plates between us, managed to 
stow away a goodly amoimt of salmon and biscuit, watered 
by the everlasting cherry-brandy and a little grog. 

As the voyage di*ew to a close, Mr Brooke began to 
draw up minutes for the guidance of the different oflBcers ; 
and as I did most of the copying, the bolt of the cabin- 
door was more frequently drawn than before, much to the 



136 LIFE OF Sm JAMES BROOKE. [chap. VI. 

disgust of our mids, ^ho must have looked on me as a 
dreadful bore, not being able to work amid their noisea 

I find very few references to this voyage in the Eajah's 
correspondence, except as to the Meander being an un- 
happy ship. I am afraid that the passengers, not except- 
ing Mr Brooke himself, were the original cause of the 
troubles on board. 

At length we sighted the hill of Singapore, and a boat 
came off with all the wonderful intelligence of the French 
Revolution and the fall of Louis Philippe. How inter- 
ested Mr Brooke was, — ^how eager for news ! The post- 
ofQce boat brought oflf our correspondence, and we spent 
half the night in reading it. We had had no news 
whatever from England since we left Cork on the 15th 
February, and now we were arrived at May 20. How 
different from the present time, when the telegraph 
pursues you everywhere, to tantalise you with but frag- 
ments of news ! 

We were all pleased to reach Singapore, particularly 
Mr Brooke, who had become tired of the eternal squab- 
bling that marked the last few weeks on board. The day 
after our arrival in Singapore Roads Mr Brooke landed in 
state, and was received at the wharf by Colonel Butter- 
worth, Governor of the Straits Settlements, and a guard of 
honour. Next day a ball was given to the new arrivals, 
which was really well worth seeing. I have spoken of the 
discords which broke out on board the Meander, — these 
separated the lieutenant-Grovemor from the Navy ; an in- 
cident which occurred at this ball separated him for good 
from the Grovemor of the Straits, and produced evil fruit 
for our new settlement. I will not say that the Lieutenant- 
Governor was altogether in the wrong, except that in a 
public position an ofQcer can be too sensitive to apparent 
slights. 

After about three weeks' stay in Singapore, Mr Brooke 



1W8.] MADE A K.C.B. 137 

sent on Messrs Scott and Hosldns to prepare the site of 
the town which was to be built at Labuan, while the rest 
of t]ie i>arty remained in Singapore. Here was the first 
error. The officers sent on were unaccustomed to a tro- 
pical climate, while those who remained knew exactly 
what should be done. This arose from too kind a feeling 
towards the ladies of our party, and an unwillingness to 
separate them ; but the presence of one conversant with 
Malay was so apparently necessary, that we were sur- 
prised at the time that our chief could be talked into the 
arrangement, which proved almost disastrous. 

We passed above three months in Singapore. There 
was much to be done in preparing framework houses for 
Labuan, but the work was more suited to a carpenter 
than to a couple of governors. Singapore is a very 
favourite place, — a settlement where the sagacity of its 
founder, Sir Stamford Eaffles, has been borne out by its 
prosperity, and where the merchants, fairly prosperous, 
are hospitable to every one who will be at the pains to 
seek their society. No one who has any employment 
need be dull in Singapore. 

During our stay, news reached us that her Majesty 
had been pleased to confer upon Mr Brooke the Order of 
the Bath, — that he was now a KC.R - ^Sir Jam es Brooke 
for the future^ The installation took place in Singapore. 
How we regretted that the news arrived before we sailed ! 
as we should have liked to have had the ceremony per- 
formed amid the wild beauties of the Bomeon forest 



138 



CHAPTER VII. 

RETURN TO SARAWAK. 
1848-1849. 

Every arrangement being completed, the Meander sailed 
for Sarawak on the 28th of August, leaving the Lieutenant- 
Governor to follow after the arrival of the mail. We were 
a small party, consisting of Sir James Brooke, Mr Grant, 
and myself. Mr Grant had been a midshipman on board 
the Meander, but had left the service to become Sir James's 
private secretary. He was the one with the laughing 
eyes, who was the leader of the noisy fun in Mr Brooke's 
cabin. 

We soon reached the coast of Borneo, to be welcomed, 
as Sir James had been during his first voyage, by thunder, 
lightning, and rain; but a different welcome greeted us 
the day after our arrival at the entrance of the Sarawak 
river. 

I must give, in words written at the moment, an ac- 
count of the reception which the Bajah of Sarawak re- 
ceived from his faithful subjects. As his followers ever 
after called him ''the Bajsdi," I shall use this term as 
synonymous with Sir James. 

Sept. 4 — ^About ten o'clock in the morjiing native war- 
boats commenced issuing from the Morotabas entrance of 
the Sarawak river, and sailed towards the frigate. These 
were manned by the Sarawak people, come to welcome 



1W8.] RECEPTION AT SARAWAK. 139 

back their Eajah to the country of his adoption. They 
were in long light praJius, with tapering masts and "but- 
terfly" sails, ornamented with flags and streamers, and with 
all the crews dressed in gala costuma The chiefs came 
on board, and greeted their Eajah with heartfelt gladness, 
while from their own boats we were deafened by a con- 
tinual beating of gongs. Some of our visitors were rather 
fine men, but on the whole their outward appearance was 
very homely : their jackets, however, were tastefully orna- 
mented with gold embroidery, and when clustered together 
they looked picturesque. About one o'clock we left the 
Meander under a royal salute and manning of yards, — a 
^aly royal treatment. Manning the yards has a singular 
effect — ^the whole of the spars covered with men in their 
clean white dresses, standing apparently hand in hand, and 
all of the same height. When the last echoes of the salute 
had died away, the blue-jackets gave three hesity cheers, 
and then swarmed like bees down the rigging. The war 
prahus kept up a constant firing of guns, much to our 
and their own amusement. The pull up the river was a 
long one ; but the appearance of the country was worth 
the ennui of six hours in a boat Near us, the scene was 
ever the same ; but in the distance the fine outlines of 
ranges of moimtains afforded a striking contrast to the 
low jungle around. Occasionally we passed fishing huts 
and boats, and once a small Chinese junk that fired a royal 
salute of three guns as we passed by. 

As we drew near the town, the shades of evening fell, — 
not, however, before a most brilliant sunset had delighted 
us. The prahus, sailing up at irregular intervals behind, 
the long snake-like Dyak boats, all kept up their firing 
and beating of gongs and drums, forming to me, a stranger, 
a most wild and picturesque scene. As we rounded the 
last point and came in view of the capital, we were sur- 
prised to find the whole town illuminated. Every house 



140 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. vn. 

had rows and clusters of lamps, whose light, reflected in 
the placid waters, rendered the effect doubly brilliant. 

We were welcomed at the Bajah's house by all the 
European inhabitants, and soon felt quite at home. The 
house was quickly filled by the native chiefs, while every 
available window and door presented crowds of eager 
gazers. There was a genuine feeling of delight at the 
Eajah's return, and I could perceive a glow of satisfaction 
beaming in his face, gradually settling down into a look 
of quiet happiness, and his observation proved it — " I feel 
more happy here than anjrwhere else in the world ; this 
is my home." 

Sir James Brooke's house was, as I have before remarked, 
oblong in form, and consisted of four rooms — a large din- 
ing-room, a library, and two bedrooms — while at one end 
was built a wing, in which he had his private apartments. 
Another wing was added afterwards for his nephew, and 
little cottages were built for his suite. Altogether it was 
a very charming abode. The interior arrangements were 
at a later period modified and improved, a noble library 
added, which was my chief delight ; in fact, in no other 
home have I spent more happy hours. 

When we arrived in Sarawak in September 1848, 
Kuching, the capital, was but a small town of perhaps 
6000 or 7000 inhabitants, with a few Kling* and Chinese 
shopkeepers. There was but little trade, — ^the unsettled 
state of the coast prevented prahus from arriving ; the 
staple article — antimony ore — was unsaleable, on account 
of the disturbances in Europe ; and the revenues, minus 
the unpaid royalty on antimony, scarcely exceeded £1500 
a-year. It was a dull prospect, but we were all full of 
hope. 

To show the style of intercourse which the Rajah kept 
up with his people, I will give an account of a visit he 

^ Natives of the Malabar coast of India. 



1848.] A MALAY LADY. 141 

paid, four days after our arrival, to Mina, one of the 
wires of the principal Malay chief, the Datu Patinggi 
I will give it in words written at the time, as they have 
the merit of freshness. 

Sq>t 8. — We started up the river at one o'clock in a 
light canoe: every house and every landing-place were 
crowded with people to gaze on the Bajah, as the boat was 
rapidly paddled up the stream. There was every prepara- 
tion made for receiving us in state — flags, streamers, and 
gODgs as usual, with men assembled near the guns holding 
lighted matches ; and as we approached the landing-place, 
the salutes began, and were continued at frequent inter- 
vals during the whole of our visit From the wharf to the 
house white cloth was spread for us to walk on ; and as 
we entered we were greeted with a shower of yellow rice 
for luck's sake. Passing through an outer room, we en- 
tered the haU of audience— a large square apartment, 
without an ornament on its bare plank walls save a soli- 
tary old pistoL The floor was covered with mats, and on 
either side was ranged a file of chairs, facing each other, 
for Mina's European guests. At the upper end was a seat, 
with a piece of gold brocade thrown over it, for the Rajah, 
while cloth-of-gold was spread under his feet. At his right 
sat Mina, on the prettiest of mats. She had received us 
with a good deal of elegance. After a few words of wel- 
come, she rose, and, with her maidens, began to shower 
on us yellow rice, touched our foreheads with a golden 
ring, and then sprinkled our hair with gold-dust These 
greetings being over, I had leisure to look round the room 
and examine the assembled crowd. Behind us sat the 
women and girls, a few of the younger tolerably good- 
looking, and, for Malays, perhaps handsome ; but in gen- 
eral they were very plain. The other portions of the room 
were crowded with men and boys — some of the latter 
naked, others half dressed, while a few were decently 



142 LIFE OF SIE JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. tu. 

clothed. Among the Malays, however, it is difficult to judge 
the rank of a man by his dress. Mina sat, as I before 
observed, on the Bajah's right, and entered readily into 
conversation. One of her observations is well worth re- 
cording. The Bajah paid her a compliment on her neat 
house, when she answered, " Ah, sir, were it not for you, 
I should not have had this house ; it is yours. We never 
had such a place as this until you came to live among us." 
Her voice is occasionally very sweet ; she is pleasant in 
her manner, and tolerable in her appearance — plainly 
dressed in a long black robe, with large gold buttons down 
the front, and rows on either sleeve. After partaking of a 
limcheon of sweetmeats, we retired with the same honours 
that had greeted our entrance. 

We paid many other visits to the wives of the different 
chiefs, — among others, to the second wife of the Datu, and 
we were much amused by his plaintive complaints, that 
now Mina had a new house, the other wife, Inde^ insisted 
on one for herself. A model of a large house was brought 
forward, and the wife and her fine-looking daughter, Fatl- 
msL, playfully insisted that the Bajah should order the 
Datu to comply with their desira He answered, amid 
much laughter, *' If you tease him enough, he will do it ; *' 
and he did it shortly afterwards. 

A few days before the latter visit. Captain Brooke of 
the 88th Begiment, Sir James Brooke's nephew and aide- 
de-camp, arrived, — a pleasing, considerate companion, with 
whom, for fourteen years, I lived on the most intimate and 
affectionate terms. 

The object of Sir James Brooke in visiting Sarawak 
before proceeding to Labuan was not only to see his peo- 
ple, but to organise a league of the different trading rivers 
against the pirates of Seribas and Sakarang, who, during 
the Bajah's absence in England, had recommenced their 
marauding expeditions. A great meeting was held on 



1848.] THE FLAG OP SARAWAK. 143 

the 21st September, at which the flag of Sarawak was 
hoisted amid general cheering and a salute of twenty-one 
guns : then the European inhabitants of Sarawak presented 
Sir James with a handsome sword, and he, in return, pre- 
sented the native chie& with swords ; the Meander's band 
played, complimentary speeches were made, and the cere- 
mony was over. 

The important object of the meeting then came off. The 
Eajah explained to the assembled chiefs that the flag of 
Sarawak might be used by any community allied with 
Sarawak for the repression of piracy, but at the same time 
he warned the chiefs of the neighbouring provinces who 
were present that if they held any intercourse with the 
pirates, they would be considered equally gidlty. The 
object chiefly aimed at was to stop as far as possible the 
supply of salt, iron, and flrearms, and thus facilitate the 
submission of the pirate communities. Neither the Seri- 
bas nor Sakarang made salt, and were therefore dependent 
on their neighbours ; but many chiefs, influenced by the 
large profits of the trade, clandestinely furnished the pirates 
with this indispensable article. 

The question of the Sarawak flag gave rise subsequently 
to much discussion. It was argued that in introducing 
this flag, Sir James Brooke not only desired to create a 
distinctive mark of country for his own people, but that 
he was influenced by the ambition to combine the whole 
coast under one Grovemment. This is no doubt true : it 
was impossible for good government to exist in Sarawak 
without its neighbours desiring the same advantage, and 
the feeling was almost unanimous that the Bajah should 
take possession of the adjoining districts. Those who 
opposed it were certain chiefs, who feared both loss of 
power and loss of incoma 

I should here notice that a few months before our arrival 
at Euching, the Society for the Propagation of the Grospel 



144 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vn. 

had established a Mission in Sarawak, at the head of which 
was placed the Eev. F. T. McDougalL His remarkable 
medical talent was of the greatest service to us all, and 
no one in Sarawak can ever forget his unwearied atten- 
tion to them when struck down, as the officers often 
were, by the weakening fevers of the country. I have 
publicly differed with him as to the management of the 
Mission, but it is unnecessary to revive a forgotten con- 
troversy. Mr McDougall deservedly exercised more influ- 
ence over the European inhabitants than any one before 
or since : it was a happy party, until, many years later, 
the demon of discord entered there. 

Three days after the ceremony I have described, we 
left Kuching, and joining the frigate Meander at the 
mouth of the river, immediately sailed for Labuan, where 
we arrived in a few days. 

Labuan, the island chosen for an English settlement, 
was 11 miles long by 7 miles broad at the base of its 
angular shape. It was covered with forest, but had an 
open swampy plain, which formed one side of its fine har- 
bour on the southern shore. Coal had been discovered, 
and was already rudely worked by a Mr Miles. 

When we reached Victoria harbour we found that Mr 
Scott had erected a series of comfortable -looking mat 
houses on the dry sandy beach between the swamp and 
the sea. No more unfortunate place could have been 
chosen ; the site could not fail to be fever-stricken. I do 
not blame Mr Scott for this, as not only was he un- 
acquainted with tropical countries, but he acted under 
orders. The proper site for the first houses was, how- 
ever, on the ridge of hiUs, where Mr Low subsequently 
built his permanent residence. 

As soon as possible after our arrival, Sir James Brooke 
was sworn in as Governor, and then we started for Brunei 
in the Meander, to ratify the treaty with the Sultan. What 



1848.] A DISMASTED SHIP. 145 

a day of disasters! The south-west monsoon was blowing 
fiercely. Under easy sail the Meander was forging ahead 
so fast as to drag under water her launch which she was 
towing astern, and seriously to endanger her little steam- 
tender. Men and gear were seen floating in the distance 
as we shortened sail. 

Standing by the side of Sir James Brooke, at the stem 
port of the captain's cabin, I observed this curious scene. 
The wind was blowing hard, driving masses of cloud across 
the sky — the rain descended in torrents, and there was a 
heavy sea. Now and then appearing above the waves 
we could see the heads of the swimmers in the distance, 
the launch filled with water, the steam-tender cut adrift 
to save her from being dashed to pieces against the ship's 
side, the two cutters and the jolly-boat in search of the men 
and gear. Fortunately the men were saved, and a glass of 
grog put them to rights : one of them who could not swim 
had already had four such upsets on this coast. WhUe 
occupied in getting in the launch, the signalman reported 
that H.M.S. Eoyalist, which had left three days before, 
was in sight without a single mast standing. When she 
passed us she appeared a perfect wreck. A squall had 
taken her aback off Baram Point, and had swept every- 
thing away. Fore, main, and mizzen masts, had all fallen 
along the deck without seriously injuring a man, though 
several of the crew were sent sprawling under the weight 
of the rigging. 

These disasters induced Captain Eeppel to return to 
Labuan without accomplishing the object of our mission, 
and on the 14th October the Meander left us for Singapore. 

We now began to suffer from the effect of the ill-chosen 
site of our houses. One after another the officers were 
struck down with fever. In the midst of this distressing 
period, Rear- Admiral Sir Francis Collier made his appear- 
ance in the Auckland. He was a short, stout, shrewd 



146 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [c5Hap. VII, 

man. I sat next to him at dinner, and he amused me 
greatly by his remarks. He was a clever, prosy, coarse, 
though often gentlemanlike man, a Tory of the old school 
" Did I think," said he, " I had a drop of Whig blood in 
my veins, I would have the barber to come and bleed me 
until it was all out of my body." He had once been 
summoned before a bench of magistrates, and having 
uttered a great oath, the chairman fined him five shillings 
for swearing. He looked grimly at the bench of three 
magistrates, drew a gold coin from his pocket, threw it on 

the table, and said, ** D your eyes all round, and that 

will make up the sovereign." 

Either alarmed by the sickness on shore, or for some 
other reason, the Admiral took a violent dislike to the new 
colony, and ever after tried to run it down. He remained 
but a few hours, embarked some invalids, and was then 
off. His report was no doubt deemed highly valuable and 
interesting. I cannot much wonder at his alarm, for in 
the midst of dinner I was called out to attend to one of 
our chief ofiScers, Dr Treacher, and found him sinking 
fast I ran back to tell the Eajah, who instantly came, and, 
seeing the danger, forced a glassful of brandy-and- water 
down his throat, and thus revived him. No wonder that 
the poor Admiral turned pale at the idea of the hotbed of 
fever in which he foimd himself. 

Most of our party having recovered fipom their fevers, an 
expedition was organised to enable us to proceed to Brunei 
to ratify the treaty. We had the little steam-tender of the 
Meander, called the Eanee ; a sailing gunboat, the JoUy 
Beichelor, belonging to Sir James himself, but manned by 
a crew from the frigate ; and a couple of other boats. This 
was to me a most interesting expedition. Our party, con- 
sisting of the Bajah, Govt. - Secretary Low, the Bajah's 
nephew Captain Brooke, his private secretary Grant, an 
energetic midshipman named Suttie, a few others, and 



1848.] RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY. 147 

myself were all inclined to enjoy the change from Labuan 
and the novelty of the visit. I have before described 
Brunei and its lovely river. We were as usual well stared 
at, and our little st^tmer enjoying the monopoly of favour, 
was weU saluted; but at length we landed and took pos- 
session of a large shed-like house near the shabby palace 
and stiU shabbier mosqua 

The ceremony attending the ratification of the treaty was 
very simple. We visited the Sultan in his haU, of which the 
only ornament was a rough sketch of a ship done in char- 
coal by some lad. Facing us as we entered, his Highness 
was discovered seated on a china bedstead as his throne, 
with Mumein, his prime minister, at his feet, while a few 
nobles were squatted around. At our entry his Highness 
rose, and advancing seized Sir James Brooke's hand and 
led him to the bedstead, and seated him on his left. A 
few complimentary speeches were made, the treaty was 
brought in, salutes fired, and the ceremony was over. One 
of the causes of his EUghness's lively satisfaction was, that 
the Eajah had brought with him £1000 to be divided 
among the members of the Government; and his eagerness 
to obtain the money was only equalled by his childish 
curiosity to know if there was not something else coming. 

Sir James, however, aided by Mr Low, entered actively 
into n^tiations with the authorities in order to insure 
the welfare of the new colony : he endeavoured to calm 
their apprehensions and to excite their interest, and before 
we left a much better feeling prevailed. We visited many 
sights of interest in the neighbourhood, particularly the coal- 
formations on the Kianggi stream. On the 31st of October 
we returned to Labuan, and next day there commenced the 
most distressing month that I have ever passed through. 
The weather was very impropitious : the south-west mon- 
soon blew with all its force ; the sea rose to an unprece- 
dented height and swept over the beach, filling the lower 



148 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP.Tll. 

parts of the houses with water, and damaging the provi- 
sions stored there ; the rain fell in such quantities as to 
turn the swamp into a huge pool of fetid water, and the con- 
sequences were obvious. The Governor, the lieutenant- 
Govemor, the Doctor, Mr and Mrs Low, Captain Hoskins, 
Mr Grant, Captain Brooke, the marines, — all were down 
with fever at the same tima The only civilians who 
escaped were Mr Scott and myself Mr Scott, as surveyor 
and engineer, was the most actively employed of the whole 
party, and was always welL I, being half an idler, turned 
hospital nurse, and for a fortnight at a time slept on a 
mat beside one patient or another. The water rushing 
under our houses and through the store-rooms alarmed 
the rats, and dozens of them invaded our bedrooms. So 
bold were they, that while watching by the side of my 
patients I could prod with my sword the boldest that ran 
near, but very quietly, for fear of awakening my sleeping 
friends. A panic seized the servants, and most of them 
refused to aid under the plea of sickness, so that much 
unusual work fell to my shara The Governor's fever so 
reduced him that I began to entertain grave apprehen- 
sions, when on the 27th the Auckland arrived, to be fol- 
lowed next day by the Meander. 

Captain Keppel saw at a glance what was to be done. 
EUs friend was evidently in a low state. He must leave 
the fever-stricken island, and go for a cruise with him. To 
combine business with the pursuit of health, it was deter- 
mined to start for the Sulu Archipelago, and to call at 
various rivers on the way to open relations with the chiefs. 
Sir James Brooke, Captain Brooke, Mr Grant, Dr Treacher, 
and myself embarked therefore on the 3d December, and 
once more found ourselves among the companions of our 
outward voyage. We visited Kimanis, whence the chief 
came off to see the Rajah. We were, however, prevented 
from canying out our design of visiting other rivers by 



1848.] EFFECT OF IMAGINATION. 149 

the arrival on board of the. master of a British merchant- 
vessel, the Minerva, that had been wrecked on the island 
of Balambangan, at the extreme north of Borneo. He had 
not been able to save anything, as he had been frightened 
from his ship by the crowds of armed natives who rushed 
on board of her for the purpose of plunder. 

In the hope of saving something, Eeppel set sail imme- 
diately for Balambangan ; but when we arrived there, we 
found the wreck burned to the water's edga Nothing 
could be saved, nor could we find any natives, or a trace 
of the missing crew. We therefore stood over to Maludu 
Bay, and I took a message to the principal chief to invite 
him to visit Sir James Brooke aboard, as from him we 
hoped to obtain tidings of the missing crew, who, how- 
ever, eventually turned up in Labuan. 

It is not my intention to write a full description of our 
voyage, but only to touch on it when anything happened 
in which Sir James was concerned. We visited the 
lovely island of Cagayan Sulu, with its pretty lake, ap- 
parently an extinct crater, filled with the clearest of fresh 
water. 

I may notice an incident which occurred during this 
voyage to show what imagination will do. Sir James had 
taken a great prejudice against quinine, saying it did not 
agree with him. "Can you take gentian?" asked Dr 
Clarke, our clever senior surgeon. "Yes." So a bottle 
marked " gentian ^' was sent up. I was still nurse, and when 
helping the Bajah I noticed that it was quinine I was 
giving. I directly remarked that it was so, when the 
Eajah said, " No, it is gentian." On going into the gun- 
room I told Dr Clarke what had passed. " If you want 
the Bajah to die, you will tell him it is quinine," was his 
reply. The stuff was taken as gentian, and the patient 
recovered. Eighteen years afterwards, when I heard the 
Bajah refusing quinine, I was tempted to tell him this 



150 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP.vri. 

story. He looked vexed, but he no longer made any ob- 
jection to the quinine, and it again did him good. 

We continued our voyage to Sulu, with the Saltan of 
which place Sir James was anxious to enter into Mendly 
relations, in order to attract trade to Labuan. We struck 
land just oflf a large village surrounded by groves of cocoa- 
nut trees. The first appearance of the island is very 
striking, — two high -peaked hills, with alternate patches 
clear of grass-land, and noble forest, scattered clumps of 
trees, and a long belt of cocoa-nut palms separating the 
park-like scenery from the sea. We arrived off the cap- 
ital. Sough, on the 27th. The Dutch had lately attacked 
this place, and had burned that portion of the town which 
was built on piles in the sea — the blackened remains 
being stiU quite visible at low water. Our visit was 
therefore regarded with very great suspicion. There 
were many other reasons for hostile feeling. The chief 
of Maludu, Serib Usman, who died from wounds re- 
ceived during the British attack on his town in 1846, 
was a relative of the Sultan ; and numerous relations of 
the men killed during the Nemesis's action with the 
pirates in 1847 resided near Sough. We did not, there- 
fore, expect a warm reception. 

There was an Englishman living at the capital, one of 
those adventurous spirits to be found in almost every out- 
landish place. He had been an officer under the command 
of the famous Admiral Cochrane, when he so gallantly up- 
held his name while fighting to free the Spanish colonies 
from the mother country — a short broad-shouldered fellow 
named Wy ndham. His had been a life of adventure ; and 
if rumour did not belie him, all was fish that came to his 
net Our arrival did not please him, as he was devoted 
to the Spanish cause; but blood is thicker than water, 
and he soon lent us his hearty assistance. Having through 
his aid arranged an audience with the Sultan, Sir James 



1848.] THE SULTAN OP SULU. 151 

Brooke, Captain Keppel, and a numerous party landed at 
Mr Wyndham's house, which was built out in the sea 
on piles. Our guide led us by a long shaky platform to 
the shore, where we found assembled crowds of armed 
natdves. A messenger sent by the Sultan cleared the 
way, along a broad rough road with a high stockade on 
the left, and houses on the right. We passed on through 
ever - increasing crowds to a market - place, where the 
women were selUng fish and vegetables. At last we 
came to a creek, over which a rough bridge was thrown, 
leading to the palace. This was also strongly stockaded, 
and here and there we observed mounted some heavy 
brass guna Entering through a large gate, we found, on 
a small green, hundreds of men armed with muskets, 
spears, the heavy Lanun swords, and hrises. Most 
carried shields, while a few were protected by chain- 
armour and ancient European helmets, probably taken 
in their wars against the Spaniards. The audience-hall 
was on the right and the mosque on the left The 
crowd opening we mounted some steps, and crossing a 
broad veranda, densely packed with the Sultan's body- 
guard, we found ourselves in the presence of the monarch. 
The audience-hall was large, but perfectly bare of orna- 
ment, as all their brocades, silks, and hangings had been 
sent to the interior, on account of an absurd report that 
had been spread that we intended to bombard the pletce. 
In the centre of the hall was a round table, on the oppo- 
site side of which sat the Sultan and his chiefs ; on our 
side a number of rude chairs, in which, after shaking 
hands, we took our seats. The Sultan then asked a few 
questions; among the first, singularly enough, ''Was 
France quiet?" 

The Sultan was very like the portrait given of him in 
Sir £. Belcher's voyage of the Samarang : he was dressed 
in white flowered silk, with a very broad gold belt round 



152 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vii. 

his waist, a handsome kris, and gold bracelets sparkling 
with jewels. Some of the chiefs were splendidly dressed 
in silks, gold brocades, handsome turbans, and head-dresses 
like tiaras of gold. The young men, as ususJ, were the 
most gaudily decorated, while the old were often in plain 
white jackets. The rest of the hall was filled with men 
evidently of a respectable class. Observing, after a short 
conversation, that Sir James looked hot and tired, the 
Sultan politely broke up the audience, and we returned 
by the path we came. Mr Wyndham dined with the 
Captain, and amused us by a variety of anecdotes relating 
to the Sulus and the pirates who frequented the port. 
Sir Jam^ stayed a few days longer to converse with the 
different chiefs, while we made some acquaintance with 
the country. I was particularly interested with two young 
chiefs, who, taking me by either hand, led me through the 
town to the race-course, where we found many young men 
putting their horses through their paces. The Sulus ap- 
pear an energetic race. 

Whilst the Meander was at Sough, strong parties were sent 
to a watering-place about a couple of miles from the town. 
I accompanied the second expedition, and to our surprise 
we found all the ground around the spring full of fish-bones, 
which wounded the feet of several of our men. While the 
water was being got on board the boats, some of us strolled 
through the groves of palms and fruit-trees, among which 
we observed many cottagea We noticed that the inhabi- 
tants regarded us with fierce and savage looks, and came 
to their doors with arms in their hands ; but being well 
armed also, we took no notice. We afterwards found that 
the survivors of the action with the Nemesis in the previous 
year (1847) were quartered about this spring. No wonder 
they looked savagely at us. The fish-bones had been scat- 
tered by them, — a piece of wanton mischief, from which 
more of their countrymen suffered than ours did. 



1849.] RETURN TO LABUAN. 153 

On the 3d of January 1849 we weighed anchor and 
stood along the coast, intending to visit the great island 
of Mindanau, and to touch at the Spanish settlement of 
Samboangan. We enjoyed our stay at this place, where 
we were received with the greatest hospitality. Sir James 
was particularly pleased with the Governor, an artillery 
officer, Colonel Cayetano de Pigneron. We foimd him 
very angry with the interference of the Dutch in Sulu, and 
the Grovemor - General of the Philippines had protested 
against it Yet the Dutch had suffered enough from pirate- 
fleets, which obtained their supplies at Sulu, to warrant a 
severe retaliation. 

On our return to Cagayan Sulu, we passed a coral-reef, 
on which were collected thousands of birds. A party 
landed to shoot, and singularly enough they found a grave 
on this lonely spot, out of sight of all other land. 

Sir James Brooke, having shaken oflf his fever, enjoyed 
greatly his second visit to Cagayan Sulu. The week was 
passed in exploring the beauties of this very lovely isle, 
and in making friends with its chiefs. We had of course 
our usual adventures: the Meander was several times 
ashore, but she was always got off without any damage. 
At length on the 28th January we reached Labuan : the 
patients who had embarked were now in perfect health, 
and to our great delight we foimd that all those whom we 
had left ill were also convalescent. Every one had quitted 
the houses on the plain, and was installed on the hills. 

We only stayed a fortnight at Labuan, as Sir James was 
anxious to commence operations for the complete suppres- 
sion of piracy between Sarawak and our colony. The Eajah 
had an immense correspondence, and used to write very 
frequently to my father. After upwards of twenty-eight 
years, I come across such words as these to warm my heart 
towards my old chief : " This place, as you may have heard, 
has been sickly, a nasty remittent fever having prostrated 



f-M 



154 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. vii. 

most of us. Your son has escaped, and, generally speak- 
ing, has been healthy. I cannot boast of having paid him 
much attention at our first outset" (that I had noticed), 
" but now I do so from selfish motives as well as better 
ones, for I am daily knowing him better, and better appre- 
ciating the goodness of his heart and of his abilities. His 
attendance on the sick did him the greatest credit, and I 
owe him a debt of gratitude for his tender care of ma" 

This was a year of expeditiona On our arrival at Sara- 
wak on the 16th February 1849, we found that the Seribas 
and Sakarang pirates had already commenced their rav- 
ages, and that the coast was so insecure for traders that 
few prahtts were venturing out, unless in company and 
well armed, or large enough to go to sea, so as to be out of 
sight of land, beyond the observation of the Dyak pirates, 
who secretly kept inshora 

I will give one instance of the injury done by these 
pirates to the peaceful inhabitants of this coast. To keep 
as far as possible from the better-armed and brave pirates 
of Mindanau and the Sulu Archipelago (the dreaded 
Lanuns and Balagnini), the Malays of the north-west 
coast of Borneo usually built their towns and villages far 
up the rivers, genersdly from twenty to thirty miles from 
the mouths. But the land between their towns and the 
sea being the best farming ground, most of the inhabit- 
ants established themselves at regular seasons in small 
huts to plant their rice in the rich alluvial soil on the 
banks of the streams. This was the case at Sadong, a 
river about twenty miles to the east of Sarawak. 

The pirates of Seribas, of course, were well aware of this 
practice, and early in February they prepared a formidable 
expedition against Sadong. It consisted of 130 Malay and 
Dyak war-boats, and was commanded by a fierce old 
Malay, the Laksimana of Seribas. The estimated nxmiber 
of the men would be between 4000 and 5000 — warriors^ 



1840.] TIMELY RESCUE. 155 

not davtB, as Mr Gladstone imagined. They started from 
their river about the 17th February, and reached the 
entrance of the Sadong at daybreak, and immediately 
commenced the ascent of the stream. As the foremost 
boats came abreast of a farmhouse, they stopped at the 
landing-place and allowed the rest to push on. Jumping 
on shore, they too often surprised the unfortunate Malays, 
and heads, captives, and plunder rewarded their nefarious 
activity. This continued until they reached a fortified 
house, where the men being prepared, opened fire on those 
Dyaks who landed, and thus gave the alarm to the people 
who lived higher up the river. The loss of some men and 
the necessity to push on rapidly induced the pirates to aban- 
don the attack on the stronghold, but they obtained few 
heads after this, as the inhabitants, on hearing the firing, fled 
to the jungles. They, however, secured some plimder and a 
few captives. A well-known Seribas fighting-man named 
Dnndong, arriving near a farmhouse, and observing a girl 
making for the jungle, gave chase. Being encumbered by 
his heavy spear, he stuck it in the ground, and darted after 
and soon came up to the trembling creature. Seizing her 
in his arms he hurried back, little suspecting that his 
movements had been watched by the girl's father, who, 
emerging from the bushes where he lay concealed, seized 
the spear and waited the pirate's return. As soon as he 
passed by, the father, springing from his place of conceal- 
ment, thrust the spear through the rufi&an's neck, and 
killed him on the spot ; then, leaving the body, father and 
daughter escaped to the jungle. 

In this raid the Seribas obtained about one hundred 
heads, a few captive women, and a small amount of 
plimder. Their loss was trifling, consisting of about 
half-a-dozen killed and wounded. 

The news of this and other similar atrocities greatly 
excited Sir James Brooke : he grew restless, could not sit 



156 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. vil. 

still or sleep, but was continually wandering about the 
house both night and day. At last he detennined to 
cruise against the enemy with his native boats, and we 
started with about twenty war prahus and 700 men ; but 
we were in a few days driven back by the recommence- 
ment of the north-east monsoon, when our native war- 
vessels could not live in the open sea. As what drove 
us to shelter would also drive the pirates home, our in- 
effectual expedition did no harm, but aided in disciplining 
the crews. We were all of us kept in constant practice, 
the Eajah encouraging his followers to exercise them- 
selves either with the rifle, the pistol, or the sword, and 
showing us the exampla He himself was a master of his 
weapons. 

When the H.E.LC.S. Nemesis arrived about the middle 
of March, it was determined to retaliate on the Seribas, 
and make them feel at home what they had made so many 
others feeL It would be wearisome to the reader to give 
an account of all our cruises against the pirates ; but I 
intend to give in another chapter a full account of one 
expedition, to show the life Sir James Brooke led out in 
Borneo. We started on this occasion with four boats fipom 
the Nemesis and fifty-five war prahtis. We visited many 
rivers, surprised and destroyed eight villages, drove back 
in dismay a large pirate fleet which was just issuing to 
sea, and made the pirates pause in their incursions. 

During this time the inhabitants of the neighbouring 
districts, for above 100 miles along the coast, began to 
abandon their struggle with the pirates, and to fly to Sara- 
wak for shelter. A thousand arrived at a time. Though 
this raised the population of the capital from about 7000 
to 13,000, it was at the expense of the wellbeing of the 
whole coast, and Sir James determined to strike one great 
blow at the pirates when the fine season should commence ; 
but while the necessary force was being collected, he con- 



1849.] QUARRELS AT LABUAN. 157 

sidered that he had sufficient time to proceed once more to 
Labuan, and to hold on his course as far as Sulu to nego- 
tiate a treaty with that power. We had received intelli- 
gence that the Dutch were preparing an expedition to 
make a final attack on Sough; and Sir James thought 
that England should now interfere to prevent the absorp- 
tion of the few native states which remained independent. 

The Nemesis took us to Labuan about the middle of 
May. We found it fairly healthy, although our good 
friend, Dr Treacher, had been obliged to take sick leave. 
We noticed also that there was an imeasy feeling among 
the officers, and that the Lieutenant-Governor, not acting 
with much tact, was incurring their systematic opposition. 
It appears the destiny of small communities to quarrel. 
Sir James Brooke felt these differences much : many of 
the officials were his personal friends, and had he only 
had to deal with men, he could have readily reconciled 
their differences; but the women were too much even 
for his conciliatory disposition. 

We were glad to get away from their wretched squab- 
bles, and find ourselves on board the Nemesis, steering 
away for Sulu, where we arrived without an adventure in 
four daya^ We were received in the most friendly and 
intimate manner, and had no difficulty in negotiating a 
treaty. We then visited Samboangan, saw our old friend 
the Grovemor, and returned to Labuan to find its home 
politics more tranquil — traders arriving, but no one to 
buy. The Chinese merchants, having been frightened by 
the report of fever, scarcely ever visited the place. 

As Sir James expected that the force for the great ex- 
pedition against the pirates would be by this time collected 
at Sarawak, we stayed but a few days at Labuan — long 
enough, however, for a fever I had contracted in Sambo- 

^ For a fiill account of this trip, vide * Life in the Forests of the Far 
East' (yoL ii. chap, iz.), by Spencer St John, £sq. 1862. 



158 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BBOOKE. [ohaf. vn. 

angan to show itself in force. As I lay tossing about in 
my bed during the long wearisome nights, a gentle hand 
would smooth my pillow, present cooling drinks to my 
parched Ups, and during the height of my deUrium would 
watch for hours at my side. I cannot say whether he was 
always by the bedside; but whenever consciousness re- 
turned, or I awoke from sleep, I was sure to see the Bajah 
near, tender and true to all his friends. 

On reaching Sarawak we found two ships of war await- 
ing our arrival — H.M.'s brig Albatross, Commander (now 
Admiral) Farquhar ; and the Boyalist, Lieut.-Ck)mmander 
Everest. We waited for the return of the Nemesis before 
starting on our expedition against the pirates; in the 
meantime the native forces were organised. 

As this expedition made a great stir at the time, and 
was much and sharply criticised both then and now, I 
will give the account of it at length, as I find it written 
in my diary. It will show the work in which Sir James 
Brooke was engaged — the fatigue, the exposure, which 
laid the groundwork of fever which prostrated many of 
us for years. It was not undertaken for pleasure or from 
ambition, but from a stern sense of duty, — for the protec- 
tion of the trading and agricultural classes. 



159 



CHAPTE.E VIII. 

THE SERIBAS AND SAKAKANG PIRATES. 

1849. . ' 

I HAVE written at the close of the last chapter that Sir James 
Brooke did not undertake expeditions against the Seribas 
and Sakarang either from pleasure or from ambition, but 
frx)m a stem sense of duty — to protect the trading and 
agricultural classes of the coast.' I had thought it unne- 
cessary to go more particularly into this question, thinking 
that the occasional notices of these pirates which I have 
introduced into this biography would suffice; but after 
the covert and unjust attack made on Sir James Brooke's 
reputation by Mr Gladstone, I have thought it better to 
treat the subject of Dyak piracy in a separate chapter, 
and to examine subsequently the grounds upon which Mr 
Gladstone's attacks against the Bajah were based after I 
have given an account of the battle of Batang Marau. It 
may be a superfluous task, but it will bring into one con- 
nected narrative information that is now scattered over a 
great variety of works. It will necessarily involve many 
repetitions, but its perusal will be useful in order to under- 
stand the life of Sir James Brooka 

Whilst looking over my papers, I came upon a manu- 
script in which I had entered very fuUy into the whole 
question. It was written in 1850, during the great excite- 
ment on the subject, and contains a summary of the pro- 



160 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. viiL 

ceedings of these piratical tribea After twenty-eight years 
I find nothing to change in the views I then expressed 

The Sarawak, the Sadong, the Kaluka, and the Bejang, 
are the principal rivers which fall into the great bay 
between Datu and Sirik capes. 

The Dyaks of Seribas, Sakarang, the Balows of lingga, 
and the scattered Sibuyows, derive their origin from one 
great tribe. The Seribas inhabit the interior of the river 
of the same name, and the coimtry near the sources of the 
Lipat, a branch of the Kaluka river. The Sakarangs live 
on the left-hand branch of the Batang Lupar, and on the 
Kanawit, Katibas, and other tributaries of the Eejang. 
The whole of the divisions of the tribes have an inland 
communication, and when a piratical fleet is fitting out in 
one river, all who are desirous of joining in it cross over- 
land to the place of rendezvous and assist in manning the 
hangkongs or war-boats. 

The Balows partly resided on a small eminence that over- 
looks the Lingga branch of the Batang Lupar, and partly in 
villages in the interior ; and the Sibuyows are scattered in 
the Lundu, the Quop, the Samarahan, and many of the 
neighbouring rivers. The Balows were the only Dyaks that 
were capable of offering any serious resistance to the Seri- 
bas and Sakarang ; but although warlike and brave, they 
were never piratical, and always conducted themselves in 
a manner to gain the esteem and goodwill of their neigh- 
bours. 

The Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks are essentially the 
same: the former, however, were the most addicted to 
piracy, the fiercest, and the most imrelenting. They com- 
menced their piratical career about 130 years ago, while the 
Sakarangs did not follow their example till 60 years later. 

The corrupting influence of the Arab Siribs, so justly 
complained of by Sir Stamford Baffles, and also the ex- 
ample of the Seribas, were the causes of the Sakarang 



1S49.] THE PIRATES. 161 

tribe becoming piratical Witbin the memory of many 
of the inhabitants who were living when I arrived in 
Borneo in 1848, the Sakarangs had been unaccustomed 
to the sea, and never ventured on its surface until these 
Siribs, for their own purposes, taught them how to con- 
struct and manage war-boats, and led them in their 
marauding expeditions. * 

The Siribs and Malays, who accompanied the Dyaks 
and supported them with their guns and firearms, at first 
continued to obtain the principal portion of the plunder, 
and the larger number of female captives, and left the 
refuse and the heads to their Dyak allies. Later on, how- 
ever, the Dyaks came to feel their own strength too well 
to submit to the dictation of the Malays, and a more equal 
distribution followed. 

In the Batang Lupar there were comparatively few 
Malays until the arrival of Sirib Sahib in 1844 ; but in 
Seribas they were very much more numerous, and were 
recruited from the neighbouring rivers by all the scoundrels 
whom gambling and thieving had corrupted, and rendered 
too idle and vicious to work for a living. 

The population of the various districts inhabited by the 
unpiratical Dyaks is even now difficult to be stated. In 
1848 we could, however, obtain an approximation by cal- 
culating the amount from the number of fighting men. 
From the best accounts, and by weighing the various state- 
ments, we reckoned that the Seribas had then about 6000 
fighting men, and in the Sakarang there were about the 
same number ; the mixed tribes inhabiting the Kanawit 
might furnish about 4000 men, and the Eatibas and Vo& 
together, as many, — which would give about 20,000 fighting 
men, or 120,000 souls, scattered throughout that large ex- 
tent of country. They themselves, in estimating their fight- 
ing population by the number of war-boats they could send 

out, and allowing for those that remained at home, would 

L 



162 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. vin. 

bring it to about the same number. In every inquiry I 
made of the natives as to the population of different vil- 
lages, I always found them rate the inhabitants rather under 
than over the mark, and subsequently we were inclined to 
place the population much higher than this estimata 

Their nearest opponents, the Balow Dyaks, who inhabited 
the Lingga river, were much more numerous than had gen- 
erally been represented ; indeed, they could not have held 
their own, even with all the advantages of defence, had 
they been able to place fewer than 2000 men under arm& 
The Seribas and Sakarangs, inhabiting the Eanawit 
and Katibas branches of the great river Eejang, practically 
confine their cruises to the outlets of that mighty stream, 
on whose banks were situated some of the richest produc- 
ing sago districts, as Mato and Bruit ; or they extended 
their operations in a north-easterly direction towards the 
rich districts of Ova and Muka. These countries are in- 
habited by a very industrious but unwarlike race — ^the 
MUanows— who carried on an extensive trade with Singa- 
pore, and their large unwieldy prahus, laden with valuable 
return cargoes, fell an easy prey to the long, swift war- 
boats of the head-hunters. If surprised, not one of the 
crew would survive, otherwise the vessels would be run 
ashore, and the men rush into the jungle to escape from 
their bloodthirsty pursuers. It is evident* from the re- 
mains of the deserted towns and villages that we saw in 
their districts, that the population was formerly much 
greater than we found it during our expeditions to pro- 
tect their industrious people. We heard of almost monthly 
attacks on one or other of their villages, and few weeks 
passed without the Milanows having to add many to the 
list of their murdered relatives. The houses of the K^n- 
awit pirates we found crowded with the dried skulls of 
these unfortunates. The Milanows were too unwarlike 
and too disunited to retaliate on the marauders; and 



1849.] THE SAKAKANGS. 163 

although, when driven to desperation, they defended their 
towns with success, the struggle in the long-run had be- 
come unequal, and a few years more would have reduced 
these countries to the condition of those bordering a hun- 
dred miles of the great Eejang, — to the condition, in fact, 
of a deserted wUdemess. 

The Sakarangs nominally acknowledged the sovereignty 
of the Sultan of Brunei, and were occasionally employed 
by his deputies in subduing refractory tribes ; but they 
never paid tribute, and would not engage in any expedi- 
tion that did not hold out a good prospect of heads and 
plunder. Oppression frequently drove the Dyaks of Sara- 
wak, Samarahan, and Sadong into opposition to their rulers ; 
then the Borneon chiefs would threaten to let loose on them 
the Sakarangs, &c., and if the threat had no effect, they 
called in the ruthless horde, and allowed them to pillage 
and massacre the offending tribe. 

While Sir James Brooke was in Sarawak in 1841, above 
100 Sakarang war-boats came up to Euching, called in by 
Makota, and received permission to proceed up the river 
into the interior, under the pretence of attacking some 
Sambas tribes, but, in fact, to pillage and head-hunt for 
themselves and their employers. As I have already re- 
lated. Sir James, by urgent remonstrances and a display 
of force, had them recalled, and thus saved his Dyaks 
from a great danger. 

We often noticed, in the writings of those who attacked 
Sir James Brooke's policy, a pretence of believing that 
he had at first looked upon these hordes as inoffensive, 
tiU, for his own sinister purposes, he proclaimed them 
pirates ; but> in truth, Sir James's opinion of them never 
varied. In 1840 he wrote : *' To quiet this coast the Seri- 
bas should receive a severe lesson." "The Seribas are 
against all, and all are against them" " The Seribas and 
Sakarangs are not fair examples of Dyak life, as they are 



164 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. viii. 

pirates as well as head-liiinters, and do not hesitate to 
destroy all persons they meet with." 

At another time he wrote : ** The tribes of Seribas and 
Sakarang are powerful communities, and dreadful pirates, 
who ravage the coasts in large fleets, and rob and murder 
indiscriminately." " They " (the Sakarangs) "are the most 
savage of the tribes, the Seribas excepted, and delight in 
head-hunting and pillage, whether by sea or land." " By 
sea, the Sakarangs and Seribas reckon all they fall in with 
as fair prize, and acknowledge no friends." 

When Sir James Brooke arrived off the coast of Borneo 
in 1839, piracy was at its greatest height, and fleets of 
Lanuns and Balag&ini cruised among the smaller islands, 
while the swift-pulling war-boats of the Seribas and Saka- 
rangs kept the whole coast in terror. The operations of 
their different squadrons could be traced with sufficient 
accuracy for us to know that they attacked the Milanow 
districts belonging to the Sultan of Borneo, cruised amid 
the lovely islands of the Natunas and Anambas, inhabited 
by Dutch subjects, ravaged the shores of the Dutch-pro- 
tected states of Seunbas and Pontianak, and one of their 
squadrons pushed on as far as Banjarmassin, on the south- 
ern coast The Sultan of Sambas, whose subjects were 
most exposed to these attacks, did all he could to stop 
them, and even went so far as to hold communicatioii 
with them to discover a method of clearing the seas of 
these pests ; but they laughed at his proposals, and con- 
tinued their work. 

The Sultan of Pontianak lost his nephew in an attempt 
to drive them from the shores, and Dutch cruisers were 
taken by them.* 

The Chinese of Sambas were also great sufferers, as many 
as 200 having lost their lives during a single attack ; for 

1 See Timmink, chapter on Piracy ; and ' Moniteor des Indes,' article 
on Piracy, compiled from Dutch official sources. 



1849.] RAVAGES OF THE PIRATES. 165 

the pirates, when fighting against an enemy they under- 
stand, are bold and courageous, and in cunning are more 
than a match for any of the natives along the coast 
In 1854 I had the opportunity of a long conversation 
with Monsieur Boudriot, a Dutch officer, who had held 
high rank on the coast of Borneo, and he fully confirmed 
all these accounts, and added, '' They are the worst and 
most mischievous pirates that frequent these seas." Mr 
Earl, another impartial witness, who visited Sambas be- 
fore Sir James Brooke arrived in Borneo, states that he 
found the rivers blocked up by booms ; and no one would 
venture out even to fish, so much did they fear these 
dreaded Dyaks.^ 

Nothing was done to check these systematic piracies 
until Captain Keppel came over in the Dido, and boldly, 
and as wisely as boldly, carried out those operations 
which I have before described. The Seribas had laughed 
at the idea of retaliation ; and no native power on the 
coast could have punished them. Borneo indeed owes a 
debt of gratitude to Sir Harry Keppel. 

During the stay of the Dido in Sarawak, Captain Kep- 
pel made a strict inquiry into the character of the Seribas 
and Sakarangs ; and though perfectly convinced of their 
piratical character, did not desire to attack them in their 
own country without a previous reference to the nominal 
Grovemment of the coast He therefore officially entered 
into communication with the Sultan's representative and 
uncle, the Bajah Muda Hassim, who, in reply to his in- 
quiries, addressed him the following letter : — 

''This is to inform our friend that the Seribas and 
Sakarang people living in our neighbourhood are great 
pirates, who seize goods and murder people on the high 
seas. They possess above 300 war prahtcs, and extend 
their ravages as far as Banjarmassin : they are not under 

^ Earl's * Eastern Seas.' 



166 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. viii. 

the control of the Government of Brunei They plunder 
the vessels which trade between Singapore and the good 
inhabitants of this country. Our friend woidd be render- 
ing us a great service if he would adopt measures that 
would put an end to these piratical outrages." 

When Captain Keppel prepared to attack the Seribas 
with his boats, the attempt was considered a mad one by 
all the natives. They pointed out the strength and re- 
sources of the enemy, their strong and well-armed forts, 
the difficulty of ascending the rivers, and they considered 
that those who followed the English were going to almost 
certain destruction. Nevertheless, as Sir Jeones Brooke 
accompanied the expedition, 300 of the best men joined 
him. 

In seven days Captain Keppel assaulted their strong- 
holds, carried them, captured most of their brass guns, 
burnt their forts and towns, and compelled them to sue 
for mercy. Thus by the brilliant dash of the leader of the 
Dido, these scourges of the coast were reduced to submis- 
sion, and hopes were entertained that the submission 
would be permanent. For these services Captain Keppel 
very deservedly received the thanks of Admiral Sir Wil- 
liam Parker and the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- 
miralty. 

It is very remarkable how confirmed was the idea that 
the English were but birds of passage, and that the punish- 
ment of the Seribas should not have frightened the pirat- 
ical chiefs ; but no sooner had the Dido left the coast than 
Sirib Sahib endeavoured to intrigue with the Sarawak 
chiefs to expel Muda Hassim and Mr Brooke from the 
country, offering his own assistance, and that of his allies, 
the Sakarangs. Having failed in this attempt, he left 
Sadong, and retired to Patusan, on the Batang Lupar, 
where he had built forts, which he fondly^ hoped would 
be able to resist any attack of the English forces. 



1849.] SIRIB SAHE?- 167 

Sir James Brooke, being anxious to prevent Sirib 
Sahib from thus acting, had given him notice that Captain 
Keppel intended to return to Borneo and complete his 
work by attacking the Sakarangs, and he recommended 
the Sirib to abandon all connection with the pirates; 
but, confident in his strength, the Arab chief despised 
these warnings, and, as I have said, left the seat of his 
Government at Sadong, and openly joined the pirates. 
He had with him, when he started from his headquarters, 
a fleet manned by at least 6000 Dyaks, and 600 Malays ; 
and his followers represented to him that with this force 
he might consider himself invincible. 

Before leaving Sadong, however, Sirib Sahib called a 
council of war, when his flatterers represented to him that 
with his power he might defy the English, and should 
they attack Patuscm, he would disgracefully defeat them. 
They aU promised to stand by him to the last. He found 
one man, however, who had the courage to tell him the 
truth. This was Datu Jembrang, a Lanun chief, with 
whose son I was very intimate, and he strongly advised 
the Sirib not to enter into a contest with the English. 
" These men around you, who recommend you to fight, 
will desert you at the first moment of danger. I remem- 
ber the English well I fought against them at Sambas, 
and you will never be able to resist them." Shortly after- 
wards this old chief died. 

In August 1844 Captain Keppel again returned to 
Sarawak ; and as Sir James Brooke's detractors have ex- 
pressed a fear that our naval forces were not acting legally 
in punishing pirates in the territories of a friendly power, 
it wUl be a satisfaction to them to know that Captain 
Keppel did not act until he was called upon to do so by 
the Intimate (Jovemment of the country. Muda Hassim 
wrote thus : '* We beg to let our friend, Captain Keppel, 
know that the pirates of Sakarang, whom we mentioned 



168 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. Tin. 

last year, still continne their piracies by sea and land; and 
that many Malays, under Sirib Sahib (who is accustomed 
to send out or accompany the pirates, and to share in their 
spoils), have gone to Sakarang river with a resolve to de- 
fend themselves there rather than to accede to our wishes 
that they should abandon piracy. 

" Last year Captain Keppel told the Sultan and myself 
that it would be pleasing to the Queen of England that 
we should repress piracy ; and we signed an agreement at 
his request, in which we promised to do so : and we now 
woidd draw the attention of our friend to the piracies and 
evil actions of the Sakarang people, who have for many 
years past done much mischief to trade, and make it dan- 
gerous for vessels to sail along the coast ; and this year 
many prahtcs who wanted to leave for Singapore have 
been afraid. We bring this information to our friend, 
as we are desirous to put an end to piracy, and to perform 
our engagements with the Queen of England." 

Besides the general information connected with piracy 
contained in this letter, Muda Hassim drew Captain 
Eeppel's attention to the fact that during the last few 
months no fewer than eight villages had been taken by the 
Sakarangs and burnt, the men killed, and the women and 
children carried away into captivity. He also referred to 
the trading vessels captured, which had produced so much 
alarm that the coast was in fact in a state of blockade. 

By most natives Patusan was considered impregnable, 
but after having seen the Dido at work the previous year, 
the Sarawak chiefs did not doubt of success. Sirib 
Sahib, however, had . constructed a formidable fortress, 
defended by about 100 brass guns and 20 iron ones, 
and his followers were well provided with firearms and 
ammunition. In a quarter of an hour, however, the affair 
was decided : the pirates, astonished at the appearance of 
a steamer, and at the English boats, that, regardless of 



1849.] PATUSAN TAKEN. 169 

their fire, were pulled up almost to the muzzles of their 
guns, soon fled and left the town to their conquerors. 

Captain Keppel continued his attack on the pirates 
further inland, with a loss of about 120 men on our side, 
principally natives ; but the enemy suffered more heavily, 
for the pirates, unaccustomed to contend with disciplined 
men, attacked them at first as if they were equals, but the 
effect of steady fire, of guns and rockets, soon undeceived 
them, and they were defeated with considerable loss. 

The expeditions of Captain Keppel had for many years 
a great effect : the pirate fleets disappeared firom the coast, 
traders were unmolested, and fishermen could pursue their 
calling in security. 

The chiefs came to Sarawak and entered into engage- 
ments to give up piracy, and live at peace with the 
neighbouring countries. Sir James Brooke did his utmost 
at that time to impress upon them the misery they woidd 
bring on themselves and others by a continuation of their 
evil practices ; and he appeared to have had fair success, 
as for some time one or other of the head men would warn 
him when any restless warriors planned a foray out at sea, 
and this timely notice would generally suffice to nip the 
affair in the bud. 

The Grovemment of Brunei considered this as a good 
opportunity to reduce the Seribas and Sakarangs once more 
to their allegiance, and to raise contributions from these 
districts. As this attempt might, however, have given these 
Dyaks and Malays an excuse to break off all relations, Sir 
James Brooke interfered, and persuaded the Bomeon 
Grovemment to let them alone, and permit them to con- 
tinue to govern themselves. 

Until March 1846 these people continued quiet, and 
many of them left those districts and removed to Sarawak. 
One Sakarang chief even placed his two sons under Sir 
James's care, that they should be sent to Singapore to be 



170 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap, vhl 

educated ; but the restless old pirate could not be quiet, 
and in spite of these hostages being in English hands, led 
out a fleet, which attacked Banting, the chief town of 
Lingga, and succeeded in gaining possession of a portion 
of the town. The defenders suffered considerable loss in 
killed, and many women and children were captured. 
Just as the pirate chief started on this expedition, one of 
his friends remonstrated with him, saying, "The Sajab 
will kill your children." He answered, "I know the 
white men better than that ; they won't hurt my boys." 
And true enough, after a short time the lads were sent 
back to their father. The pirates next attacked Lintang, 
the chief town of Kaluka ; and although they were beaten 
off with loss, they managed to destroy a portion of it 

In 1847 Sir James Brooke returned to England, and 
then the pirates threw off all restraint, and commenced 
their ravages on an extensive scale. In 1849 I made a 
list of the towns attacked, the villages destroyed, and the 
large trading vessels which were taken during the years 
1847 and 1848, and the total of the destruction of life 
and property was appalling ; but it woidd not serve any 
good purpose to endeavour to repeat it here. 

In September 1848 we arrived in Sarawak in the 
Meander, and then Sir James Brooke and Captain Keppel 
publicly pledged themselves to attack both the Seribas 
and the Sakarang as soon as the fine season of 1849 per- 
mitted boating operations. 

As Mr Gladstone appeals to our treaty with Borneo, I 
add a letter from the Sultan of Brunei to show how his 
Highness interpreted its clauses : — 

" From Sultan Omar Ali Safudin, the Euler of Brunei 
and its dependencies, together with Pangeran Anak 
Miunein, and Pangeran Muda Mahomed; to Sir James 
Brooke, &c., &c. 

" We have to inform our friend respecting the Dyaks of 



1849.] THE sultan's LETTEK. I7l 

Sakarang and the Dyaks of Seribas. Great is our distress 
to think of their doings, which are evil in the extreme — 
continually sweeping with destruction the coast of Borneo, 
and pirating on the sea, plundering property, and taking 
the heads of men. Exceedingly bad have been their doings 
hitherto, and in consequence of which, our subjects sailing 
on the high seas for the purposes of trade experience great 
diflQculties. We sent Pangeran Surah to that coasts and 
he was attacked, likewise numerous nakodahs} They 
attacked Nakodah Mahomed, and plundered his prahu of 
every article. On his way to Singapore, Mahomed JaflBr 
was attacked at Tanjong Serik; the pirates took the 
prahu, which the crew abandoned. Nakodah Matudin 
from Muka, bound to Singapore, was also attacked at 
Teluk Milanow. 

" Such are the reasons for which we send this informa- 
tion to our friend, so that, if possible, he may check the 
doings of these Dyaks, and render it safe for our subjects 
seeking their livelihood at sea." 

This was an official call on the part of the Brunei 
Government on the British to fulfil their part of the con- 
tract to put down piracy. 

And it was time that something shoidd be done, for 
daring the first six months of 1849 these pirates attacked 
SadoDg twice, as well as Sussang on the Kaluka, and Serikei, 
Palo, Mato, Bruit, and Igan. Almost all intercourse by 
sea ceased, as few who attempted to pass the mouths of 
the pirate rivers escaped unhurt. I calculated at the 
time that above 500 of the Sultan's subjects had been 
kiUed or taken captive between January and July 1849 ; 
and we knew that one large fleet had passed the mouths 
of the Sarawak river to attack the subjects of the Sultan 
of Sambas. 

It was during the height of this bloody work that Sir 

^ Merchants or owners of trading j?raAutf. 



172 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. viu. 

James put to sea with the Sarawak fleet, supported by 
four boats of the steamer Nemesis, to endeavour to check 
the pirates, while waiting the arrival of sufficient forces 
for what was hoped to prove the final attack. 

Among other places which we visited was the river 
Kaluka, where I first saw what was the effect of continued 
piratical attacks on the prosperity of a country. Ktduka 
was famous in former times as a great commercial empo- 
rium, and as a most productive agricultural district 

This is what we saw. 

After pulling a few miles up the river, we came to a 
spot where two branches meet, and here, stretched across 
the rounded point, were the ruins of the former town 
of Lintang. This had been a gi:eat trading place, and 
had lately held a population of aJ)ove 6000, but having 
suffered severely from the attacks of the pirates, particu- 
larly that one in 1846 to which I have before referred, 
the inhabitants resolved to abandon their homes. About 
1000, under their chief, Tuan Muda, came to Sarawak, 
while the rest dispersed among the neighbouring districts. 
We then pulled up the left-hand branch to Sussang, the 
only town left in the district. It was stockaded at its 
lower end, and a few guns commanded the river. It was 
a wretched poverty-stricken place, the people being afraid 
to cultivate their fields, as they were constantly exposed 
to surprises. The houses, however, gave evidences of hav- 
ing formerly been of a superior construction, but were now 
rapidly falling to decay. 

We then pulled for about 80 miles up the right- 
hand branch, and saw on the banks the ruins of one large 
town and several villages, but now the only inhabitants 
were those that lived in a strongly fortified hamlet. In 
no other part of Borneo had I seen more splendid open 
plains, or places better fitted for agricultural operations. 
They were now completely abandoned, though the con- 



1849.] RAVAGES BY THE PIRATES. 173 

tinued groups of palm-trees showed how extensive the 
population had once been. 

Never before had I been so struck with the irreparable 
mischief done by the piratical tribes, as when I saw this 
lovely country so completely deserted. 

I have thus lightly sketched the proceedings of the 
pirates to show the mischief they did, and the extensive 
character of their operations. It is proved by Dutch and 
English authorities that the pirates of Seribas and Saka- 
rang attacked the villages and the vessels of the subjects of 
the Sultans of Brunei, Sambas, and Pontianak, &c. ; and 
Mr Boudriot, the Dutch official, told me that their archives 
were fall of the records of the losses occasioned by these 
attacks ; and I cannot but regret that Sir James Brooke 
did not follow up the idea thrown out by our unexpected 
supporter, and apply to the Government of the Nether- 
lands for all information relating to the ravages of the 
Dyak pirates within the territories of Holland He did 
not, as he was satisfied with the testimony contained in 
the * Moniteur des Indes/ Timmink, and Earl. 

That these pirates indiscriminately attacked the sub- 
jects of the Sultan of Borneo, not even respecting his 
envoy extraordinary, Pangeran Surah, is abundantly 
proved. Malays, Milanows, and Dyaks suffered to an 
almost equal extent; and the losses among the inhabi- 
tants of these lovely groups of islands lying between 
Borneo and Singapore were annually very great. They are 
subjects of the Bajah of Khio, a Dutch-protected state. 

I repeat that for the last thirty years it has beejn 
abundantly proved that the Dyak pirates of Seribas and 
Sakarang attacked the subjects of the Sultans of Borneo, 
Sambas, and Pontianak, as well as those of the Bajah 
of Bhio, besides every other person who came within their 
reach ; and yet to this day we see Mr Gladstone repeating 
that this was intertribal war. 



174 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE BATTLE OF BATANG MABAU. 

1849. 

I HAVE already described the rivers and districts inhab- 
ited by the Dyaks of Seribas and Sakarang. I need there- 
fore only say that Sir James Brooke, knowing that the 
pirates living on the well-known rivers which bear their 
names had made every preparation to receive onr expe- 
dition, determined to proceed 100 miles up the Rjejang 
river, and fall upon them in the rear by the Kanawit 
branch ; but circumstances induced him to change his 
plan. 

Our expedition was thus arranged : The Albatross was 
to stay in Sarawak ; the Soyalist was to be anchored up 
the Batang Lupar, opposite the entrance of the lingga river, 
to protect the women and children there, while the 
Balow warriors were away with us. The expedition was 
commanded by Commander Farquhar, a light-hearted, 
merry, earnest companion, with sound sense to guide him ; 
Everest, eccentric, but exceedingly well read, particularly 
in poetry, and dearly loving an argument : as volunteers, 
Mr Urban Vigors, a very gentlemanlike, pleasant Irish- 
man ; and a Manchester solicitor, a droll fellow, with 
some good tastes. 

Sir James Brooke, aided by his nephew Captain Brooke, 
by Grant, and by myself, as staff, and with his experienced 



1849.] THE RENDEZVOUS. 175 

Ssurawak officers, commanded the native contingent, which 
was expected to exceed 100 war-boats and at least 3000 
men, — ^the larger prahus carrying a crew of 70 men, while 
the smallest mustered 28. 

On the 24th July 1849 the Nemesis started with the 
Soyalist, Banee, and seven English boats in tow, to 
rendezvous at the mouth of the river Morotabas, and 
then to take them to the Batatig Lupar, to leave the 
Royalist at Lingga, and tow the 'boats to the entrance of 
the Kaluka, where they were to await the arrival of the 
war prahus. 

We started in the evening, a slashing tide sweeping us 
along, so that in four hours we were at Morotabas, — the 
crews shouting and yelling, as prahu after prahu arrived, 
and let go their anchors, some running foul of each other, 
others carried towards the sea by the strength of the 
tide, and struggling to regain their places. At length the 
noise sank into a buzz, which gradually dying away, we 
set our watch and fell asleep. At 2 A.M. I was called 
to keep my watch, and looking around I was much struck 
with the curious appearance of the scene. The night was 
dark, and the scattered native boats had each a small fire, 
which threw a fitful light on the waters, like stars shining 
on the broad river. Now everything was still, with the 
exception of what perhaps rendered the silence more im- 
pressive — the distant but clear and distinct cry of the 
jddtvk, a bird of night. Then suddenly the strong stream 
would sweep a prahu from its anchorage, and loud cries 
of " Pull, pull ! " would fill the air, and the rapid stroke of 
the oar show how difficult it was to stem the tide. Then 
again quietness, perhaps occasionally broken by the dis- 
tant sound of a gong, or the low monotonous chant of the 
Koran, or the tinkling beU that marked the hours on 
board some of our boats. Such scenes were then both 
novel and interesting to me. 



176 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. 

July 25, 1849, started for Sadong. The grey light gra- 
dually broke over the sky, and by degrees, few and far 
between, you would see a man rise, stretch, and look 
around him ; then would come a little bustle of prepara- 
tion, the anchor would be got in, and the men take their 
places at the paddles or oars, and gradually leave the 
river, and wend their way within twenty yards of the trees 
along this jungle-belted coast At first there were few 
boats before us, but a dense mass of large and small Malay 
and Dyak prahus astern. Every now and then, however, 
a swift, long, and snake-like spy-boat would dart past, its 
light weight skimming over the waters under the impulse 
of the rapid movement of thirty paddles ; then by com- 
parison the heavy Malay war prahu, impelled by double 
banks of oars, would move by, leaving us with but few 
companions, as we were on the look-out for stn^lers. So 
we continued, till on the 27th we rendezvoused off Kaluka, 
when it was settled that we should move back to the 
mouth of the Seribas, and cut firewood to enable the 
Nemesis to steam up the Eejang without danger of a short 
supply of fuel. 

Whilst we were wooding, a message came from a 
respectable man living at Sussang, the capital of Elaluka, 
saying that the day before he was fishing on the sands 
with some followers, when they saw a fleet come out of 
the Seribas river. They instantly hid themselves, and 
soon afterwards counted ninety-four war hangkongs pulling 
northward towards the Rejang : a short time afterwamis 
four more passed. Such apparently correct intelligence 
changed our plans, and it was immediately determined 
that we should endeavour to intercept the return of this 
fleet. The following arrangements were made : the Bajah 
and a large native squadron, supported by two boats 
commanded by Lieutenants Everest and Wilmshurst, 
were to anchor up the Elaluka, while the Nemesis, Kanee, 



1849.] ''the DYAKS ARE COMING!" 177 

five English boats, and a strong division of native prahvs, 
were to anchor off the Seribas. It was expected that 
the pirates on their return, seeing the steamer, would dart 
for tiie Kaluka, and after proceeding up a few miles would 
be stopped by our division. The moment that Captain 
Farquhar perceived this movement, he was to follow with 
aU his forces, and thus enclose the pirates between two 
fleets. "Whilst we were anchored in these positions a 
message was received from Mr Crookshank, who had been 
driven by stress of weather into the Eejang, that a large 
fleet of the Seribas were off that river ; that he had counted 
eighty bangJcongs, and that a man at the mast-head had 
reckoned many mora 

On the morning of the 31st, however, we fell down to 
the mouth of the river, preparatory to the steamer going 
next day to search for the fleet, as some appeared to fear 
that they were hid, or meditating an attack on Serikei, or 
would go home vid the Bejang and Kanawit; but the 
true reason was that we were but young warriors, and 
had not the patience to wait for the fruit to ripen. The 
Rajah in vain endeavoured to check this ignorant impa- 
tience, but at length gave way. As we left our anchor- 
age, however, a second message was received that the 
Seribas fleet was near Serikei, and that an attack was 
intended on that town. To prevent this, it was decided 
that the Nemesis should start for that place the following 
morning. 

That very evening, however. Captain Brooke and a party 
of us went to search for a wild pig or a deer along the 
sands, and we foolishly strayed for about three miles, when 
we turned. We had not retraced our steps above a mile 
when a spy-boat came pulling along the shore : suddenly 
all in her rose up, pointed towards the distant cape, then 
waved to us to return, shouting out, "The Dyaks are 
coming ! " We scarcely credited the intelligence, but still 

M 



178 LIFE OF SIK JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. IX. 

walked rapidly back : the spy-boat arrived a little before 
us, and the news quickly spread. As we passed the 
Bajah's prahu we had to submit to a terrible scolding for 
having set so bad an example of discipline to the others, — 
a reproof which we fully deserved. We instantly got our 
prahus under way. Hurry, bustle, and confusion for some 
minutes reigned around, but silence having been restored, 
we moved down the river and formed a line across the 
entrance of the Kaluka. The Bajah fired a rocket to give 
the steamer notice, as the sun had now set. As no reply 
was given to this signal, another rocket was let ofi^ and 
a faint shout was heard from the sea, which was answered 
by our whole fleet. A dead silence ensued for a minute, 
when from thousands of voices there burst a long, loud, 
deep yell of defiance, now sounding high, now low, as it 
was borne to us by the wind ; a few guns were fired at us, 
and then the pirate fleet dashed away for the Seribas. 

A rocket and a blue-light from the steamer told ua that 
they were prepared, and then the deep booming of the 
guns announced the commencement of the action. Anxious- 
ly we waited that some of the fleet should come our way, 
when, after a short interval, we saw a dark line of war 
prahus approach our entrance. Everest and Wilmshurst, 
in their cutters, dashed forward to meet them, followed 
by a division of our light boats. A more picturesque 
scene could scarcely be imagined. The moon, dimmed 
by misty clouds, shed down a hazy light ; the dark banks 
of the river, the breaking waves around the open sea 
before us, the distant booming of the heavy guns, the 
rockets curveting over the waters, the brilliant blue- 
lights of the steamer, the pursuing boats, the flashes of 
musketry, the yells and answering yells of enemies and 
friends, — forcibly struck our imaginations, as, rifle in hand, 
we waited the expected onset. For four hours the heavy 
firing told of a long, a prolonged fight. About midnight 



1849.] BRAVEEY OF THE PIRATES. 179 

it almost ceased, and but an occasional report of a gun 
was heard. 

We waited anxiously expecting intelligence till nearly 
2 A.1L, when the little Banee came and brought us some 
news. It appears that when the pirates saw our fleet at 
the entrance of the Kaluka they thought that all was safe, 
as the steamer, being under the shore, was not at first 
perceived ; but as they approached the mouth of the Seri- 
bas they were met by the Nemesis, whose heavy 32- 
pounders, loaded with round-shot, grape, and canister, 
scattered them in all directions. They tried the sea, but 
there the boats under Captain Farquhar drove them back ; 
they tried the sandy point — there a large fleet of pralms 
poured in their fire upon them ; they huddled in a con- 
fused crowd — all order was lost — a sort of savwe qui pent 
feeling took possession of their minds — and, to escape the 
fearful cannonade, they ran their war prahvs on shore and 
escaped into the jungle, not before many of their boats 
had been taken or destroyed at se& 

One episode will show how daring some of these pirates 
were. A squadron of seventeen boats, commanded by an 
old chief named lingir, saw the havoc that was done by 
the fire-ship, and determined to board her. The Nemesis 
was at that moment still, and lingir and his gallant crews 
dashed at her; but when they were within fifty yards, 
they saw the monster begin to move, and rush full speed 
on them, and of the seventeen prahus only lingir's one is 
known to have escaped. The brave pirates, however, whose 
pnihus were sinking under them, jumped into the sea, 
swam towards the vessel with their swords in their 
mouths, and attempted to climb up her low sides; but 
they were beaten back into the water by the Sidi boys or 
blacks, who, seizing the billets of firewood on deck, hurled 
them at their fierce foes. I heard these anecdotes told by 
Captain Wallage of the Nemesis, who rightly fathomed 



180 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. 

their intentions — ^by the other officers on board — and also, 
some months afterwards, by Lingir himself. 

August Ist — ^A note from Farquhar to the Eajah to say 
that he had gone with the steamer np to the mouth of the 
Hembas to prevent any of the pirate fleet escaping, so in 
the morning we started with our division for the Seribcis. 
As we passed along the shore, floating around us were 
very many evidences of last night's work — ^broken boards, 
half -sunk prahus, baskets, mats, cloths, and every fur- 
niture of a boat ; and when we neared the sandy point, we 
saw crowds of natives fishing for things in the water — and, 
as we could more clearly distinguish objects, a mass of 
weiX prahus left high and dry, the cUbris of the pirate fleet. 
When we landed, we found our men loading themselves 
with every description of spoil, the crews of our squadrons 
eagerly picking up what the others had thrown aside. 
Gangs of men were told off to destroy the large boats, 
and these were working with their axes to cut up the 
planks, preparatory to burning them. Some were launch- 
ing and repairing the smaller and more serviceable boats, 
which were to be used as tenders to our heavy prahus ; 
others collecting into groups, were telling of their exploits. 
Parties pushed into the jungle in search of enemies and 
plunder: now a man came dashing out, saying that he 
had seen Dyaks in one direction; then another, open- 
mouthed with news, told of a rencontre in which men 
on both sides had been killed — rencontres which only 
existed in the imagination of the relater, for by this time 
the enemy were miles away ; of mangled bodies of women 
found headless, and hacked to pieces — the murdered, and, 
in their flight, the encumbering prisoners of the Seribas. 
I, a new-comer, could scarcely credit this story, and went 
with a party to verify the statement. We soon came to a 
spot where rough mats had been thrown over certain ob- 
jects. One having been removed, we saw the dead body of 



1849.] APTER THE BATTLE. 181 

evidently a young woman, naked, with head and breasts cut 
ofif, mangled — evidences, in fact, of an indecent and bar- 
barous cruelty, too revolting to be described. Let us hope 
that these mutilations took place after death. We did 
not look further, the sight was too sickening ; but we were 
told that four or five other bodies had been found of head- 
less women and young girls. The mats that covered their 
remains we could see, but we did not approach them. 
These murderers were without pity. 

It was indeed a scene of confusion, of hurry, of running 
to and fro, of proud exultation amongst the natives, for 
never previously had the pirates received such a blow. 
And justified were they in their opinion — a fearful retri- 
bution had fallen upon the marauders for all their massa- 
cring, their plunder, their cruelty, their bloodthirstiness. 
Scarce a man was present that had not lost through them 
a father, a brother, or a son, or who had not had some 
female relative borne away into captivity. The loss in 
war-boats was very great, — about 75 were lying on the 
sands. I measured one: it was over 80 feet in length, 
9 in breadth, and some of its side-boards measured 60 
feet Its crew must have been over 70 men. In all, 
the pirates lost about 93 of their war prahus. We cal- 
culated at the time that the fleet consisted of 100 boats, 
with 4000 men as crews. We afterwards learned that 
there had been 105, and that 12 escaped up the river. 

From a prisoner, and from the subsequent conversation 
of chiefs who had been present, we were enabled to trace 
the proceedings of this pirate fleet previously to the 
rencontre. It had left the Seribas the morning before 
we arrived there, and had continued its course to Palo, a 
small village to the north, famous for its salt manufacture. 
When they arrived opposite that place they were hailed, 
asked who they were, and what they wanted. The Seribas 
replied that they had not come to attack the place, and 



182 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. 

that they would do them no harm if no opposition were 
mada The terrified people said none should be offered. 
The pirates then went on shore, plundered them of all 
their stores of salt, took as much rice as they required, 
and, having selected two or three young women that 
pleased them, carried them off and proceeded to Mato, 
a town on one of the embouchures of the Kejang. They 
tried to surprise this place, but the inhabitants being 
better prepared than the people of Palo, repulsed their 
attack ; but the Seribas managed to secure some heads, as 
they captured a detached house, and they seized likewise 
four young women. They then dropped down towards the 
mouth of the river to pick up fishermen and any trading 
vessels which might pi that way, and succeeded in secur 
ing a laige one coming from Singapore laden with piece- 
goods and iron, and another going to Singapore with sago. 
The crew of one of these prahu^ got away to the shore, while 
that of the other was cut off before it could escape, and every- 
one killed. We found in the pirate war-boats the cargoes 
of these two trading vessels, and our men divided a very 
handsome booty. They then started for Senkei, a large 
town up the Eejang, hoping with the aid of the tribes 
in the interior to take that place ; but the Malays were 
well armed, and some feints were easily repulsed. Besides, 
the chief of this district, Sirib Musidiore, carried on se- 
cretly an extensive trade with the pirates in the interior 
of the Bejang, and those Dyaks dared not offend him or 
their supplies of salt and iron would have been cut off. 
He was one of the intriguing, mischievous, half-bred Arabs, 
who did so much evil on the coast 

The Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks had long been expect- 
ing an attack, and had therefore confined their cruises to 
the neighbourhood of their own rivers ; but this being the 
Hamadan, or fast month, they imagined that the Sarawak 
Malays would not think of joining our expedition, and 



1849.] BURNING THE PIRATE PRAHUS. 183 

had therefore thought to strike a blow or two before our 
arrivaL 

This fleet was commanded by the brave old Pamancha, 
and almost every well-known Malay and Dyak leader had 
been present during the engagement, and they had induced 
many of the other Malays to join the expedition in order 
that they should manage their guns and supply them with 
musketry. Their surprise on seeing our fleet anchored at 
the mouth of the Kaluka was only exceeded by their terror 
on finding their way home blocked by the European forca 

The dead bodies of the women we had seen were those 
of the captives taken at Palo and Mato. Whilst we were 
burning the (Mbris of the pirate fleet, the Malay chiefs 
collected in Sir James's prahu, and proposed to him to 
occupy a neck of land between the Seribas and the Kaluka, 
and thus cut off the retreat of the mass of the pirates who 
were now in the jungle. But he said that perhaps they 
had been punished enough, an opinion in which many did 
not agree ; but the Rajah was firm, and immediately de- 
cided to draw off the native boats. Had he followed out 
the advice given, few, if any, of the pirates would have 
escaped. 

However, Sir James Brooke assured himself that the 
pirate prahv^ hjtd been destroyed before he gave orders to 
all to push up the river and join the Nemesis off Rembas, 
and then continue our course to Paku higher up. It was 
arranged that the Nemesis should remain at this spot 
with all our heavy native war prahus, and that the rest 
of us should proceed in the light boats, and, accompanied 
by the European force, ascend the Paku branch and attack 
the chief town of that district. The river Seribas from 
its mouth to the Paku, a distance of about fifty miles, is 
broad and deep, with a tremendous tide, so that it took 
but a few hours to reach the steamer anchored there. 

3d. — To-day we left our war prahm and got on board 



184 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. 

some Dyak boats that we had selected from among the 
heap lying at the entrance of the river. The little steamer 
Ranee and the European boats led the way, and it was 
with the utmost difficulty that we could keep back the 
impetuous rush of native prahus that pushed ahead, the 
hindmost anxious to find themselves in the foremost 
ranks, and these again endeavouring to maintain their 
position — pushing, crushing, and running one into the 
other, the crews, some 3000 strong, all shouting at once, 
either " Back, back," or " On, on." A strong flood-tide 
swept up the river, and had not the steamer twice got 
aground we might have reached the town that night with 
great ease. No sooner was she off than away went her 
funnel Her mishaps were without end, and caused much 
delay : it was a pity to have brought so unmanageable a 
boat up a winding stream. At length we arrived off the 
site of the old town, which had been destroyed by Keppel 
in 1843, and there the most unaccountable order was 
given to anchor, which lost us two hours of flood-tide, 
and caused us all our future troubles, and probably our 
loss of life. 

The banks of the Paku are rather pretty, and afforded, 
as we advanced into the interior, some picturesque scenery, 
with lofty trees, high overhanging banks, occasional wooded 
hills ; and the water around us was as clear as crystal. The 
fruit-trees along the banks are innumerable, and were loaded 
with produce, which unfortunately for us was not ripa 
At the site of the old town were some remains of culti- 
vation, — fruit-trees, and cocoa-nut and areca palms. We 
anchored here and passed the night, intending to start 
early in the morning. This gave a respite to the pirates, 
of which they were not slow to avail themselves. They 
cut down enormous trees and let them fall across the 
stream to obstruct or delay our advance, and give them 
time to carry away or conceal their valuables. While we 



1W9.] UP THE PAKU. 183 

were at dinner^ one of our party incautiously sat on the 
gunwale of the boat^ and leaning back overbalanced himself 
and fell into the river. We had a hearty laugh when he 
was pulled in, as, notwithstanding his unexpected bath, 
we found him holding on vigorously to his plate and 
knife in one hand and the grog-bottle in the other. 

ith, — ^We started at daylight, and had not proceeded 
many miles when we found the felled trees, of which I 
have already spoken, stopping the way. Tedious and 
heavy work it was to cut through them : no sooner did 
we get past one than another presented itself. We con- 
tinued this axing till eleven o'clock, now getting on a 
quarter of a mile, then stopped by a small obstruction, — 
advancing a few yards and a heavy tree to cut through ; 
and these were placed in such positions that had the 
Seribas had the courage to collect with a dozen muskets, 
they could have inflicted on us very heavy losa We at 
last came to a mighty tree that our axe-men could not get 
through, so returning a quarter of a mile to a cleared rising 
ground, we determined to march to the town ; and all set 
to work to get their breakfasts. 

This being over, and some delay occurring from the slow 
arrival of the native boats, which could only pass the 
obstructions one by one, time was given for the complete 
arrangement of the plan. The old Orang Kaya of Lundu, 
of whom I have often previously spoken, was with us, with 
his three sons, Kalong, Bunsi, and Tujang, and his brave 
followers. It was arranged that these should lead the way 
to remove obstructions and cut the path, while a strong 
party of Malays were to protect them. The English ma- 
rines and blue-jackets were then to march in a body, and 
to be followed and flanked by the natives in a mass, while 
an adequate party remained to protect the boats. 

On the left bank the forest came down to the water's 
edge, but on the right there was rather open groimd, inter- 



186 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. iz. 

spersed with tall trees and clumps of bamboo. Captain 
Farquhar landed his force and marched them to the top 
of the cleared hill, and there took up a strong position* 
Everything was in active preparation, some of us had re- 
turned to the boats to get completely ready for the march, 
when suddenly a distant yeU was heard. A volley of 
musketry, shouts and cries, a bustle on the summit of the 
hill, and the English forming into line, told that something 
of importance had occurred. We rushed on shore. At 
first no explanation could be given of the alarm. Some 
cried " Kalong is dead," others Bunsi, others Tujang, some 
that all three were killed — ^when the return of a Dyak, 
bearing a wounded companion, gave the first intelligence. 
The woimded man said that they were ahead, when a 
party of the Seribas dashed from under cover of the bam- 
boos, and killed a great many : he himself was severely 
wounded; he believed that all the young chiefs were dead, 
— he was sure that one was. The headless trunk of Bunsi, 
and the frightfully mangled body of Tujang, were now 
brought in ; but Kalong, the eldest son, had escaped. Not 
knowing the strength of the enemy, and wishing to be 
prepared, the English were ordered to fall back a little 
and form a line along the summit of the hilL 

This slightly retrograde movement began to produce a 
panic among the natives, who imagined that our men were 
retreating, and they commenced rushing to their boata 
At first I thought that the enemy in overpowering force 
must be approaching ; but the Eajah, speaking quietly to 
the men as they passed us, and laughing, observed, " Don't 
be afraid," and turning to us said, "Let us advance." We 
instantly pushed up the hilL This had an immediate 
effect, — ^the men turned and followed the Eajah in crowds. 

Quiet being restored, we heard some account of the 
skirmish. The clearing party had advanced some hundred 
yards into the bamboo jungle, when Tujang, high-spirited 



lSi9.] THE OEANG KAYA's SONS. 187 

but rash, pushed on ahead, and was followed by his elder 
brothers. Over-confident, they were almost unarmed, and 
without their fighting-jackets, and had advanced with a 
few men beyond immediate support. Tujang and Bunsi 
were stooping to pull out the bamboo spikes, when from 
behind a thick clump out dashed twenty of the enemy, 
and cut them down before they could draw their swords. 
Elalong, seeing his danger, sprang back and was saved ; and 
the immediate advance of some Malays under brave Fatah, 
who poured in a volley on the enemy, saved the wounded, 
and enabled them to recover the bodies of the slain. 

It was a melancholy hour for the old Orang Kaya of 
LundiL The father was but a little way behind when they 
felL Proud of his sons, and especially fond of Tujang, he 
at first could only find vent for his grief in bitter reviling 
of those whom he accused of deserting his sons. He 
retired with his tribe to their boats, and sent Kalong to 
the Bajah to request permission to return to Lundu to 
bury his children. The surviving son came, and in a sub- 
dued voice said, " I have lost my two younger brothera" 
"Tell the Orang Kaya," replied the Eajah, " not to grieve ; 
his sons died like brave men." A proud though faint 
smile of satisfaction was for a second visible, as praise 
from their great chief was indeed appreciated by them. 
Unwilling to aUow his brothers' death to pass unrevenged, 
Kalong wished to remain with us; but the old Orang Kayst, 
bowed down by grief, begged him to return home. 

One would have thought that the measure of his grief 
had been full, but another incident occurred which filled 
it to overflowing. The Banee steamer had been left at last 
nighf s anchorage, and a cutter, bearing the dead body of 
a sailor who had accidentally shot himself, arrived at the 
moment the Lundu chief was passing. There was a little 
bustle on the steamer's deck ; a rope caught the hammer 
of a musket left at fuU-cock by shameful carelessness ; it 



188 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. ix. 

went off ; the ball passed between two of the oflBcers, grazed 
a boy, struck the Orang Kaya's son-in-law, killing him on 
the spot, and finished by burying itself in the breast of a 
Malay. The old man, completely overcome, burst into 
tears, and holding up his fingers to the oflGicers, could only 
say, " Three sons in one day," and continued his melan- 
choly journey. From him the enemy could expect no 
mercy, and every Seribas that came in his way, during his 
passage down the river, was killed ; many fell by his own 
band. 

The jungle being so thick, and it being necessary to allay 
the excitement among our native forces, it was determined 
to advance by the river next day to a point nearer the town. 
Some rockets were fired at the Seribas who appeared ia 
the distance, and a few of the more adventurous who 
climbed into the trees were disturbed by a rifle-ball, but 
the rest of the day passed quietly. A picket was placed on 
shore, and a guard of natives. The enemy were constantly 
heard in the jungle, and volleys sometimes awoke us ; but 
knowing that there could be no danger from which being 
awake would save us, we were but little disturbed by the 
firing, and slept welL 

5tL — Starting at low water, we managed to pass under 
the enormous tree that had hitherto barred our passage, and 
soon reached the spot from whence we were to march on 
the town of Paku. When the whole force was collected, 
we found that Sir James had come to the very injudicious 
conclusion to keep all the English to protect the boats, 
and to allow the natives to march alone to attack the 
town. It was injudicious in many respects : it exposed 
our force to a check ; it annoyed the English, who had 
borne the brunt of the diflGiculties; and it was unfair to the 
officers, who naturally sought opportunities of distinguish- 
ing themselves. 

The native force, however, was well selected, and con- 



1849.] FORAYING. 189 

sisted of about 1500 men, the best, armed of the fleet. 
They had been away nine hours when a dense smoke at 
the distance told of their success. They had arrived at 
the place without any opposition, as the pirates were 
cowed by their defeat at the mouth of the river ; and in 
the skirmish of yesterday the latter had lost many men, 
including their Malay chief 

6^ — The whole of this day was spent by our native 
allies in organising expeditions against the villages around. 
The enemy made no effectual resistance : they even aban- 
doned a strong stockade, threw their guns into the river, 
and fled at the approach of our men. The plunder ob- 
tained by our Malays and Dyaks was enormous, and in 
their eyes of great value; but to the Europeans it was 
useless, except a few things as curiosities. Some brass 
guns were secured^ and some handsome rifles, that in 
their panic the Malays had left in their houses. 

During these two days of enforced idleness we amused 
ourselves in cutting down the brushwood with our swords, 
bathing in the sparkling river, joining in the jereed-throw- 
ing of the natives, and trying our skill at Malay football. 

During the great heat of the day lieut. Everest and I 
passed our time in reading to each other Thomson's 
" Seasons " and " Paradise Lost." Sir James Brooke, won- 
dering what could be interesting us so much, approached 
to join in what he called a " very pretty and appropriate 
amusement during a warlike expedition,*' until disturbed 
by the necessity of receiving reports from the different 
chiefs, as they came in from their forays. 

7ih. — ^Early this morning we made preparations for our 
return to the main river. Before leaving, however, Sir 
James Brooke wrote a long letter to the pirates, in which 
he pointed out to them the necessity of abandoning their 
marauding pursuits, as the English had determined to put 
down piracy. On our arrival at the Nemesis we found 



190 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. IX. 

that one prisoner had been taken, — not, however, before he 
had wounded one of our men. They had to stun him 
with the blow of an oar before he could be secured. On 
board the steamer he was treated with great kindness, 
clothed, well fed, and, as usual, christened "Jack" by the 
sailors. He proved of the utmost service to the cause of 
peace by the accounts he gave of the kindness he had 
received. This was the only Dyak prisoner taken. 

I need not enter into any particulars of the rest of 
the expedition. We went to the Bejang, ascended that 
river about 100 miles, attacked the pirates living on the 
banks of its Kanawit branch, and then returned. Many 
of us thought that we should not have stopped until we 
reached the fort of Buah Eyah,^ the great chief of the 
Kanawit, and the most famous pirate of those regions ; but 
Commander Farquhar considered that his men had been ex- 
posed enough, and wished to go back. Captain Brooke and 
some others of us had been ahead with the light division, 
and had come upon and skirmished with the enemy, and 
felt assured that on the morrow we should find the pirates 
in force. We returned late to headquarters, to find dinner 
over ; so, removing to the other end of the village-house, 
we sat down to ours, and indulged ourselves in our dis- 
content at the idea of returning. The one whom the 
Bajah subsequently called his " unruly child " raised his 
glass, and gave a toast aloud, '' Oh for one hour of bonnie 
Keppel !" Directly Farquhar heard this, he jumped up 

^ The names adopted by some of the Dyak chiefs from the Malays are 
significant, and remind one of the North American Indian titles. For 
instance, ** Bnah Byah ** may be interpreted ** the Chief Froit" (or, " the 
Fruit of the Festival "); the name of another chief (now dead) was '* Tang- 
kat Langit," or ** the Support of the Skies." Bnah is the Malay for froit ; 
Ryah means festival, holiday, high ; for instance, " Hari Ryah" (Hari is 
day) is the great day of festival at the end of the Ramadan ; Tongkat 
means walking-stick, staff or supporting post : Langit, is the heavens, or 
rather the sky. 



1849.] A YOUNG CAPTIVE. 191 

and came and tried to persuade ns that he could not act 
otherwise. He was no doubt right, and he and his men 
had acted most gallantly and successfully under great 
difiBicolties. 

Two or three incidents occurred during this expedition ^ 
which are perhaps worth relating. 

One village was surprised by the Malays, and the in- 
habitants had only time to save themselves in the woods. 
A mother, being hard pressed, let go the hand of her son, 
a boy of ten, who was seized by our men. He was brought 
on board our prahu, and Sir James took him under his 
protection, had him clothed and well fed, so that before he 
had been on board many days he grew quite confidential. 
As we were coming down the river, near the site of his 
village, the little fellow asked, " Where are you going to 
take me ?" " To Sarawak." " I wish you would land me, 
and let me find my mother." Sir James hesitated, but 
being assured by the natives that a Dyak boy of ten 
could manage for himself, it was determined to land him 
where he had been picked up. He was loaded with pres- 
ents, and with food for three or four days. To prevent 
his being annoyed, a Malay guard was left at the landing- 
place until the last Dyak ally had passed on. This little 
fellow remained three days alone in the jungle, but never 
wandered, and was found by his mother at the spot she 
had left him. This conduct, so different to what is cus- 
tomary in native warfare, had an excellent effect : as soon 
as possible after the expedition his mother sent him to 

^ Abont this time one of the Malay crew of the advance or spy boat got 
woimded, a barbed spear having been hurled at him from the river-bank as 
be lay in the boat. The barb entered his back, and was in such dangerous 
proximity to his spine that the naval surgeons were afraid to extract it, 
uid so contented themselves with cutting ofif the shaft. On the return 
of the expedition to Sar&wak, Bishop McDougall undertook the operation, 
And to the astonishment of aU (the patient included), succeeded in extract- 
ing the barbed spear-head, so saving the man's life. 



192 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ix. 

Sarawak, with presents to the white man who had been 
kind to her boy. 

Confidence in the truthfulness of the white man is pro- 
verbial in Borneo. As we were breakfasting in a deserted 
village, voices hailed us in the distance to know who we 
were. They were told. They answered they wanted to 
have a talk : Sir James answered that he could not stop 
then, but if they would come down to the next night's 
resting-place they should be well received. Next morn- 
ing they came ; and for the first time in their lives they 
met white men and saw a steamer. These Dyaks re- 
mained ever after our firmest friends. This judicious 
mixture of severity and kindness always won the hearts 
of the Dyaks, and tended to increase their great respect 
for the English Bajah. 

One of these chiefs said : ** The inhabitants of our creek 
are determined to give up piracy, and will do so, but we 
cannot answer for the other tribes. If we give up cruising, 
shall we and our friends who think with us escape when 
you attack the refractory chiefs ? " Sir James answered : 
" If you see a flock of sparrows devouring your rice, do 
you not try to kill them ; and if by chance a harmless 
linnet should be among them, does he not run great 
risk from being found in such company? He may be 
killed; in a flock of birds it is difficult to distinguish 
between the mischievous and the harmless." 

During our absence from Sarawak the Meander had 
arrived, when, finding the work done, and his orders call- 
ing him elsewhere, Keppel sailed away, and we saw him 
no more in Borneo. Had his special boats been with us 
during this expedition, we might have pushed further up 
the Kanawit, and by destroying Buah Byah's fortified 
village, have given peace much earlier to the distracted 
districts of the Sejang. 



193 



CHAPTER X. 

MR GLADSTONE ANB THE RAJAH. 

1849. 

When I heard that Mr Gladstone intended to enter into 
a detailed and careful examination of the whole question 
of Sir James Brooke's dealings with the Borneo pirates, 
I wrote to him privately, offering to furnish him with 
every information in my power, as I did not wish to see 
my old chiefs reputation exposed, to be tarnished by 
accusations founded on imperfect evidence, by a master 
in the art of making the worse appear the better cause. 
Subsequently I replied to the following queries posed by 
Mr Gladstone :^ — 

Query 1. — That the so-called pirates were not pirates 
in the proper sense of the term, as applicable to per- 
sons habitually infesting the seas and etssailing European 
commerce. 

" The Dyaks of Seribas and Sakarang were pirates in 
the proper sense of the term, as their fleets and squad- 
rons frequented the coasts of Borneo, and the Natunas, 
Tambilan, and other groups of islands, during the whole 
of the south-west monsoon — that is, during the time that 

1 I may notice that I answered all these queries at a sitting, without 
having any papers or works to which I could refer. I was going out of 
town, and wished Mr Gladstone to have what I had written ss soon as 
possihle. 

N 



194 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. X. 

native war- vessels could keep the seas : that their cruisiug- 
grounds were from Tanjong Kidurong, north of the river 
Bintulu, to Fontianak, or about 400 miles in extent; whilst 
some of their vessels have pulled as far as Banjarmassin 
on the south coast. 

" The Seribas and Sakarang pirates, though usually called 
Dyaks, were not entirely so, as in every large prahu was 
a contingent of Malays who worked the swivels and guns 
and used the muskets ; and in many cases boats were 
almost entirely manned by Malays. In the latter expedi- 
tions the Dyaks had many guns and muskets of their own. 

" The Seribas and Sakarangs were pirates in the proper 
sense of the term, as they attacked trading vessels under 
whatever flag they might be. They also ravaged the coasts 
of the Netherlands colonies, as was referred to by the Dutch 
officer, Monsieur Boudriot, who gave evidence before the 
Commission of Inquiry in 1854, and whose evidence was 
more clear and important than that published in the pro- 
ceedings. 

" In no text-book, and in no instructions issued by her 
Majesty's Government, are pirates defined as only those 
who attack European commerce. It is sufficient to prove 
that men attack peaceful commerce on the high seas, or 
on the coast, to constitute them pirates ; and the pirates 
of Seribas and Sakarang attacked every vessel they met 
which they thought they had a chance of taking ; so that 
the Seribas and Sakarangs were pirates in the proper sense 
of the term as applicable to persons habitually infesting 
the seas and assailing peaceful commerce. 

"The attacks on the Seribas and Sakarang pirates were 
commenced by the present Admiral Keppel in the years 
1843 and 1844. His proceedings were approved by the 
Admiral on the station (Sir William Parker), the Admi- 
ralty, and the Foreign Office. No instructions in a con- 
trary sense were given during the intervening years to 



1849.] MR Gladstone's quekies. 195 

1849, when the action in dispute^ took place. On the^ 
contrary, the Meander, in 1848, was fitted out with special 
boats, suited to river service, to enable her to attack the 
Seribas and Sakarang pirates with greater certainty of 
success. The Government were therefore satisfied of 
their piratical character, or they would have issued in- 
structions accordingly. As the Admiralty Courts had 
accepted the evidence adduced in Captain Keppell's case, 
it could not be supposed that it would be rejected in Com- 
mander Farquhar's. In fact, the Admiralty Court, presided 
over by that distinguished judge, Sir Christopher Eawlin- 
son, decided that the Seribas were proved to be pirates, and 
admitted Commander Farquhar's claim for head-money." 

I might have added that the Lanun and Balagfiini, 
whom no one has ever doubted to be pirates, principally 
prey on native commerce. 

Query 2. — That there was no broad, clear distinction in 
manners and morals between the allies whom Sir James 
Brooke assisted or led, and the enemies whom he attacked.^ 

^ Mr Gladstone's queries relate -in tt principal measure to the battle of 
Batang Marau, which was described in the last chapter (chap, ix.) 

» There is an ancient custom of the Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks which 
forbids the inhabitants of a village from going out of mourning * after 
there has been a death in it, until a head (that of an enemy if possible, 
but still a head) has been obtained, to be used as a propitiation to the 
spirits at the religious feast. But owing to the vigilance of the Sarfiwak 
Government subsequently to the action of Batang Marau, the headmen of 
every long village-house from which there issued a head>hunting party 
was severely fined in gongs, brass guns, or sacred jars ; and hence there 
gradually arose difficulty in carrying out their traditional custom. On a 
recent occasion, however, the present Rajah (Mr C. Brooke) assembled all 
the chiefs at Simangan Fort, on the Batang Lupar, and proposed to them 
to abandon this old law, or rather to substitute for '' a head'' '^ a good 
harvest.*' This suggestion was immediately accepted by the assembled 
chiefs. Can there be any stronger proof of the wisdom of Sir J. Brooke's 



* It may puzzle Britons to know how nearly-naked savages go Into mourning : it Is 
by allowing their hair to go long, and to dispense with coloured waist-cloth or bead- 
eloth or brass ornaments of any sort 



196 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. 

" The native contingent that acted under the orders of 
Sir James Brooke was composed of men as distinct in 
manners and morals from the pirates as it is possible for 
men to be. Although two branches of a Dyak tribe fur- 
nished a light squadron, the bulk of our native fleet 
consisted of war-boats manned and led by as respectable 
and as wprthy traders and chiefs as any living in the 
East, — many of them as good men as ever existed, as 
the late Bandar of Sarawak, and his brother the Data 
Imaum, who served because it was necessary to clear the 
sea of marauders. It was the trading population who 
manned the fleet, as they are the good sailors of the coast. 
I knew them during fourteen yesus, and can declare that 
it was not possible to find a more marked distinction than 
that between our men and the pirates ; and this testimony 
could be corroborated by probably every one who has 
resided on the coast, whether as her Majesty's officers, 
or as missionaries, merchants, or as Sarawak officials." 

Query 3. — That the action in and after which the 
slaughter took place was partly on and near the shore, 
partly in chase of several prahus which were in flight for 
the open sea — viz., seventeen prahys ^ which escaped Cap- 
tain Farquhar, and when making for the Batang Lupar 
were raked abeam with grape and canister by the Nemesis, 
which drove many of them on shore badly crippled, when 
they fell an easy prey to the Dyak boats. Five of these, 
which were pursued by the Nemesis, were destroyed in 
detail out at sea, till there was not a living being on 
board. 

" As this appears to be taken from an account given by 
the officers present, I have little doubt of its general cor- 

policy, which has been so ably carried on by his lieutenants and succes- 
sors, than this .example of the moral power exercised by an Englishman 
in the midst of savages f 
1 Fide chap. ix. p. 179. 



1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 197 

rectness. The Nemesis was quite justified in preventing 
any war-boats escaping to the Batang Lnpar, as it would 
have exposed the peaceful inhabitants living on the lower 
reaches to death and pillage." 

Qriery 4 — That there is no evidence that either the 
five or even the seventeen prahus fought in any way 
against the Nemesis or the Snake> which appear to have 
performed this operation; or especially as to the five, 
which were not doing anything except flying for their 
Uvea 

" It is a positive fact known to myself, to Bishop McDou- 
gall, and to every superior officer in Sarawak, that lingir, 
who commanded the squadron of seventeen prahus, made 
a determined rush at the steamer, and only failed in 
taking her by her suddenly going ahead full speed. 
Nothing would have been easier, had the pirates got 
alongside, than for them to have captured her. They 
were about 700 strong, and the very bravest and most 
daring of the fleet ; while the Nemesis had not even her 
best Europeans on board, as they were away with the 
boats, leaving a few whites to point the guns. The rest 
of the crew were Indian Lascars and African Sidi boys. 
I heard Lingir himself some months afterwards tell his 
version, and I heard Commander Wallage, the day after 
the affair, explain how the steamer escaped capture. It 
must not be forgotten that these pirates have always shown 
themselves both daring and brave, but the inferiority of 
their arms renders jwi encounter with European regular 
forces quite hopelesa Lingir escaped home with his 
prahu, so that at least one of the seventeen got away. 

" The Snake was a Malay boat manned by perhaps thirty 
men." 

Qiiery 5. — That there is no evidence that either the 
seventeen or the five prahus were warned or summoned 
to surrender. 



198 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. 

" It appears' to be forgotten that there were 105 pirate 
prahus in the action, manned by about 4000 men ; that the 
affair took place between 8 p.m. and midnight ; that the 
whole of the forces engaged were constantly shouting and 
yelling like demons ; that until firing actually commenced 
the fleets were not within speaking distance ; that these 
pirates never give quarter, and therefore never expect 
it — in fact, practically asking them to surrender was 
impossible, or it would have been done/' 

Query 6. — That the rate of pay per pirate slain or 
taken bdii^ £20 per head, the prize-money claimed was 
£3000, am. the sum voted and drawn was £20,700. 
Thus it wcMild appear that about 1000 persons must 
have been/ destroyed in the action by her Majesty's 
iQicea.-«Bmled to claim prize-money, not including the 
great slaughter by natives in the jungle, and principally 
in the operation just now referred to. 

" The rate of pay was £20 per pirate killed, and £5 per 
pirate present. The naval forces were paid — 

500 pirates killed, at jg20, . . . £10,000 
2140 „ present, at £5, . . . 10,700 

£20,700 

" Whilst I was H.M.'s Acting Commissioner from Feb. 
1st 1851 to Aug. 11th 1855, 1 made the most minute in- 
quiries on the subject, and, as I testified before the Com- 
mission, found that there were killed and present during 
the action, and that the payment therefore should have 
been for 

300 killed, at £20, .... £6,000 

3700 present, at £5, .... 18,600 

£24,600 

"The pirates landed on their own coast; and though 
many died of disease and fatigue, very few — perhaps not 



1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 199 

one, certainly not twenty — were killed by the natives on 
shore (I have been reminded that one was killed by the 
eldest son of the Orang Kaya of Lundu). They had a 
great dread of the prowess of the pirates, and did nothing 
but shout the watchword, for fear the Europeans should 
mistake and fire into them, the light squadron com- 
manded by Mr Steel in the Snake excepted, as they 
cruised at the entrance of the river, to try and prevent 
the pirates getting up the Seribas. 

" It must not be forgotten that subsequently we lived on 
terms of great familiarity with the chiefs of the piitite 
fleet. They used in after-years to come up to our houses 
and sit round our-dinner tables, and tell us stories of that 
eventful night, that destroyed for ever their love of piracy. 

"I myself landed on the beach in the morning, and 
found that there had been no pursuit, except to pick up 
what had been thrown away by the pirates during their 
flight. One of these parties found the headless bodies of 
the young girl-captives whom the pirates had killed in 
their rage, and I went to verify the fact, and saw the 
sickening-spectacle. 

" There were between seventy and eighty weiTpraJius on 
or near the beach, some very fine, measuring 80 feet in 
length and 9 feet beam, carrying a crew of about seventy 
paddlers, besides the chiefs." 

Qv£ry 7. — That we do not hear of any judicial pro- 
ceedings for piracy against prisoners on this occasion, and 
are consequently altogether ignorant of the pleas they 
would have advanced in self-defence, and the colour 
which these pleas might have given to the case. 

** There was only one prisoner taken, and he with great 
difficulty. He was of inferior rank, and was subsequently 
sent with a message to the pirate chiefs to the eflect, that 
if they ceased pirating these attacks would cease. I never 
heard either a Seribas, Malay, or Dyak, or in fact any 



200 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. 

pirate, who denied his deeds : on the contrary, they gloried 
in their success, and the daring evinced in their distant 
cruises. In the Eastern Archipelago piracy was con- 
sidered an honourable pursuit, worthy of a nation of 
warriors. 

" When I say only one prisoner was taken, I mean in 
this operation. Subsequently a chief and several women 
and children fell into our hands." 

Query 8. — That the Act 6 George IV., the treaty 
with Borneo, and the instructions given under the Act, 
appear — 

a. To contemplate only the case of pirates in the sense 
of persons who assail British commerce. 

h. To assume that pirates will be summoned and as far 
as possible taken alive, with a view to a regular trial, and 
to being judicially dealt with. 

"I need not refer to the Act 6 Greorge IV., but the 
treaty with Borneo being negotiated with the Sultan of 
Brunei and Sir James Brooke, referred to the pirates who 
infested his Highness's coasts, and destroyed the trade of 
his subjects, and was aimed as much at the numerous 
Seribas as at the better-armed Lanuns and Balagnini, and 
had no special reference to British commerce, but to com- 
merce in general, and no instructions were given to Sir 
James Brooke to make such a distinction. 

" When it is possible to summon pirates to surrender, 
it is done. In the action between the Nemesis and the 
Balagnini in 1847, a boat was sent oflF for that purpose, 
when the pirates immediately opened fire on her. On 
every occasion the pirates have commenced the action. In 
1843 the Prime Minister of Brunei called upon Captain 
Keppel to aid in putting down the Seribas and Sakarang 
pirates, and himself sent the forces he could command. 

" I might also have added that every attack made on the 
Seribas and Sakarangs by H.M.'s naval forces was at the 



1849.] MB Gladstone's queries. 201 

direct written request of the Grovernment of Brunei, and 
the one in 1849 under the provisions of our treaty." 

Query 9. — That the proceedings of this expedition, as 
far as the seventeen prahtis are concerned, appear to have 
been conducted in contravention of the spirit exhibited by 
public authority in the Act, treaty, and instructions. 

"By no means: the seventeen prahtcs made a direct 
attack on the Nemesis, and were defeated. One at least 
of the prahtcs escaped, as Lingir, their chief, lived to give 
his own account of the afTair ; and most managed to reach 
the shore, where they abandoned their boats to Mr Steel's 
squadron." 

Query 10. — That they seemed to have been founded on 
the principle that extermination was the proper method 
of dealing with these people, as with wild beasts or vermin, 
and that under the circumstances the saving of life was 
not desirable. 

" On the contrary, had these pirates shown the slightest 
desire to surrender, every European officer present would 
only have been too glad to stay his hand. It was not, 
however, possible to take prisoners, as though vessels 
ce>uld be seen at night with the aid of blue -lights, it 
would not have been easy to distinguish a swimming man. 
Besides, the strong tides there would sweep out to sea or 
up the river — in either case, far away from the scene of con- 
test — any one struggling in the water. Within that week, 
I do not remember to have seen more than three bodies 
floating in the river. Admiral Farquhar was essentially a 
humane man, and Sir James Brooke was as gentle-hearted 
as he was brave and good." 

Query 11. — That it appears from the journals of Sir 
James Brooke that probably more than four-fifths of the 
crews of the prahus thus indiscriminately slaughtered were 
slaves who, whether there against their wills or not, were 
there without having any option, and were of the class of 



202 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. X. 

persons on whose behalf Sir James Brooke had at an- 
other time contended that some distinction ought to be 
drawn. 

" There is some error hera Sir James Brooke may have 
made some such statement when referring to the Lanun, 
Balagnini, or Maludu pirates who came from the Sulu 
seas or Gilolo, but not when speaking of the Dyaks. The 
Dyaks have but a few female slaves — the young women 
who have been seized in their cruises. Occasionally a 
chief may have a few slave debtors, but their war praJms 
are manned by the fighting men of the tribe. Among the 
4000 pirates who were present at the action on the Slst 
of July 1849, there may have been a few slaves attending 
on the Malay chiefs, but not to an appreciable extent. As 
a rule, they would be considered too valuable to be risked. 
The slaves in the Lannn prahvs, on the contrary, are 
mostly captives taken during the cruise. The prahus start 
with the fighting crew and a few hundred slaves. As they 
advance, the captives take their places at the oars ; and if 
their number become unwieldy, a chief will man a captured 
prahu from his own crew, and none of the chiefs followers 
do more than steer and manage the sails, and pull in the 
swift boats to surprise unwary fishermen. These pirates 
rarely kill any but their European captives, as their object 
is to acquire slaves, taking them in one countiy to sell 
them in the next. 

" In all this controversy mistakes have arisen from not 
paying sufficient regard to the person who gives testimony. 
As a rule, naval men know nothing of the countries in 
which they operate, and therefore make mistakes in writ- 
ing their reports. Even in Sir James Brooke's journals it 
is necessary to remember that they were written from day 
to day, and that they are only first impressions— often 
wrong — and that they were published under the auspices 
of persons entirely ignorant of Borneo. In 1847 I cor- 



1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 203 

rected many sheets of Mundy's book, and one blunder of 
my own was the cause of a fierce controversy. 

" I have not read the papers connected with this affair 
for years, as I did not intend to enter into the controversy 
in my life of Sir James Brooke ; but in looking for Mr 
Boudriot's name, I noticed one of the errors to which I 
refer : Captain Wallage says that the pirates landed in a 
hostile country, whereas the action took place at the mouth 
of the river Seribas, and the pirates therefore landed in 
their own country. It was uninhabited, but quite familiar 
to them. It was almost an island, so that by pulling up 
a branch of the Seribas we could have held the neck of 
land between that river and the Kaluka, and thus cut off 
the retreat of the 3200 men who had landed (I calculate 
that 500 got up the river, being the crews of the prahus 
which escaped); but Sir James Brooke knew that the 
pirates would not surrender, and would thus either perish 
of starvation or be killed in detail. He therefore called 
on his forces to follow him to the attack of the pirate town 
of Paku, and thus enabled the mass of the pirates to get 
home. He said at the time to those who objected to his 
clemency that the blow struck would suffice to destroy 
the system, — and it did, as no pirate fleet has gone to sea 
during the last twenty-eight years, and the inhabitants of 
those rivers are now far more industrious than any others 
on the coast. 

" When I arrived in Borneo in 1848, the commerce of the 
coast was dead, and the whole trade of Sarawak in 1849 
was, I think, about £10,000. No trading prahus could 
venture to sea except well armed and with numerous 
crews, forty to fifty men manning vessels which really re- 
quired but eight to manage them — and they generally 
sailed together, to give each other support. There was 
insecurity everywhere; and during the first six months 
of 1849, about 500 people fell victims to the Seribas and 



204 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. 

Sakarangs. No wonder that the traders and peaceful in- 
habitants turned out by thousands to punish these mar- 
auders as soon as the presence of the English forces gave 
unity and direction to the attack. The contrast is now 
most marked. Instead of pillage, massacre, and insecu- 
rity, we have perfect peace upon that coast Instead 
of a population, estimated at 100,000, bestowing its best 
energies on an exciting but nefarious pursuit, we have 
them eagerly turning their attention to trade and agricul- 
ture. These old pirates are far more energetic than the 
others, and are eager for improvement, and they are now 
looked upon as the mainstay of the English ; and even 
during the Chinese insurrection of 1857, when Sir James 
Brooke was a fugitive from his capital, they turned out 
almost to a man to defend his cause, and greatly aided in 
driving the insurgents over the frontiers. 

"These are indeed results, and would atone for any 
severity which might have been exercised in their accom- 
plishment But I am certain that no undue severity was 
used : and after twenty - eight years* reflection on the 
subject, I can arrive at no other conclusion than that the 
punishment of the pirates was just and necessary; that no 
one was killed beyond what was requisite for the success 
of the operation, and that there was no pursuit of the flying 
foe after he had abandoned his war-vessels ; and that Sir 
James Brooke and Commander Farquhar, to prevent the 
destruction of the defeated, called off the attention of the 
native forces as soon as possible after the action, and thus 
prevented any useless slaughter. 

"I may conclude by saying that in 1849 Sir James 
Brooke, as Commissioner, laid before Lord Palmerston all 
the evidence on the subject; that after some months of 
consideration his lordship wrote to say that he approved 
of what had been done, and that should Sir James consider 
it necessary, he was to continue to act in the same manner. 



1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 205 

It is in the hope that you may come to the same conclu- 
sion as Lord Palmerston did that I have written to you at 
this length." 

I subsequently received from Mr Gladstone some fur- 
ther queries, which I think worth inserting, as they com- 
plete the whole view of the subject : — 

Query 1. — In what sense and on what evidence are we 
to understand that the Seribas and Sakarang people were 
on this occasion engaged in piracy as distinguished from 
intertribal war? 

" The English and native forces were assembled to attack 
the pirates of Seribas and Sakarang for piratical acts 
which extended over a series of years. It would have 
been immaterial whether they had committed acts of 
piracy or not on this occasion, but they did commit acts 
of piracy, for they captured a trading vessel coming from 
Singapore laden with piece-goods and iron, which goods 
were found in their prahus, and another vessel laden with 
sago just sailing for Singapore. The crew of one escaped 
on shore, wliilst the others were killed. They also plun- 
dered the village of Palo, and tried to surprise the towns 
of Mato and Serikei. They took six young women at the 
village. Palo was almost the only salt - manufacturing 
village from which the pirates could get supplies, and 
therefore they did not destroy it" 

Qtieri/ 2. — It appears that they were not possessed of 
firearms. What weapons did they use ? 

'' I am not aware on what authority this statement is 
made. I saw the flashes from their guns, and heard the 
report ; and as most of the fighting Malays were in the 
fleet, and as all the Dyak chiefs have muskets, there must 
have been hundreds of firearms distributed in the 105 
war prahus present. Any one who was present at the 
attack of Lang Fort, as I was, would have seen sixteen of 
our men knocked over by the first fire of the Dyaks, on 



206 LIFE OP. SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. X. 

which occasion they had no Malays with them. The arms 
of the Dyaks, as of our own men, were usually spears, 
javelins, and swords — and they are expert swordsmen. 
When fighting in the jungle the Dyaks seldom or never 
use firearms, as they are apt to get rusty and out of order ; 
but in prahus they took all they had, and they have hun- 
dreds of brass guns, which are also used as currency. A 
man is said to owe another not so many dollars but so 
meLuypikiUs (133J lb.) of brass guns. Some beautiful rifles 
were captured during this expedition." 

QtLery 3. — Can any case be substantiated or alleged in 
which these tribes are known to have carried on sea-piracy, 
or assailed any British or European vessefl ? I find nothing 
on this head but vague allegations. Fifty-three merchants 
and inhabitants of Singapore, including six master-mariners, 
said there was no one among them who ever heard that 
any Dyak pirate, as distinguished from Malay, had been 
seen at sea ? 

" How could the Seribas and Sakarangs get to Pontianak 
and the other Dutch possessions except by sea ? and the 
Dutch evidence is clear enough that they went and ravaged 
their colonies. Monsieur Boudriot's testimony alone proves 
that ; and in the Dutch ofiicial reports on piracy, mention 
is made of the capture of one of their gunboats by Dyaks 
(under Eentab), in presence of her European consort, that 
vainly endeavoured to succour her. With the exception 
of Sir James Brooke's well-armed vessels, which went only 
to Sarawak, no English or European merchantmen fre- 
quented this coast, as it was a favourite cruising-ground 
of the Lanun and Balagnini, as well as of the Seribas and 
Sakarang pirates. In 1854 we recaptured the guns of the 
Dutch vessel above referred to. 

" If reference be made to the evidence given before the 
Commission in Singapore in 1854, it will be seen wh<j 
these fifty-three individuals were, and why they signed 



1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 207 

this memoriaL It would not matter if sixty instead of 
fiix master-mariners signed such a declaration, unless they 
knew something of what they were signing. Four-fifths 
of the European firms of merchants in Singapore signed 
in an opposite sense. The only pirates belonging to the 
coast of Borneo, south of the capital, were the Malays and 
Dyaks of Seribas and Sakarang. The master-mariners 
might give any name they pleased to them, but they were 
the only indigenous pirates. These Malays did not cruise 
alone : these pirates were not put down because they at- 
tacked British vessels, but because they destroyed com- 
merce in general I have answered these queries ; but why 
they should be asked after the decision of the Eoyal Com- 
mission I do not quite understand. The Commission, after 
taking a Blue-book of evidence, decided they were pirates, 
which no one who understood the subject ever doubted." 

Query 4. — Is it true that the prahua were propelled, 
not by sails nor oars, but by paddles ? 

" All these prahtis can be propelled by the three means — 
all have masts and sails : they use oars when they are not 
on warlike expeditions, but paddles when required to move 
rapidly. On the night in question probably every mast 
and sail were taken in, and they trusted entirely to pad- 
dles, as then the men can sit closely together and urge the 
prahus on at double speed. All our own swift prahua 
were propelled by paddles, including Mr Steel's Snake. 
We never used oars, except when short of men, or in very 
heavy lumbering prahus. The men prefer the paddle to 
the oar." ^ 

1 Alter the extraordinary blunder into which Mr Gladstone was led by 
Mr Motley, he will be less inclined to trust to the eyidence of master- 
mariners. The brig Amelia, of which Mr Motley was master, was, in 
1852, capsized off the north-west coast of Borneo, when oyer sixty of the 
passengers and crew were drowned. The master and a few others, twelve 
in all, contrived to save themselves in the long-boat, and reached Bruit, 
one of the villages of the friendly and hospitable Milanows, and did not 



208 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. X. 

Query 5. — Is there any indication whatever of any resist- 
ance by the five tLying prahus which the Nemesis destroyed? 

" I do not know ; but I do know that they made no eflTort 
to surrender — no sign of wishing to give up ; and it would 
have been a grievous error to have allowed these war-boats 
to escape into the Batang Lupar, whose peaceful inhabi- 
tants (on the lower reaches) would thus have been exposed 
to death and pillage. For the inhabitants of the coast, 
thinking themselves safe, as our fleet was out, went to sea 
on trading voyages ; and some Dyak pirate prahus, return- 
ing from a foray in the Dutch settlements, caught a Sara- 
wak trading boat at sea, took her, and killed the whole 
crew. She was commanded and owned by Abang Hassan, 
nephew of the Datu PatinggL To have allowed the five 
praJius to have escaped to the Batang Lupar would have 
been to sacrifice the innocent to save the guilty. I also 
understood that the five prahus were part of the squadron 
of seventeen which made the sudden and daring attack on 
the Nemesis." 

Qtiery 6. — Had these prahus no captives on board ? If 
there were any in the five fugitive prahus, must they not 
have been destroyed with the rest of the people on board, 
all of whom perished ? 

** As far as my information goes, the whole fleet had no 
more than the six captives before referred to. I never 
heard of a besieging army stopping the bombardment of a 
town because there might be innocent women and childrea 

arrive '* among these cruel pirates,^* whose dwellings, instead of being on 
the coast, are /ar np the rivers Rejang, Seribas, and Sakarang. Mr Mot- 
ley's printed account of the affair, in the Singapore newspapers in 1852, 
is strangely oat of harmony with his gratoitoos letter to Mr Gladstone in 
1877. Mr Motley and his feUow-snrvivors were hospitably received and 
cared for by the oflScers administering the government of Sar&wak. 
Thus Mr Gladstone, to support his charges, has been led by an obscure 
writer, of whom he knows nothing, to print, in the columns of the * CJon- 
temporary Beview,' statements which are opposed to fact 



1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 209 

in it It by no means follows, however, because Captain 
Wallage saw no living being on board of the five prahus, 
that the crews were ill killed. Even when caught by a 
storm at sea, the Dyaks jump overboard and hold on to 
the sides, which lightens the vessel and gives her greater 
steadiness. It is so common an occurrence that the Dy^ 
aks are provided with bundles of a certain kind of bark, 
which, when wetted, gives out a liquid that poisons the 
water around, and prevents the sharks attacking them.^ 
It was a cloudy night also, and objects were not distinctly 
seen : therefore the crews may have been in the water, 
holding on to the sides of the boats, which would explain 
the discrepancy in the calculation of the number killed — 
300 instead of 500." 

Qiiert/ 7. — In this night- operation and general firing, 
could it be known, with any certainty, whether iheprahus 
had any captives on board or not ? 

** Not at the time ; but we could be pretty certain that 
there were not many. The Seribas and Sakarang Dyaks 
never took men captives,* nor elderly women, nor any boy 
after ten or eleven years of age, nor any very small chil- 
dren. They said, even if they did not require heads, that 
men captives were dangerous, elderly women of no use, 
boys after ten or eleven would always be trying to escape, 
and that infants were troublesome I have seen hundreds, 
I might say thousands, of the heads taken by the Seribas and 
Sakarangs — for instance, when we captured their villages 
on the Kanawit — and among them were very many skulls, 
evidently of children. We had the curiosity to count the 
number of skulls in one village : it was a few over 300 — 
more than 100 in one village-house! On that occasion we 
took eighteen villages." 

I See my work, ' Life in the Forests of the Far East/ published in 1862. 
s One male captive (a relative of his own) was once taken by Rentab, 
but he was reserved to undeigo the most fearful tortures. 





210 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. x. 

Query 8. — As regards the headless bodies of young girls, 
how is it known that they were killed by the pirates ? If 
they had such persons in the prahtis, was not this a strong 
argument against the slaughter wrought by the Nemesis ? 

" Even if there was no other evidence, it is not to be 
supposed that our men would kill their own friends and 
relationa Sarawak had become as a city of refuge, and its 
population had increased from 1500 to 13,000 by refugees 
from the whole coast, who there sought shelter from the 
pirates. I saw only one body, and that was of a very 
young woman : her head, as well as her breasts, had been 
cut off, and a spear . . . Our men offered to show me 
the others who had been treated in the same manner ; but 
the sight of one was enough. I, however, saw the mats 
which our people had drawn over the naked bodies ; and 
there were five of these little heapa I subsequently asked 
lingir why they had killed these women. He said he 
was not there, which was true ; but that their captors were 
afraid that they would escape, and that the men were so 
savage at their defeat that there was no restraining them. 
He allowed, however, that it was a wicked deed. 

" There was no slaughter wrought by the Nemesis. Cap- 
tain Wallage was ordered to do his best to destroy the 
war praJius of the pirates, and he did do his best, and 
only did his duty in doing so. That pirates were killed 
during the operation was the natural result, but he would 
have fired into no prahu that had shown any desire to 
surrender. 

"The Seribas and Sakarangs perfectly understood the 
usage of the white flag, and when they desired to stop 
Captain Eeppel's further attacks they hoisted it, a parley 
ensued, and the fighting ceased. Had they hoisted a white 
flag during this engagement, it would have been respected." 

How little Mr Gladstone appreciated the information 
given will be understood by those who have read the 



1849.] MR Gladstone's queries. 211 

article, " Piracy in Borneo, and the Operations of July 
1849." He preferred the testimony of an ignorant skipper, 
or a casual visitor, to the evidence afforded by such men 
as Sir James Brooke, Captains Keppel, Mundy, Farquhar, 
and Mr Low, and aU the other authorities in Borneo ; and 
the result is, that he has not written a paragraph which 
does not contain an error. 

Mr Gladstone has so imperfectly studied the question, 
as to confound in one confused mass the habits and 
customs of such people, for instance, as the Lanuns and 
Dyaks, as different in every way as Turks from Russians ; 
but having a foregone conclusion to defend and to explain, 
he has in his article made mistakes which no one who had 
really studied the Further East could have fallen into. 

Sir James Brooke acted on Mr Gladstone's words — 
" I have no right to sacrifice the interests of the sufferers 
to what I should call maudlin, aitificial, and in the worst 
sense, sentimental pity." But Sir James's sympathies 
were with the victims, while Mr Gladstone's are for the 
pirates. 

I had intended to have answered Mr Gladstone's article, 
paragraph by paragraph, and I believe would have shown 
that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. But I have 
decided not to do so. I could not hope to convince Mr 
Gladstone, and the few who agree with him may rest 
in their unbelief. Those who cannot believe that a man 
may act from noble and generous motives, will admire 
Mr Gladstone's attempt to prove that both Sir James 
Brooke and the naval men engaged in these operations 
acted from sinister and unworthy motives, when they 
boldly and successfully cleared the seas fi-om the most 
bloody pirates that ever infested them ; while those who 
have followed Sir James's career with sympathetic appre- 
ciation will require no further evidence of the nobleness 
of his motives. 



212 



CHAPTER XL 

PEACE MEASURES — ATTACKS ON SIR JAMES BROOKE'S POLICY 

MISSION TO SIAM. 

I849-185I. 

We were all glad to find ourselves back in Kuching. 
Gradually our force dis^persed. The natives went to their 
several homes ; the Albatross, Boyalist, and Nemesis to 
Singapore, carrying with them many of our party for a 
change of air and scene ; and Grant and I alone remained 
with the Bajah. We had been above 160 days in boats 
and ships during the last nine months, and Sir James was 
completely exhausted. We were not, however, idle. By 
the arrival of the mails we found that a couple of clever 
newspapers in England were backing up Mr Hume in 
his attacks on our proceedings. 

The European inhabitants of Sarawak then met and 
resolved to present an address on the subject 

Sir James Brooke was of a very excitable and nervous 
temperament. The savage attacks to which he was sub- 
jected roused his anger, and did him permanent injury. 
He never was again that even-tempered gay companion of 
former days. He thought too much of these attacks, and 
longed to answer every petty insult and calumnious in- 
sinuation. The exposure to which he had been subjected 
during the last two years had told on his health, and fever 



1849.] ATTACKS BY HUME AND COBDEN. 213 

and ague constantly prostrated him. He, however, occa- 
sionally diverted his mind by making excursions among 
the Dyak tribes of his own country, and the peace and 
contentment he ever found there had a soothing effect. 
Boxes of new books occasionally arrived, and brought us» 
among others, Macaulay's * History of England.' This the 
Bajah began to read out to us; but it so interested him that 
he soon dropped that slow plan, and carried it off to his 
private apartments, and we saw it no more until he had 
finished the book. He was an excellent reader. 

Ever and anon, however, the packet would come in; and, 
galled at length by some furious assault of Hume and 
Cobden, he one day sprang to his feet, and said, " I wish 
I had the two before me, sword in hand, on the sands 
of Santubong." 

We passed all the autumn at Sarawak, receiving deputa- 
tions from the different pirate districts — all asking forgive- 
ness, and promising to abandon piracy. The battle of 
Batang Marau, as the affair of July 31st was called, was 
the death-blow to piracy, as far as expeditions at sea 
were concerned ; and although for many years the Dyaks 
continued restless, and attacked within the river-system 
various villages allied to Sarawak, it was never again 
necessary to call upon the navy to punish them. It 
was indeed dii&cult to eradicate from their hearts that 
love of head-hunting on which their fame depended. 

Many of these pirate chiefs had never before seen a 
European except in the undesirable position of an armed 
opponent, and their curiosity was insatiable. Sir James 
used to take them into his room, show them his swords, 
his uniform, every curiosity that could amuse them. He 
had a magic-lantern arranged for the evening, when the 
shouts of laughter would show that these wild children 
of the wood could understand a joke. The scene which 
amused them the most was a representation of a party 



214 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. XI. 

of body-snatchers nishing from a churchyard pursued by 
skeletons who are pelting them with skulls. After seri- 
ously regarding this representation, a chief turned to 
Sir James and remarked, " Ah, I see that in former days 
you white men also took heads ! " 

The new and improved magic-lantern subsequently 
brought out was a fiasco : the natives naturally could 
make nothing of Scripture scenes or views of cities. The 
skull scene was wanting, and the rest of the fun was 
taken out of the show. Many a time, on returning at 
midnight after dining with a friend, I have found lights 
in the great hall, and Sir James sitting there with two 
or three natives, listening to their tales of distress, or 
hearing accounts of different tribes, — for it was at this 
hour that the truth would come out, and Sir Jitmes would 
obtain that intimate knowledge of what was passing in 
his country which often surprised those that lived with 
him. 

When I appeared it was, "St John, come and have 
a glass of sherry and a talk," and there we would remain 
till two o'clock, discussing men and measures ; for although 
at that time I was not looked upon with the same affec- 
tion as some others. Sir James appeared to have an un- 
limited confidence in my discretion. It was at these 
times, alone together, that I endeavoured to calm his 
indignation, and lead him to despise attacks which were 
founded on ignorance, or suggested by the spite of such 
enemies as Mr Wise. I had but poor success, as by 
nature Sir James was impetuous. His feelings on the 
subject may be gathered from this sentence : " I am not 
the man to be bullied, or meekly to kiss the rod in such 
silly hands." In November he received several letters from 
Lord Grey — kind and considerate, as might be expected 
from so judicious a friend ; and now the public and official 
declarations of Lord Palmerston might have satisfied him 



I 



1849.] PEACE MEASURES. 215 

that he was warmly defended by the home Government. 
I believe he would have been satisfied, had not some 
zealous but injudicious friends at home kept up the 
excitement I notice that the Bajah writes that a per- 
usal of his journals would prove that he "had acted on 
large principles;" that "I have done justice and loved 
mercy, and that I have overcome difficulties without 
much heeding the personal consequences." 

Among the measures which the Bajah at this time took 
to check the Sakarang Dyaks was to build a fort opposite 
the entrance of their branch of the Batang Lupar to stop 
the egress of any large fleet We started from Sarawak 
to aid the work, but were driven back by a heavy blow 
of wind which lasted several days ; however, the people of 
the surrounding districts assembled, and in a short time 
built up a very formidable stockade, which was armed and 
prepared for a stout defence by Mr Crookshank. 

Sir James Brooke's fame among the Dyaks was now at 
its greatest height, and parties walked from the far interior 
to see the noted chief. These visits were most pleasing 
to the Bajah, as they showed the effect of kindly and good 
government. 

Fever and ague having, it would appear, obtained a firm 
hold both of Sir James and of his secretary Grant, the 
doctor strongly advised them to try a change of climate, 
and proceed either to the hills of Penang or to those of 
Ceylon; but before doing so. Sir James determined to 
revisit Labuan, where discord appeared to reign supreme. 
Sarawak was at this time particularly unhealthy ; it was 
not surprising that those exposed as we had been should 
suffer, but others as Mrs McDougall became so ill that 
her life was despaired o£ The Bajah in one of his letters 
refers to it thus : " In this case the lady is so much loved 
and respected, so amiable and so clever, that we should in- 
deed deplore her loss, and despair of readily making it good." 



216 LIFB OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xi. 

We left Euching on the 11th of December, and reached 
Labuan on the 14th, to find everything in disorder. It 
is not my intention to enter minutely into the details of 
our stay : they would not be interesting to the public. 
Sir James Brooke on his arrival was astonished to find 
that the Lieut.-Govemor was in open quarrel with all the 
principal officers, and that some charges had been made 
against him which affected his personal honour. The 
Governor began then to institute an inquiry; it lasted 
for a couple of months, and ended in the suspension from 
office of his locum tenens. 

As I was actively employed during the whole time in 
preparing the papers for the Colonial Office, I had ample 
opportunities of studying the whole case, and I arrived at 
a different conclusion from my chief, but had not the in- 
fluence to press my views successfully. I thought that 
the Lieut-Governor had been both injudicious and in- 
temperate, but that nothing was proved which could in 
any way affect his honour. Mr Napier was a superior 
man, of polished education and remarkable information, 
and the way that he turned the tables on a boastful 
doctor showed how accurate was his scholarship. But 
his temper was too irascible. 

This separation of two old friends was very sad, and 
tended to embitter the discussions which hereafter arose 
on the subject of Borneo, and the part Mr Napier took in 
these was quite inexcusable. 

Although the inquiry and subsequent proceedings lasted 
from the 14th December to 23d February, Sir James did 
not neglect other things. He visited Brunei, he did all he 
could to induce the Chinese and wealthy natives to come 
over to Labuan ; but he failed, because they knew that, 
though he was Governor of the island, he seldom resided 
there. The influence of Europeans over natives is per- 
sonal, and nothing but a prolonged residence of Sir James 



1850.] VISIT TO PENANG. 2l7 

in the colony would have attracted the neighbouring 
population 

Glad enough were we to leave Labuan and get away 
from disagreeable discussiona Fever and ague having 
again attacked Sir James, he determined to proceed to 
Penang ; so on the 23d February we left Labuan, called 
at Sarawak, and reached Singapore on 3d March. 

We found both friends and news : Mr and Mrs 
McDougall, grieving for the loss of their little boy ; Cap- 
tain Brooke recovered from his illness ; news that the 
* Times' and the 'Globe' were defending Sir James 
Brooke's policy, while the ' Daily News ' and * Spectator ' 
attacked it. In Sir James Brooke's place, I should have 
been delighted to have found so much attention drawn to 
Bomeon affairs. 

We found also that Sir James Brooke had been directed 
to proceed to Siam and Cochin China to form treaties with 
these countries, if he thought it advisable ; and he did me 
the honour to nominate me secretary to these missions. 
We found Singapore excited by the news of these diplo- 
matic movements ; and the merchants were delighted to 
know that there was a chance of the trade with these 
countries being soon placed on a proper footing. 

After a fortnight spent in Singapore, where we were 
filed by the Governor and the principal merchants, we 
left for Malacca and Penang. The Gk)vemor, Colonel 
Butterworth, was one of the kindest and most hospitable 
of men, and he placed his country-house at the Bajah's 
disposal 

The same day that we arrived at Penang we ascended 
the hills, till we reached the Governor's bungalow or 
country-house, situated 2200 feet above the level of the 
sea. It was a splendid situation for enabling us to recover 
our shattered health, as the whole party was ilL We were 
five, — the Eajah, Mr and Mrs McDougall, Grant, and my- 



218 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XI. 

self; and when we began to gain strength, a pleasant time 
we had there. I think that most of ns looked back on 
the six weeks we spent on the top of Penang Hill as one 
of the most agreeable periods of our lives. Sir James and 
a party rode out every day, while others walked along the 
well-laid-out paths that lead you to the neighbouring hilla 
We had a very pleasant society from the surrounding bun- 
galows, the officers, both military and civil, visiting ns ; 
while two clever French priests delighted ns with the in- 
telligent and exact accounts which they gave ns of both 
Siam and Cochin China — countries in which they had 
resided during many years. 

Sir James enjoyed liis stay in Penang. He used to sit 
for hours in a veranda from which he could gaze on one 
of the loveliest scenes in the world : the high mountains 
in the distance; Province Wellesley, with its smiling 
features and winding rivers; the placid sea between it 
and the cultivated plain of the island, lying distinct as 
a map 2000 feet below; the plain covered with formal 
plantations, whitewashed houses, and admirable roads 
networking the island. Then, when a squall came on, 
the clouds would come sweeping towards ns ; the distant 
prospect, from some atmospheric cause, would become for 
a moment doubly distinct, but soon obscured by a mass of 
vapour that enveloped us ; then a rent in the clouds would 
show pretty valleys, where the sun for a moment shone, 
and the far-off southern plain, and the ocean surrounding 
all, gave us glimpse after glimpse of beautiful scenery. 
Sir James never tired of watching these varied prospects, 
and always spoke of the hill at Penang with enthusiasm, 
— for in those days we were all united. 

Those uneventful six weeks soon glided away, and Sir 
James, having now nearly recovered from the fever, deter- 
mined to return to Singapore and prepare for his mission 
to Siam. We left Penang on the 10th March, in a large 



1850.] THE SIAM MISSION. 219 

Spanish ship, the Magnolia. We had nothing but light 
breezes and calms, so that it took us seventeen days to 
reach Singapore, a distance of little over 400 miles. 

Our voyage, however, was a pleasant one. We had lately 
received 'The Vestiges of the Natural History of Crea- 
tion,' a book now forgotten, but then famous. How we 
discussed it ! How interesting it was to listen to Sir James 
Brooke's disquisitions on the various disputed points! 
None of us were a match for him, either in brilliancy of 
illustration or in apparent logical deductions from the 
premises before him. I say apparent, because although 
very fond of argument, he had not a logical mind. At 
one time the Bajah reminded me of the students in ' Gil 
Bias,' who laid hold of the button of every passer-by in 
order to have an argument. He never tired, and what 
was more, he was never a bore, as he could amuse even 
when he could not convince. I always felt in the posi- 
tion of the man convinced against his will. I was 
silenced for the moment, but ready to return to the 
charge on the very next occasioa 

We arrived in Singapore on the 27th of March, and 
immediately began to make preparations for our mis- 
sion to Bangkok. Before we left for Penang, Sir James 
Brooke had sent the Nemesis to Siam, with a letter to 
the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to announce our coming ; 
and soon afterwards the American envoy, Mr Ballestier, 
arrived there in the frigate Plymouth. He had utterly 
failed in his mission, having been received in Bangkok 
with scant courtesy : this was partly owing to the Ameri- 
can commodore having declined to afford him any efficient 
aid, — another instance how sometimes private feeling 
mars the public service. Having succeeded in thwart- 
ing the Americans, the Siamese now prepared to thwart 
the British : nothing but the display of a powerful force 
could have induced them to submit. 



220 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XI. 

By the mail which arrived on the 4th April we were 
cheered by the news of the debate in the House of Lords, 
and Sir James felt relieved by the friendly tone of Lord 
Grey's speech; and Henry Drummond, then M.P. for 
Surrey, wrote to a friend, "The attacks on Sir James 
Brooke are most unfair." 

While we were waiting in Singapore, intelligence 
reached us from Sarawak which was not without its im- 
portance. It appeared that the American envoy, Mr 
Ballestier, had visited that place, bearer of a letter from 
the President of the United States, addressed to Sir James 
Brooke as the Sovereign Prince of Sarawak, and express- 
ing a desire to enter into friendly relations; and Mr 
Ballestier informed Sir James by letter that he was in- 
trusted with full powers, and ready on the part of the 
United States to sign a treaty with Sarawak; and he 
added that he was instructed by the President of the 
United States to thank Sir James Brooke, " in the name 
of the American nation, for his exertions in the sup- 
pression of piracy," and to compliment him on his noble 
"and humane endeavours to bring his subjects and the 
neighbouring tribes of Malays into a condition of civilisa- 
tion, which the President hopes sincerely will be success- 
ful in the end." It was very unfortunate that Sir James 
was absent from Sarawak during this visit 

Sir James Brooke, being a British offi cial as well as 
Eajah of Sarawak, was placed in apecuEar position : he 
therefore sent the correspondence to Lord Palmerston, 
who replied that he saw no objection to his entering as 
Rajah of Sarawak into diplomatic relations with the 
United States. 

Never were the words more appropriate, *' There is a tide 
in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to 
fortuna" Had Sir James Brooke treated this letter from 
the President of the United States with the seriousness 



1850.] RECOGNITION BY THE UNITED STATES, 221 

which its importance deserved, how many years would he 
have saved of heartburnings, of that hope deferred which 
maketh the heart sick ! But he neglected it ; he never 
answered the letter, and the recognition of the United 
States was lost. 

We stayed above four months in Singapore, waiting for 
the naval force which should accompany us to Siam. We 
felt angry at the delay ; but it was diflScult to be angry 
with that pleasant old Admiral Austen, who, being the 
brother of the author of ' Pride and Prejudice,' won our 
hearts by such relationship. Sir James was a great ad- ^ 

mirer of Miss Austen's novels ; he read them xmd re-read 
them. During quiet hours in Sarawak he would read them 
aloud ; and he filled me with the same admiration, which 
has continued to this day. During our stay in Singapore, 
Sir James received the most welcome despatches from 
home. " The Government has approved of all that I have 
done, and has directed me to follow out the policy. This 
is quite conclusive and satisfactory." Would that he had 
continued to think so ! 

We started for Siam the 3d of August 1850, on board 
H.M.S. Sphinx, Captain (now Admiral Sir Charles) Shad- 
well, and took the Nemesis in tow. No account of this 
mission has, I believe, been published; so that I may 
enter into a few particulars of it, without, I trust, fatigu- 
ing the attention of the reader. 

Siam was, in 1850, governed by a king who had little 
claim to the crown, as he was an illegitimate brother of 
the true heir, but at the same time older, and perhaps more 
able. He had once been very fond of the English, but he 
had, during the last few years, become as inimical to for- 
eigners as he had formerly been friendly. I believe this 
change arose chiefly from the ill-conduct of the principal 
English merchant in Bangkok, who excited the king's 
anger by a violent and unjustifiable attempt to force the 



222 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BBOOKE. [cHAP. XL 

Siamese Government to pay an exorbitant price for a 
steamer. Since that quarrel the position of foreigners had 
become almost untenable. As we only heard the English 
account of the origin of these quarrels, I have no hesitation 
in saying how ill they behaved. Had we heard the king's 
account, we should have probably to speak even more 
strongly. 

We arrived off the bar of the Menam river on the 9th 
August, and heard that the whole country was in a state 
of great alarm, as they feared that the obstinacy of the 
king would result in a war with the English. 

The Sphinx remained outside the bar, and Sir James 
Brooke sent Captain Brooke and myself, in the Nemesis, 
to the village at the mouth of the river to announce our 
arrival and the object of our visit We found the forts 
crowded with soldiers, and rather expected to be received 
with a volley ; but prudence prevailed, and an officer came 
off. Having settled matters with him, we returned to the 
Sphinx, which next morning attempted to cross the bar, 
but unfortunately stuck on it This, I believe, was the 
cause of our subsequent ill success. Had the large steamer 
been enabled to get in, the efifect would have been complete; 
but her misfortune changed the mind of the king. 

After many preliminary negotiations, it was settled that 
Sir James Brooke should land at Menam and meet the 
Prime Minister, who had just arrived from the capital. 
Two large boats came from the shore to fetch us. As Sir 
James stepped into one, the yards were manned ; and as 
we pushed off, a salute of seventeen guns was fired from 
the ship, and admirably returned by a battery of field- 
pieces on shore. 

At the landing-place Sir James was received by Siamese 
officers of rank, with a guard of honour, who presented 
arms with much smartness. Hundreds of others were 
squatted on the ground near the hall of reception — a new 



1850.] RECEPTION OP THE MISSION. 223 

mat-building, built for the occasioiL The Praklang, or 
Foreign Minister, was seated on a broad divan, partly re- 
clining on numerous cushions, with his gold betel-boxes 
and spittoons, and his pipe and his tea-service arranged 
around hiuL He rose as we entered, and pointed to chairs, 
which were placed on the opposite side of the room, but 
far to his left — a position of marked inferiority. Sir James, 
however, disconcerted all these plans by advancing straight 
up to the divan and shaking hands with him ; then taking a 
chair, he placed it right opposite to the Minister. We fol- 
lowed the example, shook hands, placed our chairs in a line 
with Sir James Brooke's, — and thus the first fight on eti- 
quette was over, and no further attempt was made to 
lower the position of our envoy. The Minister was com- 
pletely taken aback, but in a few minutes recovered his 
equanimity. He was an elderly man, dressed in great 
state, with a long robe and under-dress of rich gold bro- 
cade. His countenance was not unpleasing, but had some- 
times an expression of harshness. He looked a Chinese 
ruler, lolling his huge body about, while his sons and his 
followers crouched around him ; and when any one ap- 
proached, it was by crawling on his elbows and knees — 
a humiliating fashioa 

Lord Palmerston's despatch to the Praklang was borne 
in with all due solemnity, and read ; then, after the usual 
complimentary questions and answers, we took our leave, 
having settled to proceed to Bangkok in state-barges, after 
some of us had been to the capital to inspect the house pre- 
pared for the Mission. We were greatly interested with 
our trip, particularly with the floating-houses in the capital 
As the temporary building was not suitable, we accepted 
the ofier of an English merchant, a Mr Brown, that Sir 
James should take his house, and leave the other to visit- 
ors and the escort of marine artillery which was to accom- 
pany us. 



224 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XI. 

We stayed about six weeks in Bangkok, during which 
Sir James did all that was possible to negotiate a treaty ; 
but the king and the Ministers were opposed to it, and our 
efforts were unavailing. But before we left, Sir James en- 
tered into a correspondence with the heir to the crown, 
who was an educated prince ; and the Bajah felt that it 
would be more beneficial to our future interests to defer 
negotiations until his advent to the throne. 

Bangkok is a remarkable city, but more remarkable for 
the number and size of its temples than for anything else. 
Few personal incidents occurred during our stay. Sir 
James suffered from the heat more than we did, as he 
almost entirely confined himself to the house, unwilling, 
amid a hostile population, to expose the Mission to an 
insult. 

One day, however, we persuaded him to visit a temple 
near our house, when suddenly a drenching squall came 
on. We most of us ran to get out of the rain, while Sir 
James continued at his slow dignified pace towards the 
house, as if no pelting shower was coming down. He 
afterwards reproved us for having completely forgotten 
our dignity before a crowd of orientals. There never was 
such a country for mosquitoes as Siam. Our rooms were 
filled with them ; and at night it was not possible to eat 
one's dinner without having fanners seated under the table 
to drive the swarms away. They bit through everything. 
One of our marines sought refuge in a huge water-jar, 
and was found with only his nose protruding; while 
another who sought to do the same thing in the river was 
drowned. 

Sir James was one day seated in the veranda, when he 
drew my attention to a group of children swimming round 
a floating-house. Presently a little baby, who was at its 
mother's breast, turned, struggled fix>m her arms, and threw 
itself into the river, where it swam like a fish. On beinjj 



I860.] CHINESE IMMIGRATION, 225 

taken out, its mother presented it with a cigarette, which 
it quietly smoked, even before it could wedk. 

When we found that every proposition was refused, the 
Siamese Government declining to enter into a new treaty, 
we asked for boats and left Bangkok ; and next day we 
found ourselves on board the Sphinx, and off to Singapore. 

Sir James was delighted to hear, on his amval, that 
some thousands of Chinese had passed over from Sambas 
into Sarawak, and that at last the wished-for movement 
had commenced. As soon as we had got rid of the Siamese 
correspondence we started for Sarawak in the Nemesis, 
and reached that place in October 1850, to find everything 
flourishing. 

The arrival of this large party of Chinese was a very 
singular event In the Dutch - protected state. Sambas, 
south-west of Sarawak, there were two distinct parties of 
Chinese — ^those who sided with the gold-workers of Mon- 
trado, and those who, from their position, were under the 
influence of the Dutch. The latter were the agriculturists 
of Pamangkat, and some few small companies of gold- 
workers. 

At the beginning of the Uttle war in Sambas in 1850, 
the Chinese of Montrado obtained the upper hand, drove 
the few Dutch soldiers into the town of Sambas, and then 
set upon their allies. The Pamangkats fled for safety over 
the frontiers into Sarawak, and there settled either as 
agriculturists or among the established gold - workers. 
The English officers did their utmost to aid them on their 
first coming, and above a thousand at one time were sup- 
ported by the Government. They well repaid this atten- 
tion, as in a few months they tripled the revenue. 

We reached Sarawak on the 24th, and were enabled to 
spend seven weeks there — not seven weeks of rest, as the 
Bajah had promised to visit some tribes of Dyaks, and 
examine the gold-workings of the Chinese in the interior. 

p 



226 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. XL 

Sir James had also a very momentous question to settle, 
which was the future government of the coast between 
Sarawak and Brunei The Sultan, the nominal ruler, pos- 
sessed but little real authority, although his name was 
often used by plundering nobles to enable them to carry 
out their measures. 

About a week after our return to Sarawak, the Rajah 
discussed the matter with me. This was the state of 
affairs. The next district to Sarawak was Samarahan, 
which in everything followed the lead of its neighbour ; 
then Sadong, governed by an ill-conditioned Malay chief 
named Bandar Easim, who was always in trouble ; then 
the great river of Batang Lupar, with its several branches 
of lingga, Undop, and Sakarang, entirely independent of 
the Sultan, as was the next great district, the Seribas. 
Kaluka kept up an occasional intercourse with the capi- 
tal, but paid no revenue ; and the majestic river of Re- 
jang was peopled by tribes who owned no allegiance to 
any one. 

Sir James had long thought that this state of things 
should be altered. He acknowledged that the lawful 
sovereign should receive some revenue ; but how to obtain 
it was the difficulty. The Sultan had placed himseK com- 
pletely in Sir James Brooke's hands, and generosity as 
well as policy urged him to do what he could for him. 

I believe that the suggestion came from me that the 
Rajah should propose to the Sultan to hand over to him 
the government of the six rivers, under the condition that 
the surplus revenue should be divided between the Govern- 
ments of Sarawak and Brunei. The idea was simple, and 
recommended itself ; and in order to prepare the way for 
its execution, Sir James determined to establish better 
government in these districts. He removed Bandar Kasim, 
as he was proved to have made a foray into Dutch-pro- 
tected territory, in which twenty-five men were killed. 



1850.] ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES. 227 

He appointed good men to govern lingga: he had al- 
ready built a fort at Sakarang to check the pirates, and 
had established there his old Balidah acquaintance Sirib 
Moksain. 

Seribas he was forced to leave alone for the present, as 
to establish a Government there would have been too ex- 
pensiva He left the native rulers at Ealuka and the 
Bejang ; but he determined to build a fort at the mouth 
of the Kanawit to prevent the pirates getting down the 
main river to ravage the coast 

These different enterprises were likely to prove some- 
what expensive, as the revenues to be received would for 
a long time be nominal 

We sat talking till late : the rest of the party had re- 
tired, and the native chiefs had long since glided from 
the room. During these discussions the Rajah was in 
his glory — he so fully understood his subject, was deeply 
interested in every phase of the question, would appar- 
ently never accept a suggestion, opposing it with all his 
energy, but pondering over it afterwards. Many a time 
has he said, some months subsequent to a hot discussion, 
" St John, you were right ; I shall carry out your idea," 
when the idea itself had to be recalled to my mind. 

At this time Sir James Brooke had around him in his 
own establishment a number of young ofGlcers, as Captain 
Brooke, Grookshank, Grant, Brereton, Lee, and myself, 
who were thoroughly devoted, and who looked up to him 
for counsel. But it is a singular fact, for which I have 
vainly endeavoured to find an explanation, that, except to 
one, he never gave a word of advice ; never tried to direct 
our studies ; never tried, except during our usual discus- 
sions, to lead us ; never thought of our conduct 

Perhaps he trusted to his own example ; for during the 
twenty years I knew him, his life was a pattern of good- 
ness. His sentiments were always noble, and his conduct 



228 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. XI. 

was that of a thorough gentleman. Much as we respected 
our chief personally, we did not accept his opinions as 
infallible : on the contrary, in politics, on religion, on litera- 
ture, we had endless discussions, which, as the £ajah said, 
generally terminated in the battle of Waterloo. 

Sir James Brooke discussed every subject in the same 
manner as he played the game of chess: he made a 
brilliant onslaught, which required the utmost wariness 
to oppose. With time, however, we learnt his method, 
and opposed coolness and caution to all his attacks, and 
our lively talks went deep into the night. 

As I have before observed, complaints continually came 
in about the governor of Sakarang, and therefore the 
Eajah determined to send Mr Arthur Crookshauk and Mr 
Grant to inquire into his conduct. On their return to 
Sarawak, they were accompanied by a son of the famous 
Sirib Sahib, the great pirate - protector of former days, 
whose family was now anxious to settle under the shadow 
of the new fort. They also brought with them the clever, 
pleasant, but untrustworthy Sirib Moksain, whom they had 
found completely unsuited to the post in which the Eajah 
had placed him. It was then determined to invite Mr 
Brereton to leave the Labuan service and take charge of 
Sakarang as a sort of independent governor, — a most sin- 
gular arrangement. Brereton, however, proved himself to 
be the right man in the right place ; he had formerly 
been in the navy, — and he possessed the art of winning 
the confidence of the natives, and although too impulsive, 
was, on the whole, an excellent and genial governor. 

As Sir James had been away about ten months, the 
Dyaks of various tribes begged him to visit them. But he 
was still weak from old attacks of ague, and therefore de- 
termined to confine his visit to some tribes that lived on 
the tributaries of the Morotabas river. 

We first went to the Maradang Dyaks. As they were 



I860.] VISIT TO THE DYAKa 229 

in fact but a branch of the Sibuyows^ I need not enter 
into particulars concerning them, but I wish to mention 
a curious conversation which took place. After diuner 
was over, we sat by the light of a few wood torches in the 
broad enclosed veranda of a village house, when one of 
the Dyaks present said that he should like the Bajah to 
give them some account of his visit to Siam. We were 
surprised to hear such a question from this almost naked 
savage, and we inquired what he knew on the subject 
The chief of the tribe then said that many present were 
familiar with Siam. He for one had been sent by their 
Malay rulers to pull an oar in a Lanun pirate boat, and 
had often cruised in the bay of Siam, and showed by his 
remarks how well he had observed, and told us many a 
curious anecdote of their proceedings. No wonder the 
coast of Borneo was in those days considered unsafe 
when the regular rulers of the country thus encouraged 
the pirates. 

In the morning we started on a visit to a tribe of land 
Dyaks, the Sentahs, who lived on a little hill on the Quop. 
At first the path was very muddy, being through old rice- 
fields, then over pretty hills, young jungle, and now and 
then across purling streams. A Dyak path, even after 
being improved, is difiicult to follow, and this was a 
regular specimen. As I have said, it lay first through 
abandoned fields, which the late rains had turned into 
slush ; then through low jungle,— old, slippery, rotten trees 
were lying across the path ; then large clearings for plant- 
ing drjr rice, covered with felled trees and branches half 
burnt through, over and on which you are expected to 
walk ; then steps down the sides of steep hills, either cut 
in the clay or made of a single tree with rough notches ; 
then through deer-swamps, bridged over by small trees 
ranged in a line in the middle of the path, — most diflScult 
walking — a slip on either side would plunge you into mire. 



230 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. Xl. 

Every now and then we arrived at a deep ravine over 
which was thrown the stem of a young tree, slippery and 
often rotten — a queer specimen of a bridge. At last we 
reached the Quop hill, very steep and very tiring, as we 
climbed up a succession of steps cut in the slippery clay ; 
but at length, where some clear water crossed the path, a 
halt was called and a bath determined on, after which we 
felt refreshed, though five hours in the broiling sun had 
fatigued many of our party. 

The Sajah was received with an exuberance of joy by 
the people — for this was one of the tribes whose captured 
women he had forced Sirib Sahib to restore — and cere- 
monies of all kinds immediately commenced. The old 
women danced with a slow measured step, and passed 
their hands over our arms, and then rubbed their bodies, 
thinking they had drawn virtue out of us ; they brought 
fowls to the Rajah, that he might wave them over the 
heads of the people and wish them all blessings, — cool 
weather for their crops, and fertility for their women; 
then cooked rice was brought, on which the Bajah was 
asked to spit, and then stuff it down the throats of these 
simple old creatures. At last the Eajah, overcome by his 
unusual fatigue, fell asleep, and I undertook to strike a 
freshly killed fowl against all the door-posts, and thus 
sprinkle a little blood thera These ceremonies, and the 
beating of gongs and loud singing, effectually drove drowsi- 
ness from my eyes, and I envied the Rajah his power of 
sleeping under almost any circumstances. 

Glad were we all next morning to start early, though 
before doing so Sir James had to cut a ratan that let a 
flagstaff into » hole properly prepared, dug to receive it. 
The curious part of the ceremony was that, as the Rajah 
cut the ratan, a live chicken was thrown in and crushed 
by the falling staff, a sacrifice to their gods. The same 
ceremony once, it is said, took place in the Rejang district. 



1850.] *'OLD PIEBWOKKS." 231 

when a young ^1 took the place of the chicken ; but this 
probably is but a tradition. The chief of the Sentah 
tribe was a simple, kindly old man, and once came to 
the Bajah to tell him that a party of Malays had, during 
a visit to his village, discussed the subject of religion, and 
said that all those who were not Mohammedans would 
be hurled into hell and burnt. "What," said the old 
chief, " wiU become of the white men?" "They will be 
sent to hell too, and you Dyaks will be the firewood with 
which they will be burnt" " I thought," continued the 
old chief, " that this was too bad ; that I who have always 
done my duty to my neighbours should receive such treat- 
ment in the other world. But, Rajah, is it true 1 " The 
Rajah told him that it was not true, and advised him to 
join the Christians ; " and then," he said, " you will share 
our fate, which is not likely to be that stated by the 
Malays." The old man took the advice seriously, and 
shortly after he and many of his tribe were baptised. How- 
ever, he ever after went by the name of " Old Fireworks." 

Though still suffering, the Rajah determined to fulfil 
his engagements, and in a few days st£u*ted to settle 
matters with the Chinese company established to work 
gold in the interior, and then laid down rules which, 
had they been strictly followed, would have prevented the 
Chinese insurrection that broke out many years later. 

No sooner had he returned to Kuching than he was 
attacked by fever and ague, and he was brought so low 
that he listened to the advice of his medical friend, and 
determined to return to Europe on sick-leave. He could 
have no rest in Sarawak, as no sooner had he settled the 
Chinese affair than he had to enter into an inquiry as to 
the truth of the accusations made against the Malay gover- 
nors of Sadong and Sakarang; and finding the charges 
proved, he had, as I have said, to depose both of them, and 
establish fresh rulers. 



232 LIFE OF SIR JAMBS BROOKE. [chap. xi. 

Before returning to England^ however, he determined to 
make a visit to Labuan, and have another look at the 
colony. We started in the Nemesis, and arrived there on 
the I9th December. The place was healthy enough, but 
there was no trade ; the coal was left almost untouched, 
and there was little prospect of advancement We were 
only three weeks in Labuan, and even during that time 
we paid two visits to the capital. Sir James suggested 
to the Brunei Government his plan for the management of 
the six districts near Sarawak, and left them to discuss it 
among themselves. 

Had Sir James Brooke been enabled to have stayed six 
months in Labuan, there would have been a start given to 
it which would probably have insured its success. One 
of the parishes or sections of Brunei, called the Burong 
Ping^, contains the real trading population of the capital 
It is inhabited by rich men entirely addicted to commerce, 
who were at that time anxious to withdraw from the 
tjrrannical government of the Sultan, Omar Ali. They 
had entered into negotiations with Sir James Brooke to 
leave the capital in a mass, and establish themselves in 
our colony; but, on account of the question of domestic 
slavery, they had decided to establish their new abode at 
the mouth of the Ealias river, which is opposite Labuan, 
and have their trading establishments under our flag. 
But when they heard that the Governor was about to 
start for Europe, they grew less warm in the project, and 
at last determined to give up the idea until Sir James's 
return to Borneo. We thus lost to the colony the active 
aid of 1500 of the best of the population of the capital — 
so true is it that in the East influence is personal 

Probably Lieut.-Govemor Scott or Mr Low could have 
done everything they desired, but they were more used 
to the Rajah, and wanted to be under him. 

Another attack of fever and ague warned Sir James no 



I 



1851.] DEPARTURE FOR EUROPK 233 

longer to defer his departure, and on the 9th January we 
left Labuan, to reach Sarawak on the 13th, and four days 
after the Bajah sailed for Europe. We accompanied him 
to the Santubong entrance, and in my journal I find the 
words, " Farewell, dear Eajah ! may your visit to Europe 
prove as beneficial to you as we all hope." Mr Brereton, 
on being acquainted with the plans which had been formed 
for him, joyfully threw up the Labuan service and accom- 
panied us to Sarawak, preparatory to taking possession of 
his governorship of Sakarang. Every one regretted his 
departure from Labuan, as he had the art of winning 
affection. 



234 



CHAPTER XII. 

SECOND VISIT TO ENGLAND. 
1851-1853. 

That visit to England from which we all expected so 
much proved an unfortunate one, as instead of seeking 
rest Sir James picked up the gauntlet thrown down by 
the Eastern Archipelago Company, and fought it out with 
them, to the loss of health, money, and time in my opinion, 
but it was a necessary fight in the opinion of Sir James 
and some of his friends. 

The Eastern Archipelago Company had been formed to 
develop the resources of the Indian islands, and particu- 
larly to work the coal of Labuan and the antimony at 
Sarawak. It had been pushed into existence by Mr Wise, 
Sir James Brooke's agent in England, nominally to aid in 
advancing the work of the Bajah, but in fact to supplant 
him. His secret project was unknown to the directors 
when the company was formed, as it was difficult to 
fathom Mr Wise's schemes. 

But the fact was, that by inadvertence and unpardon- 
able carelessness, some private letters written by Sir 
James from Sarawak had been allowed to fall into the 
hands of Mr Wise, and in these he had noticed some 
energetic expressions about himself, when Sir James, 
irritated by what he considered dishonest attempts to 



1851.] MR wise's MANCEUVRES. 235 

impose on the public, declared that he would kick 
Mr Wise to Old Nick if he continued to mix his name 
up in such schemes, and expressed the opinion that " a 
friend was worth a dozen agents." Mr Wise, however, was 
cautious as to showing his discontent, and only whispered 
his insinuations to my father ; but when Mr Brooke pos- 
itively declined to have anything to do with his projected 
company, and refused to sacrifice Sarawak to the other's 
greed for money, Mr Wise grew furious, and then it was 
that he burst out to my father in accusations against his 
employer. 

Mr Wise was an able man, and as crafty as he was able. 
As a minute examination of his different projects would 
be of no interest to the public, it will be suflBcient to say 
that he had for a long time attempted to launch in the 
market a gigantic scheme, and he took advantage of the 
excitement caused by the arrival of Sir James in England 
during 1847 to carry out his project. He thought himself 
secure of a lease of the Sarawak antimony ore; but he had 
not yet obtained the grant of the right of working coal on 
the mainland of Borneo, as Sir James had thought it his 
duty, as a Queen's officer, to pass the concession he had 
obtained to the English Government 

Mr Wise looked upon this act as treason to himself, and 
was rendered furious on hearing that some genuine cap- 
italists in the city were trying to obtain the concession. 
Upon this he thought of my father, and after a consulta- 
tion he drew up a long memorial, which the former agreed 
to place personally in the hands of Lord Palmerston. 

My father was an old acquaintance of Lord Palmerston, 
and I well remember the particulars of the interview. 
When he had explained to his lordship the object of his 
wishing to see him, he handed him the memorial to read. 
On seeing its length. Lord Palmerston started, and said, 
" St John, your friend is a d d long-winded fellow ! " 



236 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xn. 

but with that admirable aptitude for work for which he 
was remarkable, his lordship read it through, and promised 
to do his best. What were the steps subsequently taken 
I do not know, but Mr Wise was given the concession, and 
immediately formed his company. Many of the directors 
were rich, but nearly all were inexperienced men, and Mr 
Wise was allowed to do as he pleased. 

Some months later Sir James Brooke thought that he 
discovered errors in Mr Wise's accounts to a considerable 
amount : an explanation was demanded, but refused ; and 
Mr Wise, finding that Sir James had for a long time been 
aware of his covert hostility, now threw off the mask, and 
attacked his old employer on every occasion. 

Our proceedings against the pirates in 1849 furnished 
him with the necessary weapons. By garbled extracts, by 
untrue reports, by means which I know not, he managed 
to obtain the confidence of obstinate old Joseph Hume, who 
dearly loved a grievance, and attacks on Sir James were 
commenced both in Parliament and the press. To minds 
that were prepossessed it was of no use furnishing proofs of 
the character of the pirates, or to bring forward the judg- 
ment of the Admiralty Court. It was of no use for the 
House of Commons to approve Sir James Brooke's pro- 
ceedings by increasing majorities ; it was no use for Lords 
Palmerston, Grey, and Ellesmere to stand forward in his 
defence, nor for that hard hitter, Henry Drummond, to 
demolish Mr Hume's case in the House. Mr Wise a j^ 
his faction ^gre^ determined if pqssiWe^ojsdn^SffJames 
Brooke. Stung by this injustice, the Rajah decided to 
carry the war into the enemy's camp, and attacked the 
Eastern Archipelago Company, and did not give up the 
contest until he had seen the seal of their charter torn 
off by the judgment of a high tribunal But at what 
expense of time, money, temper, and health was tiiis 
triumph obtained! 



1851.] PARLIAMENTARY PERSECUTION. 237 

Sir James found, therefore, that whilst in England he 
had not only to fight the Eetstern Archipelago Company, 
but that he had to answer the "persevering and malignant 
persecutions," as Lord Palmerston called them, of a small 
minority in Parliament. He therefore seriously thought 
of getting himself elected M.P., so as not only to be able 
to defend his own proceedings, but to develop the policy 
which he thought England should pursue in the Eastern 
Archipelago. It is a pity that he could not carry out his 
project, as his fiery eloquence, his honest purpose, his 
thorough mastery of his subject, would have won the 
House, ever ready to listen to a man who has really 
something to say, and says that well. 

On July 10, 1851, Mr Hume brought forward his motion 
of inquiry into the conduct of Sir James Brooke; but as he 
really could bring forward no evidence whatever against 
him, his motion, after a triumphant reply by Lord Palmer- 
ston, was rejected by a large majority. Mr Gladstone 
spoke on this occasion, and bore his testimony to Sir 
James Brooke's noble character. It is a pity that he has 
lately allowed doubts to creep in as to the correctness of 
his former judgment. 

News having reached England that the old king of 
Siam was dead, and that the friendly Chau fia Mungkut 
had ascended the throne, it was decided to send another 
Mission to Siam, and Sir James Brooke was directed to 
prepare for an immediate return to that country. His 
passage was taken in the October mail; but before he 
could start, news reached the Government through Col. 
Butterworth, Governor of the Straits Settlements, that the 
king of Siam would prefer the Mission being deferred 
until after the funeral rites of the late king were over. 
This was a real misfortune, as, had Sir James returned to 
the East, made an advantageous treaty with Siam, and 
perhaps opened Cochin China and Eambodia, his mind 



238 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xn. 

would have been diverted from the attacks on his Bomeon 
policy, and his opponents would probably have considered 
it useless to persevere in their " malignant persecution." 

But it was decreed otherwise, and instead of sailing 
for the East, Sir James went down to hunt with Harry 
KeppeL 

In 1852 the Bajah had still his two questions on hand, 
— the lawsuit with the Eastern Archipelago Company, and 
to defend himself from the attacks on his Eastern policy. 
The* friends and admirers of Sir James Brooke, to mark 
their opinion of his conduct, gave him a public dinner at 
the London Tavern on the 30th April, and on that occa- 
sion Sir James explained his policy in a lucid speech, 
which was much admired. " Do not disgrace your public 
servants by inquiries generated in the fogs of base sus- 
picions: for remember a wrong done is like a wound 
received — the scar is ineffaceable. It may be covered 
by glittering decorations, but there it remains to the end." 
Prophetic words ! the scar did remain to the end. 

In the House, Mr Sidney Herbert stated that Sir James 
was engaged in mercantile speculations, and a correspon- 
dence ensued which was quite unworthy of Mr Sidney- 
Herbert, who shuffled out of the question he had raised 
in a very mean way, as he had in reality spoken at the 
instigation of Mr Wise, and had no evidence whatever to 
support his disparaging assertions. 

One satisfaction Sir James Brooke had, which was to 
see the seal of the charter of the Eastern Archipelago 
Company torn from that document, as it was found that 
the capital, which had been certified as subscribed, had 
not been subscribed. While the director, Mr Wise, was 
engaged in managing the ''malignant persecution" in 
England, and pulling the wires by which Mr Hume, 
Mr Cobden, and their lesser allies were moved, their 
manager in Borneo was not idle. This was a Mr Motley, 



1852.] MB HUMB's WITNESSES. 239 

who was employed with a disreputable adventurer named 
Bums to endeavour to obtain a letter from the Sultan of 



Born eo/ complaining; of Sir James Brooke's conduc t But 

leir schemes failed. 

It is a curious circumstance that both these men, who 
were great authorities with Mr Hume in his endeavour 
to prove the gentler character of the natives of Borneo, 
died by their hands. Mr Burns was killed by pirates in 
Maludu Bay ; and when we recovered the ship of which 
he had been supercargo, I discovered among his papers 
not only proofs of their having endeavoured to bribe the 
Sultan to complain of Sir James Brooke, but I found a 
very curious argument written out, whether it would not 
be justifiable on his (Mr Bums's) part to receive slaves in 
payment of goods. His conclusion was that he would be 
completely justified. And this is a specimen of the men 
who banded against Sir James Brooke. Mr Motley was 
massacred, with his whole family, by those mild inhabi- 
tants for whose good conduct Mr Gladstone is now ready 
to vouch. The third of this band of rogues, Mr Biley, the 
tavern-keeper, was drowned. 

It will show to what height party spirit rose, when I 
say that Mr Motley accused the Eajah of having bribed 
the pirates to murder Mr Bums, Capt Bobertson, and 
others of the crew of the Dolphin, as in 1846 he had paid 
Mr Williamson's servant to drown his master. Can any- 
thing be more infamous than such accusations? The 
fact is, that HM.'s officers in half-civilised coimtries are 
brought in contact with wandering ruffians whose only 
object is to make money, — honestly if they can, but at all 
events to make money ; and when we endeavour to check 
their illegal acts, we are exposed to shameful abuse, which 
sometimes finds an echo at home. 

Sir James Brooke had many interviews this year with 
Lord Malmesbury^ Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 



240 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [onAT. xii. 

and explained to him the position in which he found him- 
self placed. He pointed out, what had long been apparent 
to us, that it was not for the good of the public service 
that he should hold the positions of Governor of Labuan^ 
Commissioner to the independent princes, and Consul- 
General, whilst he continued Eajah of Sarawak. Two 
of the three were compatible, but not all together. As 
Governor of Labuan, or as Eajah of Sarawak, he could 
hold the position of Commissioner ; but as he could not 
efficiently superintend two possessions distant from one 
another, he proposed, therefore, that he should give up 
the government of Labuan, and be appointed Minister, 
with two paid attaches. The governorship was given up, 
and everything was settled, even to his return to Siam to 
make a treaty with the new king, who appeared likely to 
prove very friendly to the English, when the Conservative 
party went out of office, and Lord Aberdeen came into 
power. Lord Stanley, however, then Under-Secretary, 
assured Sir James that Lord Malmesbury had so settled 
the affair, that his successor would not disturb the ap- 
pointments. 

I must go back a little to refer to another subject, to 
which I have already alluded. I have already men- 
tioned that the American envoy had visited Sarawak 
in 1850, with proposals to form a treaty. The Eajah's 
absence, and the necessity to submit this proposition to 
the British Grovernment, as Sir James was an officer in 
their employ, prevented anything being done at the time ; 
but in 1851 he received letters addressed by Mr Balles- 
tier from Washington, informing him that the President 
of the United States would be happy to meet him if 
he would visit America. As Lord Palmerston had written 
to him to say that H.M.*s Government saw no objec- 
tion to his n^otiating a treaty with the United States, 
he had made up his mind to start when* some private 



1858.] MR Hume's demand for a commission. 241 

affair delayed his departure until too late. I have always 
regretted the frustration of this voyage, and fear that Sir 
James did not attach sufficient importance to it. It 
might have been of incalculable service, and have saved 
him from years of subsequent annoyance. In the spring 
of 1852, his private secretary, Mr Charles Grant, visited 
Washington, but as he had not been famished with any 
powers, he could only act in his private capacity. Had 
Sir James been acknowledged an independent sovereign 
by the United States, with powers to sign a treaty of 
friendship and commerce, perhaps he would not have 
had to wait fifteen years for recognition by his own 
country, and Mr Cobden would have ceased to persecute 
a man whom the President had delighted to honour. 

In the hope of silencing Mr Hume, or at least those 
of his friends who had minds open to conviction. Sir James, 
early in 1852, published a series of letters, addressed to 
Mr Henry Drummond, on the subjects in dispute, and 
so demolished Mr Hume in the opinion of many judicious 
persons, that he hoped that he should hear no more of 
the matter. In fact, many who had suffered by Mr Hume's 
malignant tongue were much pleased ; and one day Lord 
Torrington, so unjustly treated by Mr Hume when Governor 
of Ceylon, meeting Sir James, said : '' I am delighted 
with these letters ; you have thoroughly avenged ma" 

This visit to England, which was to have been one of 
quiet in order to restore his health, resulted in much fatigue 
and anxiety. He was at work all the tima During this 
long stay, how vainly he sought repose I It was not then 
in his nature to indulge in it ; he called for an easy-chair, 
but was never content to sit in it. 

With 1853 there came into power the Aberdeen 
Ministry, a coalition of the Liberals and Peelites. It had 
the faults of all coalitions, it lived by compromise. Joseph 
Hume and his coadjutors thought that they had now 

Q 



242 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xn. 

their opportunity ; and as a return for their support, they 
insisted that the inquiry that they had so long demanded 
should be granted. 

It must not be forgotten that Sir James Brooke had 
himself proposed an inquiry, and in an interview with 
one of the Conservative Ministers it was fully discussed. 
Sir James refers to it in the following words: "At the 
close of our conversation, I asked him whether it would 
be better or not, for the sake of the public service, to 
have a Parliamentary Committee at once at the opening 
of the session. He said it was worth thinking about^ 
and that he would consult Sir John Packington and 
Disraeli about it : that it would be the bold course ; aud 
a friendly and fair inquiry made at my request, would 
be very different from one granted to the hostile motion 
of Mr Hume." 

The entry of the Coalition Ministry into power upset 
this plan, and Sir James might have expected mischief 
when he found that Lord John Bussell refused to confirm 
Lord Malmesbury's appointments, but his confiding and 
simple nature did not. He, however, determined to resign 
his appointment as Commissioner and Consid-General, 
but waited until his arrival in Borneo to do so. 

None of the friends of Sir James Brooke could object 
to an inquiry being instituted; but the concealment 
practised on this occasion was not justifiable. The secret 
history of the granting of the Commission, about which we 
shall hereafter hear much, may probably never be known ; 
but Sir James Brooke was informed that Mr Hume got 
hold of Sidney Herbert, as the Minister who was evidently 
hostile to Sir James, and through him induced Lord John 
Bussell to come into his views. 

I am under great personal obligations to the late Earl 
Russell, but these cannot prevent my expressing the 
strongest sentiment of regret at the underhand way in 



185S.] UNDERHAND CONDUCT OP THE COALITION. 243 

which this affair was conducted. While Mr Hume was 
informed that the Commission had been granted, this in- 
formation was carefully concealed from Sir James Brooke, 
and it was only by accident that he found it out Instead 
of consulting with Sir James as to the manner and object 
of the inquiry, and enlisting his aid, Gk>vemment, as I have 
said, kept the news concealed from him. He left England 
in April 1853, boiling with indignation, which was increased 
on his arrival in Singapore, when he found that Mr Hume 
had already written to the editor of a reckless local paper 
to announce the Eoyal Commission; so that Mr Hume had 
long been aware of what it was intended Sir James should 
not know before he left England. A most unfair and un- 
just proceeding I 

No wonder that Sir James wrote, — ^"The Commission 
makes me so fiercely indignant, and I dislike it because it 
is derogatory to my position and humbling to my pride." 
And later on, — " I guard against the besetting sin of my 
temper by inheritance — the indelible impression of in- 
jury received, and the unforgiving spirit which such an 
impression produces." The sense of an injury received 
did indeed remain impressed on his spirit to his dying 
day. 

I must here pause to notice an observation made by 
Mr Gladstone : " His " (Sir James's) " language respect- 
ing Mr Hume and Mr Cobden, two men of the very 
highest integrity, and by no means given to extremes 
as humanitarians, is for the most part quite unjustifiable." 
It makes one flush with indignation to read such a remark. 
Mr Hume, who had spent years in grossly calumniating 
and "malignantly persecuting" the Sajah, and who had 
not the manliness to acknowledge the falseness of his state- 
ments when proved to be wrong, is not worthy of respect. 
I have no respect for the man who, by false accusa- 
tions, embittered the life of a noble officer, whose shoe- 



244 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xii. 

strings he was unworthy to untie, and who* wrecked a 
noble policy. 

And Mr Cobden I judge from the following sentence, 
never retracted : " Sir James Brooke seized upon a terri- 
tory as large as Yorkshire, and then dfove out the natives, 
and subsequently sent for our fleet and men to massacre 
them." The insolence and ignorance here displayed are 
about equal, and yet Sir James is censured for resenting 
the accusation of having massacred the peaceful inhabi- 
tants of his own country. Verily, Mr Gladstone has two 
weights and two measures. 

I may mention that in the autumn of 1852, whilst on a 
visit to Lord EUesmere, the Eajah nearly closed his career 
in a very tragic manner. His cab-horse ran away, and at 
one moment there was great danger of the vehicle being 
tipped into a canal; but passing this danger the horse 
dashed on, and came into collision with a large stone gate- 
post, and the cab was shivered to pieces, while all the 
inmates escaped unhurt 

Before dwelling further on this subject of the Com- 
mission, I must briefly notice the events which had taken 
place in Borneo during the Rajah's prolonged absence. 
Captain Brooke had been left in charge of Sarawak ; Mr 
(now Sir John) Scott, of Labuan ; and I, of the Commis- 
sioner and Consul-General's department. It is with Cap- 
tain Brooke's proceedings, however, that we have principally 
to do. Captain Brooke was exceedingly well adapted to the 
trust confided in him : he was of a frank and noble nature, 
of just though perhaps not broad views, and of so sweet a 
temper that he gained the affection of those around him. 
He had no remarkable ability, and never pretended to 
have: but he managed the affairs of the country with 
great tact, improved its revenues, and kept everything 
quiet, so that during the two and a half years of his 
nucleus absence nothing occurred to disturb its tranquillity. 



1858.] MB BREBETON AT SAKA^BANG. 245 

He visited every part of it, and made himself thoroughly 
acquainted with the natives and their wants. I accom- 
panied him in most of these journeys. Sakarang was the 
only place that gave him any uneasiness. I have men- 
tioned the establishment of a fort there under Sirib 
Moksain; of his having been withdrawn on account of 
the unpopularity of his administration ; and of the substi- 
tution of Mr Brereton as Governor, but a Governor with- 
out pay. No better choice could have been made of a man 
likely to win over the wild warriors of Sakarang than 
Brereton. He was young, active, knew the language 
thoroughly, and was of pleasant and taking manners. 
His only support was his own talent, aided by twenty 
armed men from Sarawak, emd by a small Malay popula- 
tion which had gathered round the fort, under Abang 
Aing, one of the most faithful Malays we ever met. The 
position was very curious. The fort was surrounded by 
various tribes of Dyaks who were at war with each other — 
the Sakarangs, the Batang Lupars, and the XJndops, gen- 
erally in alliance against the Linggas, though not always. 
These lived on different branches of the same great river. 
This was intertribal war, not piracy. Although the fort 
had been erected principally with the object of preventing 
fleets passing down the river to the sea, Mr Brereton early 
saw that he must induce these tribes to make peace before 
any success could attend his government. He first won 
over Gasing, an influential Sakarang chief, already half a 
friend since an interview with the Bajah in Sarawak ; and 
with his assistance, and that of Abang Aing, he managed 
to bring about negotiations which appeared likely to ter- 
minate satisfactorily. It took him months of labour, but 
at length he was enabled to announce to the Sarawak 
Grovemment that he had succeeded, and invited Captain 
Brooke to come to Sakarang in order that the peace cere- 
monies should take place under his auspices. 



246 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xil 

Thus Mr Brereton restored peace and tranquillity to a 
river district inhabited, it is thought, by nearly 40,000 
Dyaks, and ivom that time everything appeared to go on 
well, except in the far interior, where a famous pirate chief 
named fientab refused to be bound by these engagements. 
Not to disturb the sequence of the story, I will defer refer- 
ring to this until I have to describe the expedition under- 
taken by Sir James Brooke himself against this chief 

It was a great satisfaction for us to witness the success 
of this young officer, who laid the foundation of the 
permanent tranquillity and prosperity of this important 
province, so that those who succeeded him had for some 
time comparatively an easy task. They have had their 
troubles, but prosperity was too solidly based by Mr Brere- 
ton for things not to proceed well He exercised a very 
great personal influence over these chiefs. In fact, whether 
it was natural or whether he had acquired it, his manner of 
treating them was more like his own great leader than 
that of any other officer in Sarawak. 

We had troubles also with the Chinese gold-workers, 
but Captain Brooke's vigorous policy soon brought them 
to order, and kept them quiet many years. 

In the autumn of 1851 the English schooner Dolphin * 
was taken by pirates in Maludu, and after it was recovered 
an expedition was sent by Admiral Austen to punish the 
guilty. Captain Brooke and I accompanied it, but as the 
expedition remotely affects Sir James Brooke, I only men- 
tion the fact. I now return to the Sajah. 

^ It was in this ship that Mr Bums, of whom I hare already spoken, 
lost his life at the hands of pirates. 



247 



CHAPTER XIII. 

BETUEN TO BOBNEO. 
185^-1864. 

Aftee a few days' stay in Singapore, Sir James started 
with his English servant and Grant for Sarawak in a little 
sailing brig, the Werafif, and reached Kuching the first 
week in May. The whole population poured out to meet 
him — for however unjust others might be, in Sarawak he 
was rightly judged, and this comforted him. When we 
met, we all noticed that the Rajah's face looked puffed, 
and that he was covered with what appeared to be harvest 
bumps; but there being no medical man amongst us, 
nothing was said, although the Sajah complained of a 
feeling of lassitude. In the veranda of his house a 
crowd met him, and I heard a Bomeon noble say, " Why, 
the Rajah has the small-pox." I took no notice, as the 
word he used was one not common in Sarawak ; but on 
the morrow the Rajah felt weaker, and very soon kept 
his room and his bed. I sat at his bedside, holding his 
hand, — for it is a curious circumstance that when ill Sir 
James could obtain no sleep unless some one whom he 
liked held his hand. I have done so until all sensation 
had left my arm ; did I move it, he awoke immediately. 

It was not long before Sirib Moksain entered Sir James's 
bedroom and said^ " Good God, the Rajah has the small- 



248 LIF£ OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XUL 

pox !" No sooner did the Bajah hear this than he sent for 
some experienced persons, and these confirming the fact, 
he instantly forbade those amoDgst ns who had not had the 
disease from entering his roonL 

He had, however, two experienced and tender nurses, 

— Mr Crookshank, the police magistrate of whom I 

have often spoken, and Sirib Moksain, the dispossessed 

Governor of Sakarang, the half Arab who had announced 

to him what was his malady. Day by day he grew worse ; 

. / his disorder, confluent small-pox of a virulent kind, broke 

^^ out all over the body, and his attendants were in despair. 

/ '} \^ ^^ would creep into the room, expecting daily that it was 

r the last look we were to have of our beloved friend, whose 

countenance now was not to be recognised, so swollen, so 

disfigured had it become. 

The native population were deeply moved. Every day 
the chiefs would walk softly up to the house, and sit for 
hours in the outer rooms, to have the latest intelligence ; 
the poorer classes, Malays and Dyaks, would crowd the 
verandas and wait patiently for news, until, in a lucid in- 
terval, the Bajah gave the order that the house should be 
placed in quarantine to prevent the infection from spread- 
ing. Nevertheless, every day the native ladies would send 
perfumed water to wash the invalid, while Sir James lay 
stretched on broad plantain-leaves, whose freshness cooled 
the fever that burned the skin. 

In the mosques there were daily and nightly prayers 
for the sick chief — in fact, all the population suffered ap- 
parently as much as we did. The weather was fearfully 
hot— 94'' in the coolest rooms — and not a breath of air 
disturbed the drooping leaves : all this was against our 
patient 

At last there was a favourable turn, but the weakness 
continued for above three montha In August^ however, 
he was enabled to embark again on board the Weraff, and 



1858.] VISIT TO THE SULTAN. 249 

proceed to Labuan and Brunei. In appearance he was so 
change d that, when he landed in our colony, his former 
subordinates were almost affected to tears at the sight of 
him, while he cheerfully consoled them, saying, " You will 
not like me the less for being a little uglier.'* In a letter, 
written in July 1853, to my father, I notice these words : 
" Sir James was very excited about the Commission ; but 
since his severe illness he has been much more calm. 
He says, 'After such a chastening as God has given 
him, all that man can do appears nothing.' I have 
never before seen him so quiet and resigned, or so even 
in temper." 

From Labuan we proceeded to Brunei to meet the Sul- 
tan. Changes had taken place in the capital. Omar Ali, 
the murderer of his relatives in 1846, was now dead, and 
his chief Minister, Pangeran Mumein, reigned jn his stead. 
As, however, Mumein had no claim whatever to the throne, 
but was placed in that position as a makeshift, he felt 
uneasy at Sir James Brooke's coming — as, besides the con- 
sciousness of many intrigues, he feared that his powerful 
tributary would not acknowledge him. 

The Weraff not being able to reach the city on account 
of the freshes, the Sultan sent down large boats to fetch us 
np to the palace, where he had provided a couple of rooms 
for us, behind the audience-halL Although we came with 
a full retinue of servants, we were not allowed to provide 
our own table. Three or four times a-day the Sultan sent 
in dishes in abundance, prepared by the ladies of the 
harem : the curries, the stews, the rice-cakes, were really 
delicious ; and Sir James, in his convalescence, ate of them 
with pleasure, particularly after the wretched dirty cooking 
of our little merchant-brig. 

Our first interview with the Sultan was very interesting. 
Crowds of nobles were assembled, the two rival factions 
mustering strongly, and with them was the wily Makota. 



250 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. Xin. 

Presently the Siiltan came in, looking uneasy. We rose 
and advanced towards him. The Bajah, after the first 
salutations, turned round to the chiefs and complimented 
them upon the wisdom of their selection, and then address- 
ing Mumein as Sultan, continued the conversation. The 
effect was immediate — ^the gloomy, uneasy look vanished, 
and all was cordiality. 

The Eastern Archipelago Company, anxious to obtain 
some testimony against Sir James firooke which might be 
used before the Commission, had employed their unscrupu- 
lous agent in Labuan to gather evidence. The ex-Iieuten- 
ant-Govemor, smarting under the punishment he had re- 
ceived, had written to his former friends in Brunei to tell 
them all about the Commission. We were therefore deep- 
ly amused by the conduct of our old enemy Makota, who 
longed to refer to the pending inquiry, but did not dare. 

Sir James soon relieved him by entering on the subject 
himself, and by explaining all. He committed, however, 
the natural error of confounding his feelings with facts, 
and describing the conduct of the English Government as 
more hostile than it really was. It was in vain for me to 
point out to the Rajah the impolicy of this : he was obsti- 
nate — and when obstinate, no one at the time could turn 
him from his view. This error, a few years later, had a 
most deplorable effect. 

The real object of Sir James Brooke's visit was to carry 
on negotiations for the cession of the six districts in the 
neighbourhood of Sarawak, which then yielded no revenue 
to any ona In fact, in their state of disorganisation, they 
did not pay their expenses. Sir James Brooke proposed 
to the Brunei Government a certain fixed sum, and half 
the surplus revenue. The fixed sum was small ; but the 
revenues of Sarawak at that time were very small also. 
Few difficulties were raised: the Sultan, happy in the 
assurance of Sir James Brooke's support, and desirous to 



1858.] CESSION OF THE SIX DISTRICTS. 251 

« 

get something where his predecessor had obtained noth- 
ing, agreed to cede the districts on the conditions pro- 
posed ; and before we left, the necessary deeds were pre- 
pared and signed. A year's revenue was paid in advance, 
large presents were made to different nobles, and all ended 
happily. Even Sir James Brooke's most inveterate enemies 
could not say that this cession was obtained by force or 
intimidation. It was known that the British Government 
was considered hostile — ^that Sir James had now lost the 
support of the navy — that he was there in a small un- 
armed merchant -craft, — yet everything he desired was 
granted immediately. 

When this serious business was over, Sir James turned 
his attention to the intrigues against himself personally, 
and thought it desirable to obtain from the Sultan and 
Makota the original letters written to them by the ex- 
Lieutenant-Grovemor of Labuan, as well as some other 
documents, in order to lay them before the Eoyal Commis- 
sion. Sir James went about the business in a straightfor- 
ward way, but made no progress. The letters were mis- 
laid, perhaps lost — they could not be found — and day 
after day passed without any result At last one of our 
party took the affair in hand, and with a better apprecia- 
tion of Makota's character, called upon him, and plumply 
said, " I will give you so many hundred dollars if you 
produce the letters." He talked about his honour, his 
character being at stake ; but he was assured that it was 
for his honour to expose an intrigue. Next day he slipped 
the letters into the hands of the negotiator ; and the same 
evening, by his express desire, the bags of dollars were 
passed through a small window in our bath-room, which 
abutted on his house, and were received by his Excellency 
in person. Some years after, having to negotiate a con- 
vention with Brunei, and finding that, though settled, I 
could not get it signed, I sent to Makota, and told him it 



252 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xill. 

was useless to imagine that I was going to pass any bags 
through my bath-room window, as the English Government 
did not do business in that way ; and it is creditable to 
his appreciative character that^ on receiving the message, 
he laughed, and sent the convention, signed £md sealed, 
next morning. 

The Rajah enjoyed this stay in Brunei. He was toler- 
ably quiet ; he was regaining strength every day; he found 
that his influence had not declined, — on the contrary, he 
was looked upon as the final arbitrator in the disputes of 
the natives ; he had obtained the documents requisite to 
enable him to introduce regular and legal government in 
the six districts, and he was satisfied. 

I have often heard people talk of their influence among 
the people of Borneo. Many have acquired a certain 
amount, as Captain Brooke (the Rajah's heir), Mr Crook- 
shank, Mr Brereton, Mr Charles Johnson,^ and one or two 
other Sarawak ofiicers ; but their influence was but re- 
flected influence, acquired because they were relatives and 
officers of the old Rajah. Mr Low and I had some influ- 
ence in Brunei, but no one more surely than Mr Low 
would confess that much of his influence was reflected ; 
and I took care, wherever I went, to take the position once 
given me by Sir James, of his adopted son, and I found 
that, whether among Dyaks, Malays, or others, it was fully 
appreciated. 

The loyalty shown by the Sultan and Rajahs of Brunei 
to their old friend and protector was really remarkable. 
Every temptation was laid in their way to induce them 

1 Lieutenant Charles Johnson, R.N., whose name often appears in my 
narrative, had at this time retired from the navy, and had joined his 
uncle, Sir James Brooke, in Sar&wak, and eventually became Governor of 
Sakarang and Seribas. He afterwards adopted the name of Brooke, as his 
elder brother. Captain Brooke (now deceased), had previously done ; and 
he is now (1879) Rajah of Sar&wak. 



1868.] RETUKN TO SARAWAK. 253 

to attack Sir James before the Commission — ^they were 
assured that rich Sarawak would be restored to them ; but 
they resented every offer. This conduct should not have 
been forgotten, but it was forgotten ; and to the faithless- 
ness Sarawak has shown to Brunei I may refer hereafter. 
Everything being satisfactorily settled we left Brunei, and 
having called at Labuan sailed for Sarawak, where we 
arrived in September after a favourable passage, to find 
plenty of correspondence, though nothing about the Com- 
mission. 

The Malays were soon summoned to a meeting, at which 
Sir James gave a full account of his visit to the capital 
The cession of the six rivers was received with a murmur 
of applause, and when the Bajah explained the purport 
of the Royal Commission, there were some genuine and 
hearty responses made by the chiefs. Very often they 
only follow the lead given, and utter what they think 
will please ; but some of them now spoke out, and ex- 
pressed their sentiments in no measured terms. 

The announcement of the appointment of a Commis* 
sion to inquire into the conduct of Sir James Brooke 
was, however, an unmixed eviL It disturbed the minds 
of the population, it raised ambitious aspirations in 
many a chief who had formerly been a zealous sup- 
porter, and laid the foundations of troubles which lasted 
many years. 

We remained in Sarawak several months quite undis- 
turbed. To aid Sir James Brooke in his recovery, Captain 
Brooke had, during our absence in Brunei, built a pleasant 
little cottage, on a spur of the Serambo mountain. We had 
a lofty peak on our left, while on the other three sides the 
hill sloped steeply down 1200 feet to the plain and river 
below. In a ravine close by, rose a huge rock some 70 
feet in length by 40 in breadth, somewhat in the shape 
of a mighty but very blunt wedga The thicker end 



254 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xin. 

was buried in the ground; the centre, supported on 
either side by two rocks, left a cave beneath; while 
the thinner part, thrust up at an angle of 30**, over- 
shadowed a natural basin, improved by art, in which the 
Bajah loved to bathe. A rill that glided from under the 
rock supplied us plentifully with cool, clear water. It 
was a beautiful spot, a charming natural grotto, in which 
we often passed the burning mid-day hours. As we sat 
there we could catch glimpses of distant mountains, of 
the plain below, and here and there a reach of the river, 
all these seen through noble trees, and brilliant vegetation 
of various kinds. What pleassmt days we spent there! 
With our books, our writing, and our chessboard, we 
managed to let time slip imperceptibly away. We were 
surrounded by groves of fruit-trees, and at a little dis- 
tance below us were three Dyak villages, to which we 
made constant visits. I do not think it necessary to enter 
into many descriptions of Dyak ways, or of the Hajah's 
visits to these tribes, as so much has already been pub- 
lished on the subject ; but we saw many curious customs. 

The Dyaks were naturally as much or more pleased 
than the Malays at the recovery of their Bajah; they 
could not believe but that if he died the old system of 
oppression and robbery would recommence ; and they were 
right, as in 1853 the Sarawak Government would not 
probably have continued to exist had its founder been 
removed, particularly under the depressing influence of 
the estrangement of the English Government from the 
infant settlement. 

Deputations from all the tribes on the right-hand 
branch of the river came and pressed us to go among 
them, but the state of the Rajah's health would not per- 
mit it Some chiefs, however, in our neighbourhood, as 
those of Bombok, Serambo, and Paninjow, would take 
no refusal; and as they were near, the Bajah used to 



1854.] AN EXPLOSION. 255 

make an efiTort to be present at their great festivals. I 
have entered so fully into all these ceremonials of the 
Dyaks, however, in my own work on Borneo,^ that it 
would be but a repetition to dwell on them here. 

In May 1854 news reached us that Charles Grant, 
resident of Lundu, was attacked with small-pox, and the 
Kajah immediately left Kuching in order to nurse him. 
Luckily it was but a mild attack, and he soon recovered. 
Whilst the Sajah was away, a most curious incident oc- 
curred. We were sitting at dinner, when the room was 
lit up as by a brilliant flash of lightning : a few seconds 
afterwards another bright flash and an awful explosion. 
The powder-magazine had been blown up. We ran down 
to the river-side, jumped into our boats, and were soon 
across, to find the stockade laid flat on the ground, and 
the sentinel lying near, dead but unwounded: the con- 
cussion of the air appeared to have crushed his life out 
On inquiry, we found that a bright meteor had traversed 
the sky, and unluckily chosen the powder-magazine for 
its place of rest. 

There was one subject that had for years occupied the 
Eajah's mind, and that was to bring the Dyaks of Sarawak 
under the direct control of the Government. The plan 
which had been adopted in former years was a modifica- 
tion of the old system. The Eajah governed Sarawak 
with the aid of three Malay chiefs, called Datus — the 
Patinggi, the Bandar, and the Tumanggong. Each fam- 
ily in every tribe of Dyaks was expected to pay about a 
bushel and a half of rice every year to the Government, 
half of which went to the Eajah, and half to the Malay 
chiefs. The Patinggi held in hand the tribes of the left- 
hand branch of the river, the Bandar those on the right, 
while the Tumanggong had sway over the tribes on the 
coast, and the fisheries. These three Malay chiefs, by 

1 Life in the Forests of the Far East. 



256 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. Xlll. 

custom also, had the right of the first trade with the 
Dyaks, which in former days had been forced upon the 
aborigines by every species of tyranny. When Sir James 
was appointed to the governorship, he endeavoured to 
restore the traditional customs, but he found that with 
all his watchfulness the Dyaks were exposed to much 
oppression. At length, when the revenues of Sarawak 
permitted the payment, he decided on giving the diflFerent 
chiefs fixed sums per month, in lieu of all claims on the 
Dyaks. 

The Patinggi had been the great offender in all this 
system of oppression, so that Sir James commenced with 
him, and commuted his revenue of rice into cash, giving 
him 50 per cent extra to cover the profits he had derived 
from trade. This was at first gratefully received, as he 
hoped privately to continue the forced trade ; but when 
checked in this, he began to show signs of discontent 

I propose fully to explain what consequently occurred, 
as it is the keynote to troubles which lasted eight years, 
aud which cost many valuable lives and much property. 

I have before referred to our visits to the Patinggi's 
wives, when we saw his very fine-looking daughter, Fati- 
ma. This girl had her head turned by prosperity, and 
disdained to match herself with any Sarawak gentleman. 
Unfortunately her father favoured her views, and fixed 
his attention on a certain Sirib Bujang, a harmless fellow 
enough, but brother to an intriguing chief, Sirib Musa- 
hor, of Arab descent This man was the ruler of Serikei, 
and was suspected of being in league with the pirates of 
Seribas and Sakarang. 

The Rajah strongly objected to this marriage, as he 
knew the danger of bringing the Arab influence into Sara- 
wak ; but the chief pressed for his consent, aud the ladies 
pretended to be in despair ; so that, on the eve of his de- 
parture for England in 1851, his consent was givea In 



1854.] THE PATINGGI. 257 

order that the marriage should be solemnised with great 
state, the Patinggi began making immense preparations, 
borrowed of his friends, and daily pestered Captain Brooke, 
then in charge of the Sarawak Government, to afford him 
the means of meeting his expenses, as he said the honour 
of Sarawak was at stake. Finding what he thus obtained 
to be inadequate, he began oppressing not only his own 
Dyaks, but those of Sadong, who had been temporarily 
confided to his care, and deep were the complaints which 
arose on all sides. 

The marriage came off with great Mat For days every 
house was covered with flags, and cannon fired from dawn 
to sunset ; free tables for all friends were prepared, and 
the amount consumed per day was a never-ending subject 
of conversation. Sirib Musahor had accompanied his 
brother, and was open-handed in his liberality. We all 
liked him. He appeared to seek European society, and 
by the hour woidd stand listening to Mrs McDougall 
playing the piano ; at other times he was a diligent at- 
tendant at our chess club, and many a tough game have 
we had together. His brother, the bridegroom, was very 
inferior to him in appearance, but was a better chess- 
player. 

After the marriage festivities were over, we all noticed 
a change in the Patinggi's manner. He began to give 
himself great airs, talked more of his own importance to, 
and in, the Government^ and continued his oppressive con- 
duct towards the Dyaks. Captain Brooke visited most of 
the tribes to verify these complaints, and, finding them 
true, had often to fine some of the followers of the Pa- 
tinggi The chief, however, showed no signs of discontent, 
but became a greater beggar than ever for donations from 
the public treasury. 

When, however, the Bajah returned to Sarawak in 
1853, and brought news of the Commission, it appeared 

R 



258 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BBOOKE. [ohap. zilT. 

from what was afterwards discovered that the Patinggi 
began to entertain ambitious views ; and, in concert with 
Sirib Musahor, it was suspected, began to broach the idea 
of expelling the English from the coast and seizing the 
reins of power. On our return from Brunei in September 
1853 the Sajah called the Patinggi before him, and pointed 
out to him how ill he had behaved during his absence in 
England towards the Dyaks committed to his care. The 
cases of oppression were indeed startling ; but the Rajah 
was desirous of sparing an old servant who had been faith- 
ful in former days, and, as I have said, offered to take over 
his Dyaks and pay a certain sum as an equivalent for the 
revenue and forced trade, but leaving the open trade free 
to him and his family. The Patinggi appeared joyfully to 
acquiesce, but his evil advisers soon began to whisper to 
him that he had been d^raded in the eyes of the people. 
From that time forward he began actively to conspire. 

Early in 1854 the Sajah and Captain Brooke went with 
a squadron of war prahtcs to the Batang Lupar river to 
visit Charles Johnson at Lingga and Brereton at Sakarang. 
I stayed in Kuching. One day, whilst sitting alone in 
my little cottage, the eldest son of the Datu Tumanggong, 
Abang Patah, came in to have a talk. He was one of the 
best of the Malay chiefs — frank, loyal, honest, brave as a 
lion. He subsequently lost his life in gallantly defending 
the Eajah's Government 

I saw by his uneasy manner that he had something to 
communicate, so, after answering a few leading questions, 
he said, ** It is no use beating about the bush ; I must tell 
you what is going on." He then ujifolded the particulars 
of a plot which the Patinggi had concocted to cut off the 
Europeans in Sarawak. The Patinggi had confided his 
plans to the other chiefs, but they had almost unanimously 
refused to aid him, and had determined to keep a watch 
over his proceedings ; but they had not the moral courage 



1864.] DEPOSITION OF THE PATINGGl. 259 

to denounce him to the Government. At length Fatah 
said, " I have become alarmed. The Bajah and Captain 
Brooke are away together. The Patinggi is with them, 
with all his armed followers, and in an unsuspecting mo- 
ment all the chief English officers might be cut off at a 
blow.*' I promised, as he desired, to keep his communica- 
tion a secret from all but the Eajah, to whom I instantly 
wrote, giving not only Patah's story, but other indications 
which had come to my own knowledge. An express boat 
carried the letter to its destination. The Eajah read the 
letter, and without a word passed it to Captain Brooke. 
The latter, having also read it, said, *' What do you think ? " 
" It is all too true," answered the Bajah, to whom convic- 
tion came like an inspiration. They had noticed some 
very odd proceedings on the part of the Patinggi, but 
having no suspicions, had not been able to interpret some 
of his armed movements ; but now it was clear that he 
was trying to get the Europeans together to strike one 
treacherous blow. Nothing, however, was said or done 
publicly. The faithful were warned to watch well, and a 
few judicious inquiries brought the whole story out. 

On his return to Sarawak the Bajah determined to 
bring the Patinggi to justice. On account of his relatives 
he spared his life, and he was permitted to depart on a 
pilgrimage to Mecca. The scene in the court-house where 
this occurred was very remarkable. It must always be 
remembered that, beyond half-a-dozen English officers, 
the Bajah had only his Malays at his back to aid him in 
deposing a native chief. 

The following is the Eajah 's brief account of what 
occurred on this occasion : " Yesterday was a great 
day in Sarawak, as I publicly, before about five hun- 
dred men, accused the Patinggi of misg'ovemment and 
treason, and deposed him from his office. I demanded 
all his guns, lelahs, muskets, and powder, which were 



260 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHA^P. ZllL 

brought into the fort by the Bandar, the Tumanggong, 
and the Abang-Abang, whilst the deposed Patinggi was sit- 
ting in court All passed oflF quite quietly, and the people 
were entirely with us, true indeed as steel, with the ex- 
ception of course of a few, his immediate followers and 
dependants. It was a measure rendered imperative by 
the Patinggi's intrigues, and his secret hostility to the 
Government for having checked him in his course of mis- 
government and malversation." 

The next in rank, the Bandar, now succeeded to the 
chief influence among the' Malays ; and his brother, as 
Datu Imaum, was added to the list of trusty counsellors. 
These two brothers were remarkable men. The eldest was 
a mild, gentle Malay, as truthful and honest as any man I 
ever met, but to whom ill health rendered active exertion 
repugnant. His energetic brother, the Imaum, the head 
of the Mohammedan priesthood, has proved by his acts 
and conduct how wise was the Bajah's choice, for he is 
still the mainstay of English influence among the Malays. 



261 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE BOYAL COMMISSION — EXPEDITION AGAINST EENTAB. 

1854-1866. 

At this time the Bajah was visited by his old friend Mr 
Bead of Singapore, who was accompanied by Colonel (now 
lieutenant-General) Jacob. This visit greatly interested 
us all, as the keen-eyed Indian officer readily took in the 
salient points in dispute, and from a doubter, or rather a 
questioner, became one of Sir James's firmest friends. 

Whenever we went to stay on the mountain of Pan- 
injow we forgot all about the Commission, or referred to it 
only as a troublesome business thait the British Govern- 
ment had brought upon themselves ; but the even tenor of 
our way was at length disturbed by the arrival of the three 
voluiBes_Q£--thfi^ Bajah's letters^ edited by Mr Templer. 
From this time forward chess andlight reading were put 
aside, and all thought was devoted to the coming Com- 
mission. Manifold were the useless despatches written, 
— worse than useless, because to an indifferent person they 
looked like bad faith. But in a man like the Bajah there 
was no bad faith, but an earnest belief that he was 
furthering the cause of truth and justice in summoning 
OS witnesses to appear before the Commission in Singapore 
such men as Lords Palmerston, Clarendon, and others. It 
may, however, have been done to show how incomplete 
would be an inquiry conducted at Singapore Vainly I 



262 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xiv. 

endeavoured to moderate this stream of letters, which 
must have wearied the Foreign Office, already sufficiently- 
troubled by the communications of one of Sir James's 
indiscreet friends, who even intimated to Lord Clarendon 
that the life of the Eajah would be placed in jeopardy 
should the Commission hold its sittings in Singapore, as 
party feeling there ran so high. I read the copy of this 
despatch as sent to us ; but I trust some judicious adviser 
erased that paragraph before it reached the Foreign Office. 
More than this, the English Government was assured that 
Sir James Brooke was a man so superior, that should 
England find itself in a moment of supreme danger, she 
must call upon him to return home and save her. Such 
tretsh as this could not but fail to weary those to whom it 
was addressed, particularly as it had nothing whatever to 
do with the casa At last the Government peremptorDy 
declined to continue so useless a correspondence, which 
could only injure the Eajah's cause, as it was supposed to 
be instigated by him. 

These letters from home exercised a very unfortunate 
effect on the tone of the Sajah's own communications. 
No man, however, was better aware than himself of his 
unfitness for European statesmanship. In Borneo he was 
unrivalled ; in Europe he would have had many a rival, 
with more experience and better training. 

Sir James had now passed nine months in quiet, looking 
after the internal welfare of Sarawak, and had determined 
to take no active step before the meeting of the Com- 
mission ; but he was forced at length to break his resolve, 
on account of the successive delays which arose in the 
definitive selection of the gentlemen who were to act as 
Commissioners. 

The boldness shown by Rentab, the great pirate chief, 
at last determined the Bajah to organise an expedition 
against him. 



1854.] RENTAB. 263 

Bentab was one of the most notorious and truculent of 
the Dyak chiefs. He had, as I have before stated, won 
fame during a cruise off the Dutch possessions in Sambas, 
where he had surprised some Chinese at work in their 
fields. Information of this act had been instantly con- 
veyed to the Dutch officials, and they sent out a gunboat 
to intercept his return ; and the Sultan of Sambas also 
equipped a war prahu, manned it with a select crew, in 
which many young nobles were included as volunteers. 
The two gtmboats soon came in sight of the fast-puUing 
Dyak hangkongs, which, however, appeared in distress, as 
they seemed only to hold their own with their pursuers. 
The Malays, excited by the chase, gave way with a will, 
and soon left behind them their European ally. When 
Kentab saw that the Sambas boat was beyond all im- 
mediate assistance from the Dutch guns, he turned on his 
Malay pursuers, came down upon them at the full speed 
of his war-boats, and overwhelmed the Malays beneath a 
shower of spears. Not one escaped. Having secured their 
heads, their guns, and gold-handled hrises, he abandoned his 
prize, and pulled off from the heavy Dutch gunboat, which 
was vainly endeavouring to come to the aid of its consort 

This act raised Eentab's name in the estimation of his 
people, and he spumed all proposals to give up piracy. 

In addition to the fort at the entrance of the Sakarang 
river, which, as I have said, had been erected to prevent 
the egress of pirate fleets, the Bajah had, at a later period, 
established another lower down the river to protect the 
Lingga district from the attacks of the Seribas. The 
former fort was commanded by Mr Brereton, of whom 
I have already spoken; the latter by Mr Lee, a quiet, 
prudent, young officer, — the very aid one would wish to 
have in a moment of danger. Ever since the action at 
Batang Marau on the 31st July 1849, the pirate tribes had 
been divided into two parties — those who wished to give 



264 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ziv. 

up piratical cruises, and those who desired to continue in 
their old habits. Of the latter party Bentab was a chief. 
During 1853 he had determined on a bold stroke, which 
was not only to pass Brereton's fort, but previously to 
attack those Sakarang Dyaks who sided with the English. 
Information having reached Mr Brereton of this intention, 
he proceeded with a small force up the river Sakarang, and 
established himself in one of the threatened village-houses. 
Guns were placed in position, and the place was forti- 
fied. Mr Lee came up from Lingga in his own boat, and 
strongly advised that they should only repel attacks until 
his allies the Lingga Dyaks arrived with several hundred 
men. This was agreed to. At that moment a large war- 
boat was seen coming down the river ; a warning musket 
was fired, but the pirates continued to descend. Another 
hangkong followed ; upon this a charge of grape was sent at 
them. Immediately there appeared to be great confusion 
in the foremost boat ; the Malays shouted to follow and 
secure the prize, and in spite of Mr Lee's warnings, the 
Sakarang party under Mr Brereton dashed off in pursuit. 
Though convinced of the danger, Lee could not abandon 
his friend. He followed up in his boat The enemy ap- 
peared scarcely able to get away, as the fresh was heavy 
and the pullers few ; but no sooner had they drawn the 
Malays a couple of reaches from the fortified village, than 
they rose to their feet with a yell, and at the same time a 
dozen huge war-boats came sweeping down the river and 
were on the pursuers before they could fire their guns. A 
pell-mell ensued, boat against boat. Lee made a stubborn 
resistance : with his double-barrelled gun he kept the enemy 
at a respectful distance, until, wounded and surrounded, he 
attempted to board an enemy's bangkong, and was knocked 
into the stream, and as he rose his head was severed from 
his body. Mr Brereton was more fortunate, as he was 
dragged ashore by Abang Ain and some faithful Malays, 



1854.] DEATH OF MR LEE. 265 

who never deserted their English leaders. The force of 
the current had now driven the contending boats under 
the guns of the battery, and its defenders instantly opened 
fire, which caused considerable loss to the Dyaks, and 
forced them to retreat up the river. 

We all regretted poor Lee — a gallant officer, who would 
in after- days have been of infinite use to the Sarawak 
Government, as he was prudent in speech and cautious 
in action. Charles Johnson succeeded him at Lingga. 

Eentab, though proud of his trophy, was forced to 
retreat, for, as I have said, his party had suffered heavily. 
This action roused both sides, and Gasing, the Sakarang 
chief and friend of the English, collected some thousands 
of men, marched into the enemy's country, and plundered 
and burnt twenty villages. 

Eentab, however, was still, in 1854, looked upon as a 
leader of the pirate party, and was soon able to collect 
enough men around him to build and palisade a village 
on a hill near the river Lang (the Hawk), and establish a 
fortified position on the neighbouring mountain — Sadok. 
From these places be continually sent out expeditions, 
which harassed the friendly Dyaks, until at length they 
declared that the fort of Sungei Lang must be destroyed, 
or they would have to come to terms with the enemy. 

Sir James Brooke put off as long as possible this expe- 
dition, as he did not like to act while the Commission was 
pending, fearing it might look like an open defiance of the 
English Government ; but at last, roused by the cries of 
the people, he determined to undertake it. "War -boats 
were prepared, contingents summoned from the neigh- 
bouring rivers, £md at length in May we started. When 
we reached the Sakarang river, we found that we reckoned 
eight Englishmen and about 7000 Malays and Dyaks. 

To prevent the Dyaks of Seribas collecting to the aid of 
Bentab, our old Datu Tumanggong was sent with a strong 



266 UFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xit. 

force to that river, while Mr Steel advanced up the Kan- 
awit from the fort at its mouth, to keep the thousands of 
wwriors in that river from joining the enemy. 

It was a fonnidable affair preparing this host for our 
long journey into the interior. We pushed up the Saka- 
rang as far as our war-boats could reach ; we then stopped, 
built a stockade, and ran up a house for Sir James Brooke, 
as his state of health woxdd not permit him to march. He 
remained behind with a strong force to protect our prahus 
and provisions, and as a rallying-point in case of accident. 
Then we started, some to march, others to push ahead in 
our light tenders. We soon found that marching would 
neither suit the English nor the Malays, as the way was 
through tangled jungle and low abrupt hills, so that the 
parties would scatter, and be an easy prey to an enter- 
prising enemy. 

Most English leaders in Borneo that I have seen have a 
mania to show the Dyaks that they are as good woodsmen 
as themselves, and push on at a rapid pace, forgetting 
that all are not equally active, and that their followers are 
heavily laden. I have done as much jungle-walking as 
most men, but I always found it necessary to husband my 
own and my followers' strength for the first few days; then, 
being in condition, longer marches could be made, and 
there would be few or no stragglers. Our leaders on this 
occasion were not of that opinion, and the army broke 
into parties, so that at last we were forced to take to our 
light prahvSf leaving the Dyaks to march, or to come on in 
such boats as they could seize on the banks of the river. 
They were soon all provided. 

It was an exciting expedition. As we advanced into 
the interior, the woods were thronged with enemies, who 
at night would creep down and stab at the occupants of 
those boats who had been too lazy or too tired to erect 
fences on the banks for their protection. We and our 



1854.] RENTAB's stronghold. 267 

immediate foUowersi slept on shore in little huts, run np 
at the moment, as leakjr as sieves, and the most un- 
comfortable places in the world. It was astonishing that 
amid so many experienced men nobody ever thought of a 
light waterproof tent,^ such as I afterwards used, which 
cost ten shillings, and was made by one of my servants, 
and in which a dozen men have remained perfectly dry 
during the heaviest storms. To the want of such a tent 
I ascribe the death of one and the illness of nearly every 
member of our English party. 

The night of our arrival at the landing-place from which 
we were to march on the village of Lang was an exciting 
one. Shouts and veils were heard in the woods around ; 
spears were thrown, ghastly wounds had to be dressed, and 
much sleep was impossible. As each took his turn as 
sentry, we had leisure to meditate on our position. 

The morning broke brightly after a heavy night's rain, and 
parties were told oflf to protect the boats. We advanced, 
but all was confusion. No one would lend a hand to haul 
up the gun until the English seized the ropes and began 
pulling away. The ground was slippery, and it was heavy 
work. At last we reached a spot where the village was 
visible. It looked formidable enough for our irregular 
forces to attack. On the ridge of a long hill a high stock- 
ade extended, enclosing on three sides half-a-dozen village- 
houses, which we could see were crowded with men. The 
opposite side to us was defended by a sort of precipice, up 
which it was possible to climb, but not in the face of an 
enemy. We now tried the range of the four-pounder 
howitzer, but from that distance its fire was evidently 
ineffective. As our wild allies had pushed ahead, we 
left the guns for the present and advanced to within a 

^ My tents were made of grey or white shirting, after the model de- 
scribed in Galton's 'Art of Travel;* they then received three coatings 
of linseed, ^ed on separately. 



268 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XIV. 

hundred yards of the stockade, meeting, as we ascended, 
men carrying the dead and wounded who had fallen 
during an effort to surprise the village. This had a 
damping effect on many of our followers. 

While we stood consulting as to the best method of 
attack, the enemy aimed a gun at us, and the ball rushing 
over our heads, caused a most undignified duck, which, 
however, only occurred once. The place was attacked 
with rifles, gun, and rockets, but at six o'clock it was 
still untaken, and then we observed banking upon the 
horizon the heaviest of black clouds, which foretold a 
fearful storm* We all preferred the risk of an assault to 
passing out a night in such weather, and Captain Brooke 
determined to attack. Whilst he was gathering the party 
together, three men, old Panglima Usmau and two fortmen, 
walked up to the place, and climbing over the stockade, 
pushed open a narrow door, upon which we all rushed 
forward, and in a moment had possession of the fort 
A few shots were fired at us, and the thing was over. We 
could not well understand how it was that the Panglima 
had been able to do this with impunity, but he knew the 
men with whom he had to deaL The Dyaks have a horror 
of rockets, and each time they saw Mr Crookshank pre- 
pare one, they threw themselves on the ground, and 
remained there till the dreaded engine of death had passed 
over. The Panglima took advantage of this, and was not 
seen till, crowning the stockade, he fired his carbine at 
them, and the pirates, thinking that this was the head of 
the attacking column, fled, and when we hustled through 
the opening, we could only get a few shots at the enemy, 
as they rolled down among the bushes on the side of the 
precipice. 

As the day closed we had observed -hundreds of men 
collecting on each cleared hill behind us, and lining as 
well the edge of the jungle: as these Dyaks were all 



1854.] CAPTURE OP LANG. 269 

dressed in red cloth jackets the effect was singular, as 
they looked at the distance like English soldiers. There 
were thousands in all who were waiting to see the result 
of the attack : if it succeeded they would retire ; if not, 
they would have fallen on us during the night 

At seven o'clock the rain descended in torrents, and 
right glad were we to find ourselves housed, though the 
buUdings rocked under the weight of the thousands who 
crowded into them. 

We spent a few days there punishing the followers and 
abettors of Kentab, who himself had retired to his other 
fort in the mountains, and then we returned to our boats. 
We ought to have attacked Bentab in Sadok, his strong- 
hold, but natives do not like to undertake two attacks 
during the same expedition. The loss of Lang did not 
prevent Bentab holding firm in his eagle's nest at Sadok : 
and it took constant expeditions during eight years before 
it was ultimately captured. The descent of the river was 
rapid; the heavy rains which had deluged the country 
every night had raised the level of the river several feet, 
and as we dashed along at the rate of at least fifteen 
knots an hour, we felt that one touch on a hidden snag 
would probably send us all to eternity. But there was 
no help for us: on we went — there was no stopping, 
as 200 boats of every size were behind us, and our men 
pulled with a will to get clear of the rest. 

We were glad to meet our chief again, who had been 
tortured by conflicting rumours ; now it was news of 
our defeat before Lang, then of a fresh that had carried 
away all our boats — ^but as no dSbris had passed before 
the stockade, he comforted himself 

When we reached Sarawak we found news ; the Com- 
mission had arrived at Singapore, and a vessel of war 
had come to offer a passage to Sir James and those whom 
he wished to take with him. He had to go alone, as 



270 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XIV. 

both Grant and myself were down with fever. Brereton 
was ill with dysentery, i and Captain Brooke and his 
brother were both suffering. 

How impatient we were to get well ! At length I was 
sufficiently recovered to bear the fatigue, and was carried 
down to a boat, and taken to the mouth of the river, 
where Grant and I embarked on board a merchant-ship, 
and on our arrival at Singapore we were both sufficiently 
recovered to land without aid. 

The Rajah was indeed glad to see us, as he was almost 
alone, and wanted our assistance. How derogatory to 
his position and humbling to his pride did he feel this 
Commission to be ! 

What shall I say of the Commission? The two gentle- 
men sent down to conduct it were very different. Mr 
Prinsep, the chief, was incapable — the mental malady to 
which he soon after succumbed showed itself too often ; 
and the Hon. Mr Devereux could alone do anything, and 
endeavour to control his coUeagua He was an able, sar- 
castic man, well fitted for the work. But the results were 
most unsatisfactory. The Eastern Archipelago Company 
had nothing to say to which the Commissioners could 
listen ; Mr Wood, the editor of the ' Straits Times,' was 
astonished to find himself caUed upon to prove the cake 
for the enemies of the Bajah — and as the silly man knew 
nothing, he could only involve himself in a cloud of 
absurdities. The Lieutenant - Governor of Labuan tried 
to bring on his case, but that was beyond the scope of 
the inquiry. The only curious incident which occurred 
was the stepping forth of a Dutch civil officer. Monsieur 
Boudriot, of whom mention has already been made, and 
who said that, being on his way home from Java on sick- 
leave, he had accidentally attended the Commission, and 

^ Mr Brereton died shortly afterwards, and Mr Johnson was appointed 
ruler of Sakarang and Seribas, in addition to Lingga. 



18M.] THE COMMISSION AT WOEK. 27l 

he begged to offer himself as a witness. This gentleman's 
evidence of itself would carry conviction to impartial 
minds, for he had held high positions on the coast of 
Borneo, and knew the Sakarang and Seribas Dyaks to be 
savage, inhuman wretches, and undoubted pirates. 

Sir James had early retired from the Commission, as 
Mr Prinsep had permitted Mr Wood to take almost an 
official position during the inquiry. 

The result was what might have been expected. As no 
specific accusations were brought against the Bajah, no 
specific answers to them could be prepared. Mr Prinsep 
reported favourably as far as the inquiry went, unfavour- 
ably on a subject on which he made no inquiry, — a very 
hazy result. Mr Devereux did his best to render his 
report satisfactory, and this was the only one which was 
seriously considered by Government 

Sir James Brooke himself did not manage his part well. 
He was anxious to prove the complicity of the Eastern 
Archipelago Company in all the intrigues which had 
brought about the Commission, and he wearied the Com- 
missioners and the public with a useless and tiresome 
examination of Mr Motley, the agent of the Eastern 
Archipelago Company in Labuan. Nothing could be got 
otlt of the man, as he knew little, and had only been play- 
ing the part of the frog in the fable. We tried ourselves 
to induce the Eajah to confine himself to two issues, 
which were really important: first, whether the Seribas 
and Sakarang were really pirates ; and if they were, had 
undue severity been exercised in suppressing them. To 
Mr Grant and myself these were the only important sub- 
jects ; and we endeavoured to impress our chief with our 
ideas, but with only imperfect success. 

No man perhaps felt the absurdity of the whole inquiry 
more than Mr Devereux. He vainly inquired. What are 
the charges, who are the accusers? and probably had 



272 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XIV. 

he not been hampered with an impossible colleague, he 
would have closed the Commission at once, sapng, " There 
was nothing to inquire about." As, however, the Com- 
mission was there, we exerted ourselves to send in wit- 
nesses ; and even- without going to Borneo, we found among 
casual traders and residents witnesses enough. 

In speaking of Mr Devereux's probable opinions, they 
are but impressions made on my mind, as I should remark 
that out of the Commission I never once spoke to him. 
Sir James Brooke, from mistaken delicacy, begged us 
not to accept invitations, but to keep ourselves retired 
until the inquiry was over, so that we never met the 
Commissioners except in the court - house. I have ever 
regretted our following this advice, as, had we been enabled 
to converse frankly and unofficially with the Commis- 
sioners, we might have greatly influenced the result ; for 
we knew more of the question than perhaps all the others 
put together, and so sensible a man as Mr Devereux would 
not have been unduly influenced by our suggestions. 

In speaking of Sir James Brooke, I wish to present him 
exactly as he appeared to myself, and neither to conceal 
nor palliate his errors and faults. I watched him closely 
during the course of this Commission, and I thought that 
I detected in him the same impatience of opposition which 
I have ever observed in those who have lived much alone, 
or in the society of inferiors, whether of rank or intellect 
Sir James had lived much alone, or with those to whom 
his word was law, so that he had had rarely the advantage 
of rubbing his ideas against those of his equals, and there- 
fore treated as important subjects matters which, to 
others less interested, were but trivial I dwell on this, 
as it appeared to me to be the cause of the Commissioners 
not having been able to report in a manner which would 
have fully shown to the world the importance of the 
Bajah's work in Borneo. Sir James Brooke did not direct 



1864.] DEPARTURE OF THE COMMISSIONERS. 273 

the inquiry to the real issues, therefore it failed The Com- 
mission was at last closed, having been conducted, as the 
Bajah truly says, without dignity and without propriety. 

It was a pity that the Commission did not visit Borneo, 
as an inquiry conducted entirely in Singapore could not be 
satisfactory. Sir James Brooke did not consider it his 
business to send witnesses to Singapore; but had the 
Commission come to Sarawak, he would have given them 
all the aid in his power. As it was, the evidence adduced 
satisfied all those who were not moved by a carping spirit. 
It is obvious, however, that an inquiry conducted 400 
miles from the spot where the events occurred, and where 
the best evidence was to be obtained, could not be com- 
plete. 

The Commissioners left, and we looked out for a way 
to get back to Borneo. We all embarked in the Uttle 
schooner that had brought us from Sarawak, but we met 
the strength of the N.K monsoon, and were driven back 
to Singapore. Sir James Brooke landed, while we con- 
tinued on board the Maria, and at length reached Sara- 
wak, where the Bajah soon after joined us, having been 
offered a passage in H.M.S. Sapid, Captain Blana 

Now commenced a really quiet lifa Sir James was 
free from the anxieties caused by the coming of the Com- 
mission, and devoted himself to the happiness of the peo- 
ple. He no longer held a public appointment, as he had, 
defactOy resigned his position as Commissioner, and I was 
acting in his stead. This was perhaps the happiest time 
he ever spent. The country was progressing ; no signs of 
discontent had yet shown themselves (except the affair of 
the Patinggi); he could live in the capital or in his coun- 
try cottage as he felt inclined, and he returned to a course 
of chess and pleasant reading. We worked together at 
Staunton's Problems, and he fancied that he discovered an 
error in one of the most famous: we both studied the 

8 



274 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohaf. xiv. 

matter earnestlyi and though I tried hard, I was fully 
convinced that an error had been discovered. We ought 
to have sent it to the ' Chess Chronicle.' 

After our 11 o'clock breakfast Sir James attended court, 
and decided the pending cases, and then returned home at 
two. I never failed to know of his arrival by hearing a 
cheerful voice calling to me, " Now, St John, lunch and 
chess; we must work out that problem;" or he would 
quietly carry off my Staunton, and study in his room the 
Scotch or some other opening, and then, proposing a game, 
win half-ardozen running, laughing heartily aU the time 
at my surprise, and perhaps vexation, at being beaten so 
easily, for I was generally the better player, and could 
only be regularly defeated by surprise. It was at this 
time that he wrote, " I am chess mad." 

We had at this time in Sarawak the famous naturalist, 
traveller, and philosopher, Mr Alfred Wallace, who was then 
elaborating in his mind the theory which was simultane- 
ously worked out by Darwin — ^the theory of the origin of 
species ; and if he could not convince us that our ugly neigh- 
bours, the orang-outangs, were our ancestors, he pleased, 
delighted, and instructed us by his clever and inexhausti- 
ble flow of talk — really good talk. The Eajah was pleased 
to have so clever a man with him, as it excited lus mind, 
and brought out his brilliant ideas. No m an could judg e 
the Bajah by seeing him in soc iety. It was necessary to 
get him at his cottage at Paninjow, with his clever visitor 
Wallace, or with his nephew Charles, the present Bajah, 
who was full of the crudest notions, the result of much 
undigested reading, but who could defend his wild thoughts 
cleverly, pleasantly, and gaily ; or with Mr Chambers, the 
present^ Bishop, who was too firmly convinced of the truths 
he preached to be ofifended by finding others differing from 
him, and too earnest not to feel assured that in the end he 
would convince his opponents. With these, either at our 



1854.] DISCUSSIONS. 275 

house in Euching or in onr mountain cottage, we were 
ever in discussion, and our discussions were always either 
philosophical or religious. Fast and furious would flow 
the argument^ till somebody would observe, " It is just 
eleven," when the Bajah would instantly arise, wondering 
that the interest of the discussion had made him pass by 
his hour of rest^ which was now usually ten o'clock, as 
fever and ague and small-pox had weetkened him too much 
to permit him to pass the night in talk. 

In the morning we would catch each other looking in 
the library for the authorities, and perhaps the arguments, 
with which to support another discussion in the evening. 

I am afraid we thoroughly wearied many of our party. 
Captain Brooke thought that such discussions led to no 
result Grant was very determined in his opinions, but 
did not care for the subjects discussed ; while Fox, a later 
volunteer in the Bajah's service, though ever an inquirer, 
was trammelled by his education, and would at first touch 
with diffidence subjects which the more trained mind of 
Mr Chambers feared not to handle. Bishop McDougall 
(of whom I have already spoken), when he joined in these 
discussions, did not, by his arguments or tone, give en- 
couragement to the inquirers. There was, however, no 
irreverence in our treatment of sacred subjects, so that no 
one else was ofiTended. Not that we were always discuss- 
ing, for Sir James Brooke was one of the few men I have 
known who could enjoy the luxury of silence. 

In one of the Hajah's letters I find him laughingly 
referring to these discussions : " There was a tremendous 
argumentation on the being and attributes of the Deity. 
Charlie [Johnson] was there in high feather, the room re- 
sounded with their voices, and the energetic bangs on the 
table made the glasses ring. Everybody was an atheist 
and pantheist by turns. Charlie and St John collared 
Chambers with hard names, and then everybody sat upon 



276 LIFE OF 8IR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. Xiv. 

poor Charlie, who said that God was everywhere and no- 
where at the same time, or words to that effect. Then the 
company roared at St John for his heterodoxy, fiercely 
contested my definition; but at last it was discovered 
that everybody meant the same thing, that everybody 
said it in a different way, and half-a-dozen times over, 
and that we were proper and very orthodox all the 
tima" 

I have said how devoted the Eajah was to his duties in 
court Some cases came before him in the spring of 
1855, which made me seriously doubt his efficiency as a 
judge. The fact was, that we thought him much too tender- 
hearted to be intrusted with duties which required some 
sternness, as he had no jury to aid him in difficult casea 
I am writing of what we thought at the moment Two 
Senah Dyaks had killed two others under circumstances 
which we considered showed both treachery and premedi- 
tation, and many of us insisted that they deserved death. 
The Eajah, however, refused to condemn them, ailing 
their youth, the possibility of provocation, and that an 
example was not necessary ; he therefore sentenced them 
to the highest native punishment short of death — the in- 
fliction of a heavy fina Some of us were very angry, and 
in the evening we had a fine discussion, which terminated 
by the Bajah's getting excited, and saying, " It is my will 
that it should be so." I forgot myself so far as to answer, 
*' That's the tyrant's argument" Captain Brooke became 
quite alarmed, and said to me next morning, " You will 
ruin yourself with the Rajah if you argue in that fashion." 
However, it was not so. I would have expressed my re- 
gret, but the Bajah would not let me — ^" No, St John ; we 
were both in the wrong." ."Referring later on to some of 
our discussions, he wrote : " You are an arrogant fellow 
hy nature, but you have been less so as Consul-General 
than as Private Secretary. I have always looked upon 



1855.] THE rajah's SENTENCES. 277 

you as a child of my own — a saucy and turbulent one, 
but not the less dear or valued on that account." 

With regard to the sentence, we all disagreed with it, 
thinking that it would lead to a revival of the old practice 
of head-taking : but the Sajah was right ; the punishment 
he inflicted had a deterrent effect, and I never heard of a 
simUar crime being committed in Sarawak during the rest 
of my stay in Borneo. 

In October 1855 two of the principal members of our 
party left us for England — Captain Brooke and Charles 
Grant. It was a great loss. To me the departure of 
Brooke was especially so, as we had been inseparable 
companions for seven years, and he was one of the most 
likeable of mea During that long period of daily inter- 
course I had ample opportunities of judging him, and 
thought him quite worthy to be the Eajah's successor; for 
though he had not his talents, he had found out the way 
to win the hearts of the Malays — a talent which his 
brother Charles did not possess in the same degree. The 
latter, however, could manage the sea Dyaks well, and he 
lived so much among them that he actually appeared to 
acquire their manner and expression, which, in effect, 
showed an indifference to what other Europeans liked; 
but underneath there was plenty of gaiety and much fun, 
and not without a certain amount of undeveloped talent. 
At that time, however, we scarcely did justice to Charles 
Brooke's capacity, as he had had few opportunities of 
showing what was in him. In 1859, however, he came 
to the front, as I shall have occasion to show. 

Our two friends had scarcely been gone a week when 
Sir James Brooke received a despatch from Lord Claren- 
don announcing that his resignation of the posts he held 
under Government was accepted, and adding a cold ap- 
proval. At the same time the Bajah was informed that I 
was appointed Consul-General in Borneo. The Kajah was 



278 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. TC7. 

deeply disappointed. After all the promises that had been 
made by Lord Clarendon as to the intention of the Grovem- 
ment to make amends to him should the Commission re- 
port favourably — to receive a calm, almost a contemptuous, 
approval of his conduct, was too bad. What was the 
value of such approval unless it was intended to afford 
him some support, after having lowered his position both 
with native and European? The Rajah was indignant, 
and in his indignation wanted me to refuse the appoint- 
ment, and take service under him. Lord Clarendon, it is 
said, named me Consul-Greneral as a mark of friendship 
towards the Rajah ; but he would not look on it in that 
light. And yet, had the Government been really hostile, 
and appointed such a man as the Hon. Mr Edwards, the 
Grovemor of Labuan, to be Consul-Qeneral, what trouble 
he could have caused, as we shall see he did afterwards 
whilst temporarily holding that post. 

I could not well refuse the appointment offered me by 
Lord Clarendon ; but I said that if the Grovernment wished 
me to do anything hostile to Sarawak, I would immediately 
resign. As this did not satisfy the Rcgah, and as he in- 
sisted that a British Consul-General could not live in 
Sarawak until the English Gk>vemment recognised it, I 
reluctantly agreed, and wrote to Lord Clarendon to pro- 
pose that I should take up my residence in Brunei 

There can be no doubt^ however, that our Government 
behaved in a most shabby manner to the Rajah. After 
nearly ruining his reputation and prestige by sending out 
a Commission to try him, as the natives believed, they 
did nothing for him, — they simply dropped him; and I 
heard it afterweurds alleged by a gentleman now high in 
office, that it was on account of the violence of the Rajah's 
language. Some allowance surely should have been made 
for the natural irritation arising from the injustice com- 
mitted. He suspected the Peelites of being his enemies, 



1855.] THE JUDICATURE DIFFICULTY. 279 

and, if we may judge from Mr Gladstone's late writings, 
not without reason. 

Our local politics were now disturbed by the news which 
came of the fall of Sebastopol. "Whilst victory was 
trembling in the balance," the Eajah wrote, " our hearts 
here palpitated as to the capture of Sebastopol;" and 
later on, " My heart beats high at the glorious news of the 
fall of Sebastopol. How deeply is our love of country 
entwined about our heart-strings ! It astonishes me." Our 
Malays were as excited as we were, and crowds came 
when the mail arrived to hear the last intelligence from 
Bourn. Those who saw them could not doubt as to the 
interest taken by Eastern Mohammedans in the Sultan of 
Turkey. The Eajah sent the chiefs a fat bullock to aid in 
the feast which was given in honour of the victory of the 
allied armies. 

A new question now arose — that of judicature. When 
the Commission was first appointed in 1853, Sir James 
Brooke would have resigned his post as Commissioner, 
but the Government requested him not to do so until the 
report of the Commission was known. When, however, he 
read the very unfair instructions issued by Lord Clarendon, 
but which had the appearance of having been drawn up 
by Mr Hume, he instantly sent in his resignation. Lord 
Clarendon, however, would not accept it, and I continued 
to act for him as I had done from the 1st February 1851. 
Suddenly there arrived an Order in Council settling the 
question of jurisdiction by ordering all cases in which 
British subjects were concerned to be sent for trial to the 
nearest British colony. As this was not only contrary to 
our treaty with Brunei, but was a direct attack on the sov- 
ereign rights of native states. Sir James Brooke refused to 
allow it to be put in practice in Sarawak, and said that 
he would only submit to force. 

I had a meeting with the native members of the Sara- 



280 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xiv. 

wak Council, and the good sense of the meeting was 
summed up in a few words by the Datu Bandar. " The 
Sarawak courts," he said, " have tried cases for the last 
fourteen years in which both natives and Europeans have 
been interested. Has any one complained of these deci- 
sions? — if not, why should there be any change?" — or, 
" Cannot we leave this question alone ? " the famous say- 
ing of Lord Melbourne. 

I drew up a scheme which I thought would work well : 
that the courts should continue to try all cases ; that the 
laws under which British subjects were tried should 
be recorded ; that no punishment more severe than that 
allowed by English law should be inflicted ; and that in 
serious cases the judge should be assisted by a jury. I 
added, by desire of the Eajah and for my own special 
benefit, that the Sarawak Government would allow the 
Consul-General to sit as one of the judges in every case in 
which British interests were concerned. 

By the treaty with Brunei that had been negotiated by 
Sir James Brooke himself in 1847, the English representa- 
tive was intrusted with great powers. All disputes, whe- 
ther between British subjects or between them and other 
foreigners and natives, were to be decided by him, and all 
crimes were also to be tried by him, without permission 
to the local authorities to interfere in any way. I saw 
that this would not work even in the capital ; so then I 
proposed a mixed court, which was ultimately accepted 
both by the English and Brunei Governments, and it 
answered very well. 

As soon as it was possible to receive an answer, I heard 
from th6 Foreign OflSce that they approved of my plan 
concerning Sarawak.^ It was, however, afterwards modi- 

1 " Foreign Oftice, February 9, 186«. 
** Sir, — Lord Clarendon desires me to write you a line to say that he has 
not been able to come to a decision upon the various questions of jurisdic- 



1855.] THE BISHOPKIC. 281 

fied, at the suggestion, I believe, of Earl Grey, who saw a 
chance of future difficulties if the Consul- General were to 
be one of the judges, and this part of the scheme was very 
judiciously omitted. 

It was a pleasant duty for me to have to address a de- 
spatch to the Sarawak Council, informing them that her 
Majesty's Government had no desire whatever to interfere 
with them, or to prevent their choosing what government 
they pleased ; and then I added that the Government 
accepted the proposed plan for settling the jurisdiction 
question. T was not, however, allowed to ask for an 
exeqiLatur. 

I never saw the Eajah more pleased than when this 
question was settled. He appeared thoroughly happy, 
and for a time I thought that he had forgiven the British 
Government. 

But I am anticipating. Before this was arranged, two 
other questions came up for settlement — the Bishopric 
and the Borneo Company. 

I have scarcely mentioned the mission, as it really had 
no perceptible influence on the history of Sarawak. In- 
ternal discussions had early broken out, and the house 
divided against itself could do no good. However, in 
1855 Mr McDougall was named Bishop of Labuan, but 
the Rajah declined to allow him to act in his dominions 
unless he received letters-patent from the Sarawak Gov- 
ernment constituting him Bishop of Sarawak. All objec- 
tions were soon removed, and in the autumn of 1855 Mr 
McDougall paid a short visit to Calcutta, where he was 
consecrated, and was thenceforward Bishop of Sarawak 
as well as of Labuan. He returned in time to join our 

tion in Borneo, &o. These questions have been under consideration, and 
Lord Clarendon hopes the question of jurisdiction may be settled in ac- 
cordance with your suggestions, which seem to offer a practical mode of 
solving the difficulty. (Sd.) Wodehouse." 



282 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. XIY. 

Christmas dinner. I shall have something to say about 
the mission further on. Attached to the mission was a 
school, which greatly interested the Eajah, and really it was 
the most useful thing about it. The children all appeared 
to have an affection for the Rajah, as children always have 
for those who are themselves loving in disposition. 

The Borneo Company, in 1855, began to be talked of. 
Coal had been found in several places in Sarawak, and 
this, with the antimony, sago, and gutta-percha, tempted 
some capitalists to propose forming a company to develop 
the resources of the Rajah's territories. At the head of 
the scheme was a gentleman " much reputed in the city," 
who talked a great deal of philanthropy ; but nearly all 
connected with the scheme were sound men of business. 
The Rajah saw in this scheme a means of detaining me in 
Sarawak, and was most anxious to induce the directors to 
name me their managing director in Borneo. As long as 
I was with the Rajah, and surrounded by friends, I lis- 
tened to this ; and, to increase the inducement, the Rajah 
offered to add to the managing directorship the government 
of Sadong, a district in which the company were to work 
coaL Luckily I did not get the oflFer of the appointment, 
or I might have been weak enough to have accepted it, 
and have had to go through the same ordeal as their last 
managing director, and appeal to the English courts to 
have my rights respected ; but the Rajah took exception 
to the appointment made by the directors, and expressed 
his views in very forcible language. He had so high an 
opinion of my talents, that I verily believe he thought that, 
like Lord John Russell, I might command the Channel Fleet 
or be Archbishop of Canterbury, much more manage a min- 
ing and trading company. There was, however, a thought 
latent in all this that had not come much forward. The 
Rajah was beginning to think that the Borneo Company, 
judiciously managed, might ultimately develop into an- 



1855.] TROUBLES AT MUKA. 283 

other East India Company, and absorb not only Sarawak 
but the north of Borneo, and he thought that my being 
director might facilitate this ; but the appointment made 
frustrated this plaa 

In 1855 began troubles in foreign politics which con* 
tinned for six years to agitate the country. I must briefly 
explain these, as much resulted from them. In the north 
of the Bejang (the boundary of Samwak) were several 
rivers in the territoiy of the Sultan of Brunei which were 
famous for their sago, and the most important trade of 
Sarawak was with these districts. There lived in the 
principal of these places (Muka) two chiefs, named XJrsat 
and Matusin, who were rivals. XJrsat governed in the 
name of the Sultan, while apparently Matusin was em- 
ployed to watch him. Matusin was popular, being out 
of power, while the exactions of XJrsat were on the usual 
scale of Malay rulers. One day XJrsat, sitting in his ve- 
randa surrotmded by his people, jeered at Matusin as he 
was passing down the river. This roused all the Meday 
pride in the breast of the latter, and he determined to 
attack his adversary. On returning home he passed 
Ursat's house, and saw him still there, but almost alone ; 
he sprang ashore with his followers, dashed into the house, 
cut down XJrsat and those near him, burst into the women's 
apartments, and killed every woman and child he met 
He, in fact, "ran amuck." ^ 

This act roused all XJrsat's friends, and Matusin was 
quickly expelled, and his wife and children fell victims to 
the fury of his enemiea Among those who aided in the 
latter operation was Sirib Musahor of Serikei, a district 
of the Eejang, in Sarawak territory. For this interference 
he was heavily fined by the Sarawak Government, and, in 
disgust, retired with all his foUowers into the Sultan's 
territory. I went in H.M.S. Grecian, Captain Eeane, to 

^ In Malay, amok. 



284 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xiv. 

inquire into this affair, as I wished to take the latest news 
to the capital, for which place I was bound ; but meeting 
some people off the bar of the river Muka, I heard that 
the whole place was deserted, and so continued my voyage. 
Whilst we were in Labuan, the Bajah came up in the 
Jolly Bachelor (sailing gunboat), and, leaving the Grecian, 
I joined him, and returned to Brunei I may notice that 
at this time Dr Treacher was administering the govern- 
ment of Labuan, and he determined to show that all 
Government oflBicers were not hostile to his former chief, 
so, on his landing in our colony, the Eajah of Sarawak was 
received with a royal salute of twenty-one guns. As the 
British Government were at that time considered hostile, 
it required some courage thus to distinguish Sir James. 

I never spent a more curious month than this. The 
Sultan had run up a very neat mat-house alongside the 
palace in which we took up our residence. We were 
three — the Eajah, Mr Low, and myself The Rajah had 
come for a week's visit, but he soon found that this would 
not be suflBcient. The whole capital was in intense ex- 
citement : we found one party arming against the other 
party — men standing with lighted matches by their guns 
ready to fire into a hostile neighbour's house ; everybody 
was preparing for a fight Immediately after our arrival 
the Eajah had an audience with the Sultan, who threw 
himself on his generosity not to desert him in this crisis ; 
and Sir James replied that if they wished he would remain 
at the capital until everything was satisfactorily settled. 

I never had a chance of witnessing a more startling 
proof of the personal influence that the Bajah possessed 
than what followed. Here was he in a 30-ton boat, with 
a crew of a dozen natives, the despised of his own Gov- 
ernment, but the absolute dictator in Brunei. At his 
suggestion a general unloading of guns took place, the 
armed retainers of the Pangerans returned to their homes, 



1855.] CONDITION OF BRUNEI. 285 

and quiet y^hs established. The different nobles explained 
to him their grievances, their wants, and wishes, and he 
set to work to put some life into the place. In this he 
was well seconded by Mr Low, who is one of the ablest 
rulers of Malays that I have ever met; and in sending 
whom to Perak, the Government have sent the right man. 

The Bajah soon found that the nobles were anxious 
that the ancient titles should be restored, and that the 
Sultan should, previous to his own coronation, name the 
four great vmzirs, or ministers ; and this the Bajah man- 
aged to arrange, and to settle to every one's satisfaction 
who should fill the ofSces. He did not expect much good 
from his work, but it has stood the test of time ; and now, 
twenty-four years after, the same forms exist. 

Makota, fortunately, was absent, so that he could not 
mar the negotiations. He had gone down ostensibly to 
settle affairs in Muka, but, in fact, to plunder for himself 
and the Sultaa 

It was really interesting to watch the Bajah during this 
month, — how he received deputations from the Sultan, 
from the nobles ; how the trading class would come when 
the latter were absent ; how the poor and the distressed 
flocked to him for relief, and how many he aided. There 
he was in his glory. He worked to introduce vitality 
into this wretched Court, and how pleased these nobles 
looked when he had induced the Sultan to name the four 
great vmzirs that recalled the memory of their ancient 
splendour. It was a continual levee — from morning to 
night our house was crowded. I must not, however, dwell 
too much on Brunei politics, as they could not be made 
interesting; but the Bajah succeeded in reconciling the 
hostile factions which had remained separated since the 
murders of Muda Hassim and Bedrudin in 1846. 

We returned to Sarawak in the Jolly Bachelor, — a long 
passage, beating against the S.W. monsoon four days. 



286 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XIT. 

trying to double Sink point; but at length we arrived 
in Euching, and the Bajah sent his nephew Charles to 
Muka to try and settle matters, but nothing permanent 
was effected, so that troubles in all the Milanow countries 
ensued, and the Sarawak Government, &om that time 
forward, deemed itself authorised to interfere in their 
internal affairs. As these countries were in the Sultan's 
territories the policy was doubtful 

In August 1856 I was to leave Sarawak to take up my 
permanent residence in Brunei; but before doing so, I 
determined to have another good look at the interior of 
Sarawak. I started with my friend, Fox, to go as far as 
the frontiers of Sambas, visiting, by the way, the Chinese 
gold-working& During this trip two things struck me 
forcibly — the number of the new arrivtds of Celestials from 
Sambas, which the gold-working Company had constantly 
denied, but whom we saw by hundreds crowding the sheds 
and houses of the Chinese town at Bau ; and the second 
was a conversation I had with one of the principal officers 
of the Company. He asked me what had been the result 
of the Commission, — whether it was true that the Sajah 
was no longer friendly with the British Government; 
whether the Queen had ordered the navy no longer to 
protect Sarawak ; and finally, whether I, the Consul- 
General, was about to leave the country for good ? I soon 
found that these subjects had been greatly canvassed 
among them, and they acknowledged that their friends in 
Singapore had written to them about these affairs. I 
tried to remove their unfavourable impressions, but my 
efforts were useless. The Bajah had announced that the 
British Grovemment was no longer friendly to him, and 
the fact remained that I was about to quit the country. 
The evil results of the Commission met us at every step. 

On our return to Kuching we endeavoured to press on 
the Bajah the importance of weakening the power of the 



1855.] THE RAJAH AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. 287 

gold Company, which, with its oflFshoots, evidently con- 
sisted of several thousand men, blindly subservient to 
their chiefs. The Bajah saw the danger, but decided to 
put off active measures until the return of his nephew, 
Captain Brooke, then in England, who was expected in a 
few months. 

Although the Bajah was very satisfied with the favour- 
able settlement of the jurisdiction question, which was 
more than he expected, still he thought that Lord Pal- 
merston should do something to restore his prestige — " per- 
sonally, I have received no amends.'' This cold treatment 
produced at length much irritation against the British 
Government, and it showed itself in every way. I do not 
pretend to say that Sir James Brooke had not every right 
to be angry with the treatment he had received ; but he 
showed it in a most impolitic manner. The abandonment 
of the interests of Sarawak was the theme of every con- 
versation, whether with foreigners, Chinese, Malays, or 
Dyaks, and the result was most disastrous. Every tur- 
bulent chief, every one who had lost by the introduction 
of good government, began to tbink that the Bajah was 
no longer invincible, and that perhaps it was possible to 
expel the English from the country, and establish the old 
order of things. 

One of the reasons why Sir James Brooke used this 
language must be explained. In 1855 and 1856 the Dutch 
were at war with the Malay chiefs of the interior, and the 
latter were continually sending to the Bajah for succour. 
His answer was invariable : The Dutch Gt)vernment is a 
powerful one — in the end it will prevail ; so the best thing 
you can do is to get, as soon as possible, the most favour- 
able terms. One of these chiefs who came to see us took 
the advice, went to Pontiauak, told the Besident he came 
by the Bajah's wishes, and got excellent terms from the 
Dutch authorities. However, during these disturbances 



288 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xiv. 

there was much trouble on the frontiers, and the Chinese, 
Malays, and Dyaks often crossed the border to revenge 
the injuries they suffered from tribes under Netherland 
rule. The Eajah endeavoured to prevent this, and used 
to say, " As I am abandoned by the British Government, 
the Dutch may take this opportunity of attacking us if 
you do these things." His words, however, had a different 
effect from what he intended.^ 

At last August arrived, when I had to leave Sarawak, 
and Captain Drought, in the Auckland, came to fetch 
me away. It was a sad parting for both of us ; but we 
thought that arrangements would be made which would 
bring about my retura In a few weeks I heard — " I often 
feel the loss of your society ; the free communion of so 
many years is not readily supplied ; but I do not consider 
it as lost, for we may look forward to your return to Sara- 
wak." He complained that he could never get an argu- 
ment ; it was all " yes " and " no." * 

So weary did he, in fact, feel, that he determined to take 
a change to Singapore. Mr Crookshank had just returned 
from his leave, with his bride, who, the Rajah said, " shed 
a brightness on the old house ; " and therefore, leaving the 
government in his hands, he started for Singapore in the 
Spartan, Captain Sir William Hoste. 

From Singapore I soon received volumes of correspond- 
ence, which all, relating to local politics, would not be 
interesting to publish ; but he could not see me alone in 
the wicked old capital without forcing his affectionate 
advice into my ear. 

Whilst in England, his nephew, Captain Brooke, and 

^ I notice in the midst of aU his cares at this time, his sending £25 to 
John Briggs of the Yew Tree, Reigate, in remembrance of some kindness 
received in chUdhood. 

* Most of his other old friends and followers were at this time in 
England, or at out-stations. 



1856.] CHINESE TROUBLES. 289 

his friend and follower, Charles Grant, were both married — 
the former to a sister of the latter; so the Eajah occupied 
himself in choosing furniture for the newly-married people. 
He still wished for my presence in Sarawak ; but as that 
could not be, he insisted that one of my family should have 
the first vacancy in the Government service in his tend- 

tory. " I want , who has claims upon us through his 

brother, who is a firm friend, and was a firm friend in the 
hour of adversity." I insert these lines, as it shows how 
the Eajah never forgot those who were true to him. 

In Singapore the Eajah lived a very quiet life. He 
declined all parties, and visited only among intimate 
friends. He was detained longer than he expected ; but 
at length the vessel he was waiting for — the Sir James 
Brooke, the first steamer sent from England by the 
Borneo Company — came in to Singapore, and soon after 
he started in her for Sai'awak. 

All was not quiet here : the Kungsi, or Chinese Gold 
Company, had been behaving with so much violence, that 
Mr Crookshank, who was in charge of the Government, 
thought it advisable to man the stockades, and to send for 
Mr Charles Johnson to bring up a force from Sakarang. 
This awed the Chinese, and quiet was restored; but I 
notice, in one of Mr Johnson's letters to me, he says, " I 
really hope that the Eajah will pull down that high tone 
of theirs, or they will do us a mischief one of these days," 
This was also the opinion of Mr Crookshank and many 
others ; so that, to guard against surprise, fifty men were 
directed to sleep in the forts. 

When, however, the Eajah arrived, he summoned the 
chiefs of the Kungsi, fined and punished them for their 
illegal acts, and seeing them submissive, he dismissed the 
guard, believing it impossible that so wild a scheme as 
attacking him could ever enter into the Kungsi's plans. 
The Eajah's last letter to me before the Chinese insur- 

T 



290 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. xiv. 

rection is dated Februaiy 14 (four days before the attack), 
and consists of twenty-eight closely-written pages — a sort 
of epitome of coast politics ; but it winds up with these 
words : '' Congratulate me on being free from all my trou- 
bles. The Chancery suit has been concluded by a decree 
of the Court on Wise's annulling the paper I gave him/' 

The tone of his correspondence at this time was jubi- 
lant Everything was going on well — the calm before the 
storm. 



291 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE CHINESE INSUBBECfnON. 
1857. 

Chinese colonists are the mainstay of every country in 
the further East ; but they carry with them an institution 
which may have its value in ill-governed countries, but 
which in our colonies is an unmitigated evil — I mean their 
secret societies. A secret society is generally instituted 
under the form of a benevolent association, but secretly 
the members are banded together to obey no laws but 
their own, to carry out the behests of their leaders with- 
out question, and to afford protection to each other under 
every circumstanca If a member commit a crime he is 
protected or hidden away ; if he be taken by the police, 
the society secures him the ablest legal assistance, fur- 
nishes as many false witnesses as may be required, and, 
if he be convicted, pays his fine, or does all in its power 
to alleviate the discomforts of a prison. Should the so- 
ciety suspect any member of revealing its secrets, or from 
any cause desire to be rid of an obnoxious person, it con- 
demns the individual to death, and its sentence is carried 
out by its members, who must obey their oath. On these 
occasions the mark of the society is put on the victim to 
show who has done the deed. In our colonies we have 
not been able to put them down. 



292 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE- [chap. it. 

For many years the Chinese attempted to form secret 
societies in Sarawak, but the Sajah's vigorous hand had 
crushed every attempt, and it appeared as if success had 
attended this policy, — and so it had, so far as the Chinese 
of the capital were concerned ; but in the interior, among 
the gold-workers, the Kungsi stood in the place of a secret 
society, and its chiefs carried on an exclusive intercourse 
with their fellow-countrymen in Sambets and Pontianak, 
the neighbouring Dutch possessions, and with the Tien-Ti- 
Hu6 (Heaven and Earth Secret Society) in Singapore. 

When Mr Fox and I made our long tour in the interior 
among the Chinese settlements, we became convinced that 
smuggling was being carried on to a great extent, for, 
however numerous might be the new-comers, the opium 
revenue had a tendency to decrease. 

At last it was discovered that opium was sent from 
Singapore to the Natuna Islands, and from thence it was 
smuggled into Sarawak and the Dutch territories. It was 
proved that the Kungsi had been engaged in this contra- 
band trade, and it was fined £150 — a very trifling amount, 
considering the thousands they had gained by defrauding 
the revenue — and measures were immediately taken to 
suppress the traflfic, — ^which, together with the punishment 
of three of its members for a gross assault on another 
Chinaman, were the only grounds of complaint that they 
had against the Sarawak Government 

But these trivial cases were not the cause of the Chinese 
insurrection in Sarawak, as before that date all the celes- 
tials in the East had been greatly excited by the news 
that the English had retired from before Canton, and that 
the Viceroy had offered £25 a-head for every Englishman 
slain. The news was greatly exaggerated. It was said 
that we had been utterly defeated by the Chinese forces, 
and now was the time, they thought, when they could 
expel the English from Sarawak, and assume the govern- 



1857.] THE CHINESE INSUERECTION. 293 

ment themselvea The secret societies were everyivhere 
in a state of great excitement, and the Tien-Ti sent an 
emissary over firom Malacca and Singapore to incite the 
gold-workers to rebellion, and used the subtle but false 
argument that not only were the English crushed at 
Canton, but that the British Government was so discon- 
tented with Sir James Brooke that they would not inter- 
fere if the Kungsi only destroyed him and his officers, 
and did not meddle with the other Europeans or obstruct 
trade. 

It was also currently reported that the Sambas Sultan 
and his nobles offered every encouragement to the under- 
taking ; and the Chinese listened much to their advice, as 
these nobles can speak to them in their own language, 
and are greatly imbued with Chinese ideas. To explain 
this curious state 6f things, I may mention that the young 
nobles are always nursed by girls chosen from among the 
healthiest of the daughters of the gold-workers. And I 
may add that about that time there was a very active 
intercourse carried on between the Malay nobles of Sam- 
bas and Makota, the Bajah's old enemy and the Sultan 
of Brunei's favourite minister, and that the latter was 
constantly closeted with an emissary of the Tien-Ti-Hu6 
of Singapore, to which I am about to refer. 

To show that it was not mere conjecture as to the Tien- 
Ti sending emissaries abroad at that time, I may state 
that on the 14th February, four days before the insurrec- 
tion in Sarawak, a Chinese named Achang, who had 
arrived at Brunei from Singapore a few days previously, 
and had a year before been expelled from Sarawak for 
joining that secret society, came to my house to try and 
induce my four Chinese servants to enter the Hu^ and 
added as a sufficient reason that the Gold Company of 
Sarawak would by that time have killed all the white men 
in the country. 



294 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. XT. 

At Bau, the chief town of the Chinese in the interior, 
the secretary to the Kungsi showed a letter from the Straits' 
branch of the Tien-Ti-Ha4 to a Malay trader named 
Jeludin, tirging them to work against the foreigner. I 
mention these facts to show the ramifications of these 
secret societies, which in every country where they exist 
are the source of endless trouble and disorder. 

During the month of November 1856, rumours were 
abroad that the Chinese Gold Company intended to surprise 
the small stockades, which constituted the only defences 
of the town of Kuching, and which, as no enemy was sus- 
pected to exist in the country, were seldom guarded by 
more than four men each ; but, as I have before mentioned, 
Mr Arthur Crookshank, who was then administering the 
government, took the precaution to man them with a 
sufficient garrison, as it was said that during one of their 
periodical religious feasts several hundred men were to 
collect quietly and make a rush for the defences which 
contained the arsenal On Sir James Brooke's return from 
Singapore he instituted some inquiries into the affair, but 
could obtain no further information than such as vague 
rumour gave; but still, such experienced officers as Mr 
Arthur Crookshank, and the chief constable Mr Middle- 
ton, were not satisfied, as they felt that there was mischief 
in the air. 

I was sitting reading one day in my veranda in the 
consulate at Brunei, when a Malay hastily entered and 
said: "I have just arrived from Singapore. Whilst de- 
tained by very light winds we approached a schooner 
coming from Sarawak, and one of the crew called out to 
me, ' The Chinese have risen against the Bajah, and killed 
all the white men.' " He knew no more. This, coupled 
with what I had previously heard, made me very xmcom- 
fortable. In a few days a short letter from a friend told 
me part of the catastrophe, but it was not for two months 



185r.] THE CHINESE INSUERECTION. 295 

that I had the faU particulars in a letter from the Bajah 
himsel£ 

It appears that when the Kungsi saw their professions 
of loyalty were believed, they began to prepare for hostile 
operations ; and on the morning of the 18th February 1857 
the chiefs assembled about 600 of their workmen at Bau, 
and, placing all the available weapons in their hands, 
marched the force down to their chief landing-place at 
Tundong, where a squadron of their large cargo-boats was 
assembled. It is known now that until they actually 
began to descend the river none but the heads of the 
movement knew its true object, so well had the secret 
been kept To account for their preparations, it was given 
out that an attcu^k was meditated on a Dyak village in 
Sambas, whose warriors had in reality lately murdered 
some Chinese. 

During their slow passage down the river, a Malay who 
was accustomed to trade with the Chinese overtook them 
in a canoe, and actually induced them to permit him to 
pass, under the plea that his wife and children lived in a 
place called Batu Kawa, eight miles above the town, and 
would be frightened if they heard so many men passing 
and he not there to reassure them. Instead of going home 
he pulled down as fast as he could till he reached the town 
of Kuching, and, going straight to his relative, a Malay 
trader of the name of Gapur, who was a trustworthy and 
brave man, told him what he had seen ; but Gapur said, 
" Don't go and tell the chiefs or the Eajah such a tissue of 
absurdities," yet he went himself over to the Bandar and 
informed him ; but the Datu's answer was, " The Eajah is 
unwell ; we have heard similar reports for the last twenty 
years,— don't go and bother him about it I will tell him 
what your relative says in the morning." This great 
security was caused by the universal belief that the 
Chinese could not commit so great a folly as to attempt 



296 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xv. 

to seize the government of the country, considering that 
they did not number above 4000, while at that time the 
Malays and Dyaks within the Sarawak territories amounted 
to 200,000 at least. It is strange, however, and was an 
unpardonable neglect of the Bandar not to have sent a fast 
boat up the river to ascertain what was really going on. 
Had he done so, the town and numerous lives would have 
been saved, and punishment only fallen on the guilty. 

But shortly after midnight the squadron of Chinese 
barges pulled silently through the town, and, dividing into 
two bodies, the smaller one entered a creek above the 
Bajah's house called Sungei Bedil, while the larger con- 
tinued its course to the landing-place of the fort, and sent 
out strong parties to endeavour to surprise the houses of 
Mr Grookshank the police magistrate, and Mr Middleton 
the chief constable, whilst a large party was told oflF to 
attack the stockades. Strange as it may appear, none of 
these bodies w«i noticed, so profound was the security felt, 
and every one slept. 

The Government-house was situated on a little grassy 
hill, surrounded by small but pretty cottages, in which 
visitors from the out-stations were lodged. The Chinese, 
landing on the banks of the stream just above a house in 
which I used to reside, marched to the attack in a body 
of about a hundred, and, passing by an upper cottage, 
made an assault on the front and back of the long Govern- 
ment-house, the sole inhabitants of which were the Bajah 
and a European servant. They did not surround the 
house, as their trembling hearts made them fear to separate 
into small bodies, because the opinion was rife among them 
that the Rajah was a man brave, active, skilled in the use 
of weapons, and not to be overcome except by means of 
numbers. 

Boused from his slumbers by the unusual sounds of 
shouts and yells at midnight, the Bajah looked out of the 



1857.] ESCAPE OP THE RAJAH, 297 

Venetian windows, and immediately conjectured what had 
occurred. Several times he raised his revolver to fire in 
among them; but, convinced that alone he could not 
defend the house, he determined to effect his escape. He 
supposed that men engaged in so desperate an affair would 
naturally take every precaution to insure its success, and 
concluded that bodies of the insurgents were silently 
watching the ends of the house ; so summoning his ser- 
vant he led the way down to a bath-room, which com- 
municated with the lawn, and telliug him to open the door 
quickly and follow close, the Bajah sprang forward with 
sword drawn and revolver cocked, but found the coast clear. 
Had there been twenty Chinese there he would have passed 
through them, as his quickness and practical skill in the 
use of weapons were imsurpassed. Beaching the banks of 
the stream above his house, he paused as he found it, full 
of Chinese boats ; but presently hearing his alarmed ser- 
vant, who had lost him in the darkness, calling to him, he 
knew that the attention of the Chinese would be attracted, 
80 diving under the bows of one of the barges he swam to 
the opposite shore unperceived, and, as he was then suffer- 
ing from an attack of fever and ague, fell utterly exhausted, 
and lay for some time on the muddy bank, till, slightly 
recovering, he was enabled to reach the Government 
writef s house. 

An amiable and promising young officer, Mr Nicholets, 
who had but just arrived from an out-station on a visit, 
and lodged in a cottage near, was startled by the sound of 
the attack, and rushing forth to reach his chiefs house, was 
killed by the Chinese, his head severed from his body, and 
borne on a pike in triumph as that of the Sajah ; while 
Mr Steel, the governor of Eanawit on the Bejang, and an 
experienced officer, quietly looked through the Venetians, 
and seeing what was passing slipped out of the house, and 
soon found himself sheltered by the jungle; and the 



298 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [cjhap. XT. 

Eajah's servant, whose shouts had in reality drawn the 
Chinese in his direction, had to display very unwonted 
activity before he could reach the protecting wood and 
join Mr SteeL 

The other attacks took place simultaneously. Mr and 
Mrs Grookshank, rushing forth on hearing this midnight 
alarm, were cut down — the latter left for dead, the former 
seriously wounded. The constable's house was attacked, 
but he and his wife escaped, while their two children and 
an English lodger were killed by the insurgents. 

Here occurred a scene which shows how barbarous were 
these Chinese. When the rebels burst into Mr Middleton's 
house he fled, and his wife following found herself in the 
bath-room, and by the shouts was soon convinced that her 
retreat was cut off. In the meantime the Chinese had 
seized her two children, and brought the eldest down into 
the bath-room to show the way his father had escaped. 
Mrs Middleton's only refuge was in a large water-jar ; 
there she heard the poor little boy questioned, pleading 
for his life, and heard his shriek when the fatal sword 
was raised which severed his head from his body. The 
fiends kicked the little head with loud laughter from one 
to another. They then set fire to the house, and she dis- 
tinctly heard her second child shrieking as they tossed 
him into the flames. Mrs Middleton remained in the jar 
till the falling embers forced her to leave. She then got 
into a neighbouring pond and thus escaped the eyes of 
the Chinese, who were frantically rushing about the burn- 
ing house. Her escape was most extraordinary. 

The stockades, however, were not surprised. The Chinese, 
waiting for the signal of attack on the houses, were at 
length perceived by the sentinel, and he immediately 
roused the treasurer, Mr Crymble, who resided in the 
stockade, which contained the arsenal and the prison^ 
He endeavoured to make some preparation for defence. 



1857.] DEFENCE OF THE STOCKADES- 299 

although he had but four Malays with him. He had 
scarcely time, however, to load a six-pounder field-piece, 
and get his own rifle ready, before the Chinese with loud 
shouts rushed to the assault They were led by a man 
bearing in either hand a flaming torch. Mr Grjnnble 
waited until they were within forty yards ; he then fired 
and killed the man who, by the lights he bore, made him- 
self conspicuous, and before the crowd recovered from the 
confusion in which they were thrown by the fall of their 
leader, discharged among them the six -pounder loaded 
with grape, which made the assailants retire behind the 
neighbouring houses or hide in the outer ditches. But 
with four men little could be done ; and some of the rebels 
haying quietly crossed the inner ditch, commenced remov- 
ing the planks which constituted the only defence. To 
add to the difficulty, they threw over into the inner court 
little iron tripods, with flaming torches attached, which 
rendered it as light as day, while they remained shrouded 
in darkness. 

To increase the number of defenders, Mr Crymble re- 
leased two Malay prisoners, one a madman who had killed 
his wife, the other a debtor. The latter quickly disap- 
peared, while the former, regardless of the shot flying 
around, stood to the post assigned him^ opposite a plank 
which the Chinese were trying to remove. He had orders 
to fire his carbine at the first person who appeared ; and 
when, the plank giving way, a man attempted to force his 
body through, he pulled the trigger without lowering the 
muzzle of his carbine, and sent the ball through his own 
brains. Mr Crymble now found it useless to prolong the 
struggle, as one of lus four men was killed, and another, a 
brave Malay corporfd, was shot down at his sida The 
wounded man begged Mr Crymble to fly and leave him 
there, but asked him to shake hands with him flrst, and tell 
him whether he had not done his duty. The brave Irish- 



300 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xv. 

man seized him by the arm aDd attempted to drag him np 
the stairs leading to the dwelling over the gate ; but the 
Chinese had already gained the courtyard, and, pursuing 
them, drove their spears through the wounded man, and Mr 
Crymble was forced to let go his hold, and with a brave 
follower, Daud, swung himself down into the ditch below. 
Some of the rebels seeing their attempted escape, tried to 
stop Mr Crymble, and a man stabbed at him, but only 
glanced his thick frieze-coat, and received in return a cut 
across the face from the Irishman's cutlass, which was a 
remembrance to carry to the grave. 

The other stockade, though it had but a corporal's watch 
of three Malays, did not surrender, but finding that every 
other place was in the hands of the Chinese, the brave 
defenders opened the gates, and, charging the crowd of 
rebels sword in hand, made their escape, though they were 
all severely wounded in the attempt 

The confusion which reigned throughout the rest of the 
town may be imagined, as, startled by the shouts and yells 
of the Chinese, the inhabitants rushed to the doors and 
windows, and beheld night turned into day by the bright 
flames which rose in three directions, where the Eajah's, 
Mr Crookshank's, and Mr Middleton's houses were all 
burning at the same time. 

It was at first very naturally thought that the Chinese 
contemplated a general massacre of the Europeans, but 
messengers were soon despatched to them by the Eungsi 
to say that nothing was further from their intention than 
to interfere with those who were unconnected with the 
Government ; which refinement of policy shows that the 
plot had been concocted by more subtle heads than those 
possessed by the gold-workers of Bau. 

The Bajah had as soon as possible proceeded to the 
Datu Bandar's house, and being quickly joined by his 
English officers, endeavoured to organise a force to sur- 



1857.] MORNING AFTER THE ATTACK, 301 

prise the victorious Chinese — ^but it was impossibla No 
sooner did he collect a few men than their wives and 
children surrounded them, and refused to be left, — and 
being without proper arms or ammunition, it was but a 
panic-stricken mob ; so he instantly took his determina- 
tion with that decision which had been the foundation 
of his success, and giving up the idea of an immediate 
attack, advised the removal of the women and children 
to the left-hand bank of the river, where they would be 
safe from a land attack of the Chinese, who could make 
their way along the right-hand bank by a road at the back 
of the town. 

This removal was accomplished by the morning, when 
the small party of English under the Bajah walked over 
to the little river of Siol, which falls into the Santubong 
branch of the Sarawak river. At the mouth of the Siol 
the Kajah found the war-boat of Abang Buyang with sixty 
men waiting for him, which was soon joined by six other 
smaller ones and some canoes; for no sooner did the 
Malays of the neighbouring villages hear where the Bajah 
was, than they began flocking to him. He now started for 
the Samarahan, intending to proceed to the Batang Lupar 
to organise an expedition from the well- supplied forts 
there. On their way they rested at the little village of 
Sabang, and to the honour of the Malay character I must 
add that during the height of his power and prosperity, 
never did he receive so much sympathy, tender attention, 
and delicate generosity as now when a defeated fugitive. 
They vied with each other as to who should supply him 
and his party with clothes and food, since they had lost 
all ; and if to know that he was enshrined in the hearts of 
the people was any consolation to him in his misfortunes, 
he had ample proofs of it then. No wonder that, in read- 
ing these accounts, the 'Daily News' should say, **We 
have sincere pleasure in proclaiming our unreserved admi- 



302 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xv. 

ration of the manner in which he must have exercised 
his power to have produced such fruits." 

When morning broke in Euching there was a scene of 
the wildest confusion. The 600 rebels, joined by the 
vagabonds of the town, half stupefied with opium, were 
wandering about discharging their muskets in every direc- 
tion loaded with ball-cartridge ; but at eight o'clock the 
chiefs of the Gold Company sent a message to the Bishop 
of Labuan requesting him to come down and attend the 
wounded He did so, and found thirty-two stretched out^ 
the principal being from gunshot- wounds ; but among 
them he noticed one with a gash across his face from the 
last blow Mr Crjrmble had struck at the rebels; and before 
his arrival they had buried five of their companions. 

Poor Mrs Crookshank had lain on the ground all night 
desperately wounded, and with extraordinary coolness and 
courage had shammed death, while the rebels tore her 
rings from her fingers or cut at her head with their swords : 
then her life was saved by her mass of braided hair. Early 
in the morning a servant found her still living, and went 
and informed the Bishop of Labuan, who with great diffi- 
culty persuaded the Eungsi to allow him to send for her. 
She arrived at the mission-house in a dreadful state. 

It was evident that in the intoxication of victory the 
Chinese aimedjiowjif not before, at the complete domina* 
tion of the country^, and summoned the Bishop of Labuan, 
iHr Helms, agent for the Borneo Company, and Mr Eup- 
pell, an English merchant, and the Datu Bandar, to ap- 
pear at the Court-house. The Europeans were obliged 
to attend the summons. The Malay chief came, but 
with great reluctance, and contrary to the advice of his 
more energetic brother; but he thought it expedient to 
gain time. 

The Chinese chiefs, even in their most extravagant 
moments of exultation, were in great fear that on their 



i867.] PROCEEDINGS OF THE CHINESE. 303 

letum up the river the Malays might attack their crowded 
boats and destroy them, as on the water they felt their 
inferiority to their maritime enemies. 

It must have been an ofifensive sight to the Europeans 
and the Malays to witness the arrangements of the Court- 
house on that day of disaster. In the Bajah's chair sat 
the chief of the Gk)ld Company, supported on either side by 
the writers or secretaries, while the representatives of the 
now apparently subdued sections took their places on the 
side benches. The Chinese chief then issued his orders, 
which were that Mr Helms and Mr Euppell should under- 
take to rule the foreign portion of the town, and that the 
Patu Bandar should manage the Malays, while the Gold 
Company, as supreme rulers, should superintend the whole 
and govern actively the up-country. During this time 
the Europeans could see the bead of Mr Nicholets carried 
about on a pole to reassure the Chinese that the dreaded 
Bajah had really been killed. The Chinese chiefs knew 
better, but they thought to impose upon their ignorant 
followers. 

Everything now appeared to be arranged, when the 
Bishop of I^buan suggested that perhaps Mr Johnson 
might not quite approve of the conduct of the Chinese 
in killing his uncle and his friends, — for most of them sup- 
posed the Bajah dead, and the head of Mr Nicholets was 
there as proof. At the mention of Mr Johnson's name 
there was a pause, a blankness came over their faces, and 
they looked at each other as they now remembered ap- 
parently for the first time that he, the Bajah's nephew, 
w£is the resolute and popular ruler of the Sakarangs, and 
could let loose at least 10,000 wild warriors upon them. 
At last it was suggested, after an animated discussion, 
that a letter should be sent to him requesting him to con- 
fine himself to his own government, and then they would 
not attempt to interfere with him. 



304 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XV. 

They appeared also to have forgotten that there was 
Sadong under Mr Fox and Eejang under Mr Steel, who 
could between them bring thousands into line, and that 
Seribas also was panting for a field of exertion. All this 
appeared never to have occurred to them before under- 
taking their insensate expedition. 

The Chinese were very anxious to have matters settled 
at Kuching, as with all their boasts they did not appear 
quite comfortable. They were not only anxious to secure 
the plunder they had obtained, but the leaders knew that 
the Sajah was not killed, and what he might be preparing 
was uncertain. They therefore called upon the European 
gentlemen and the Malay chiefs present to swear fidelity 
to the Gold Company; and under the fear of instant death* 
they were obliged to go through the Chinese formula of 
taking oaths by killing fowls. 

Next day the rebels retired up-country unmolested by 
the Malays, and a meeting was at once held at the Datu 
Bandar's house to discuss future proceedings. At first 
no one spoke ; there was a gloom over the assembly, as 
the mass of the population was deserting the town, carry- 
ing off their women and children to the neighbouring 
district of Samarahan as a place of safety, when Abang 
Fatah, son to the Datu Tumanggong, addressed the as- 
sembly. He was a sturdy man, with a pleasant cheerful 
countenance, and a warm friend to English rule, and his 
first words were : " Are we going to submit to be governed 
by Chinese chiefs, or are we to remain faithful to our 
Eajah ? I am a man of few words, and I say I will never 
be governed by any but him, and to-night I commence 
war to the knife against his enemies." ^ 

^ Shortly after Sir James Brooke became ruler of Sar&wak, a case came 
before him in which Fatah was concerned. He was then a very yoong 
man, and had contracted a gambling debt of £3 ; but by adding interest, 
his creditors quickly made it amount to £30. He could not pay this, 



1867.] PKOGRESS OF THE INSURRECTION. 305 

The tiDanimous determination of the assembly was to 
remain faithful to the Bajah, but they were divided as to 
the course to be pursued. Fatah, however, cut the knot 
of the difficulty by manning a light canoe with a dozen 
Malays, and proceeding at once up the river, where he 
attacked and captured a Chinese boat, killing five of its 
defenders. In the meantime the women and children 
were all removed from the town, and some vessels were 
armed and manned, but imperfectly, as the Chinese had 
taken away the contents of the arsenal, and the principal 
portion of the crews of the war-boats were engaged in 
conveying the fugitives to Samarahan. 

Patah's bold act was well-meaning, but decidedly prem- 
ature, as the Malays, being scattered, could not organise a 
resistance, and urgent entreaties were made to the Bajah 
by injudicious people to return and head this movement 
He complied, as he could not even appear to abandon 
those who were fighting so bravely for him ; but he knew 
that it was useless; and arrived at Kuching to find the rest 
of the English flying, the town in the hands of the Chinese, 
and smoke rising in every direction from the burning 
Malay houses. 

It appears that when the news reached the Chinese that 
the Malays were preparing to resist their rule, they de- 
termined to return immediately and attack them before 
their preparations could be completed. They divided their 
forces into two parties, as they were now recruited by 
several hundreds from the other gold-workings, and had 
forced all the agriculturists at Sungei Tingah to join them 
— ^in fact their great cargo-boats could not hold half their 

and was in despair, as a noble to whom the debt had been ttansferred 
threatened to make his father pay it. Sir James haying settled the case 
for him, won the young man's heart, who ever remained one of his most 
trusty and trosted followers. It was this Patah who gave the warning of 
the Patinggi's plot, vide p. 258. 

U 



306 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. TV. 

numbers, so that one body marched by a new road which 
had been opened to the town, while the other came down 
by the river. 

As soon as the Malays saw the Chinese boats rounding 
the point, they boldly dashed at them, forced them to the 
river-banks, drove out the crews, and triumphantly cap- 
tured ten of the largest bargea The Chinese, better armed, 
kept up a hot fire from the rising ground, and killed 
several of the best Malays, — among others Abang Gkipur, 
whose disbelief in his kinsman's story enabled the rebels 
to surprise the town, and who to his last breath bewailed 
his fatal mistake; and one who was equally to be re- 
gretted, our faithful old follower Kasim. The latter 
lingered long enough to see the Bajah again triimiphant^ 
and said he died happy in knowing it. ^Notwithstanding 
their losses, the Malays towed away the boats, fortunately 
laden with some of the most valuable booty, and secured 
them to a large trading prahu anchored in the centre of 
the river. Having thus captured some superior arms and 
ammunition, they could better reply to the fire of their 
enemies who lined the banks. 

In the meantime the Bajah arrived opposite the Chinese 
quarter, and found a complete panic prevailing, and all 
those who had preceded him fljdng in every direction. 
Having vainly endeavoured to restore order, he drew up 
his boat on the opposite bank to cover the retreat, and 
after a sharp exchange of musketiy-fire he returned to 
Samarahan to carry out his original intention. 

He joined the fugitives, and his first care was to see to 
the safety of the ladies and non-combatants and wounded, 
and to send them ofif under the care of the Bishop and 
others to the secure and well-armed fort of lingga. He 
now felt somewhat relieved, as he knew that there the 
fugitives would be in perfect safety, as they were sur- 
rounded by faithful and brave men who could have de- 



1857.] ARRIVAL OP THE "SIR JAMES BROOKE." 307 

fended the fort against any enemies. There were no ene- 
mies in Lingga, except such as existed in the imaginations 
of the terror-stricken fugitives from Sarawak^ who had not 
yet recovered from their panic. 

The Bajah prepared on the following day to take the 
same route, in order to obtain a base of operations and a 
secure spot where he could rally the people, and await a 
fresh supply of arms. It was sad, however, to think of 
the mischief which might happen during this period of 
enforced inaction, particularly as the Datu Bandar and a 
chosen band were still in Kuching on board a large trading 
prahu, which was surrounded by lighter war-boats. Here 
was our gentle Bandar, a man whom no one suspected of 
such energy, showing the courage of his father ; Patinggi 
Ali, who was killed during KeppePs expeditions, and 
directing constant attacks on the Chinese whenever an 
opportimity oflfered. Thus harassed, the rebels were drag- 
ging up heavy gims, and it was evident that the Malays 
could not hold out for many days, particularly as there 
was now nothing to defend ; the flames which reddened the 
horizon, and the increasing volumes of smoke, told the tale 
too well that the town was being completely destroyed. 

With feelings of the most acute distress, the Eajah gave 
the order for departure, and the small flotilla fell down the 
river Samarahan, and arriving at its mouth, put out to sea 
eastward ; when a cry arose among the men, " Smoke ! 
smoke ! — ^it is a steamer I " and sure enough there was a dark 
column rising in the air from a three-masted vessel For 
a moment it was uncertain which course she was steering, 
but presently they distinguished her flag : it was the Sir 
James Brooke, the Borneo Company's steamer, standing 
right in for the Morotabas entrance of the Sarawak river. 
The crew of the Bajah's prahu with shouts gave way, and 
the boat was urged along with all the power of their oars, 
to find the vessel anchored just within the mouth. 



308 LIFE OF SIR JAM£S BROOKE. [chap. XT. 

" The great God be praised," as the Eajah said. Here 
indeed was a base of operations. The native prahus were 
taken in tow, and the reinforcements of Dyaks, who were 
already arriving, followed up with eager speed. What 
were the feelings of the Chinese when they first saw the 
smoke, then the steamer, it is not necessary to conjecture. 
They fired one wild volley from every available gun and 
musket, but the balls fell harmlessly ; and when the 
English guns opened on them, they fled panic-stricken, 
pursued by the rejoicing Malays and Dyaks. 

Early that morning a large party of Chinese had crossed 
from the right to the left bank to bum the half of the Malay 
town which had previously escaped ; but though they suc- 
ceeded in destroying the greater portion, they signed their 
own death-warrant, as the Malays, now resuiuing the 
offensive, seized the boats in which they had crossed the 
river, and the Dyaks followed them up in the forest Not 
one of that party could have escaped. Some wandered 
long in the jungle, and died of starvation ; others were 
found hanging to the boughs of trees, preferring sidcide to 
the lingering torments of hunger. All these bodies were 
afterwards discovered, as they were eagerly sought for. 
The natives said that on every one of them were found 
froija five to twenty pounds sterling in cash, besides silver 
spoons or forks or other valuables, the plunder of the 
English houses. 

The main body of the Chinese on the right bank retired 
in some order by the jungle road, and reached a detach- 
ment of their boats which they had left at its terminus, 
and from thence retired to Balidah, opposite Siniawan, the 
fort famous in Sarawak history, which the Bajah had 
besieged on his first arrival, and which after the insurrec- 
tion became the headquarters of Mr Grant, a resident of 
Upper Sarawak. 

Thus was the capital recovered. The Kajah established 



1867.] DISCOMFITURE OF THE CHINESE. 309 

his headquarters on board the Sir James Brooke, and the 
Government soon began to work again. The land Dyaks, 
who had been faithful to a man, sent and requested per- 
mission to attack the enemy. This being accorded, the 
chiefs led their assembled tribes, and rushed in every 
direction on the Chinese, driving them from their villages, 
and compelling them to assemble and defend two spots 
only, Siniawan and Bau, with Tundong, the landing-place 
of the latter town. The smoke rising in every direction 
showed them that the loss they had inflicted on others was 
now retaliated on them. The Gold Company, in their 
blind confidence, had made no preparations for an evil 
day, and it was well known that their stock of food was 
small, as everything had been destroyed except their own 
stores at the above-named places, and these were required 
to supply all those whom they had forced to join them 
from the town, and their whole agricultural population. 
The harassing life they led must soon have worn them 
out without any attacks, as they could no longer pursue 
their ordinary occupations, or even fetch firewood or 
water, without a strong armed party, and as the Dyaks 
hung about their houses, and infested every spot. It soon 
became a question of food, and they found that they must 
either obtain it or retire across the frontier into Sambas. 
They therefore collected all their boats, and made a foray 
eight miles down the river to Ledah Tanah, and there 
threw up a stockade, in which they placed a garrison of 
250 of their picked men, under two of their most trusted 
leaders. They put four guns into position to sweep the 
river, and, armed with the best of the Government mus- 
kets and rifles, they not only commanded the right and 
the left hand branches, but felt secure from a direct attack 
from the main river. Parties were sent out to plunder the 
Dyak farmhouses, and one bolder than the rest attempted 
to scale the mountain of Serambo to destroy the Bajah'^ 



310 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xv. 

country-house there; but the Dyaks barred the passage 
with stockades, and by rolling down rocks on the advancing 
party, eflPectuaUy defended their hill. These Chinese were 
very diflferent from those we see in our British settlements : 
many of them were half-breeds, having Dyak mothers, 
and were as active in the jungle as the Dyaks themselves. 

To check the Chinese and afibrd assistance to the land 
Dyaks, the Bajah sent up the Datu Bandar with a small 
but select force to await his arrival below the Chinese 
stockade ; but the gallant Bandar, on being joined by the 
Datu Tumanggong and Abang Buyong, and a few Saka- 
rang Dyaks, dashed at the fort, surprised the garrison at 
dinner, and carried it without the loss of a man. The 
Chinese threw away their arms and fled into the jungle, 
to be pursued and slain by the Sakarang Dyaks. Stock- 
ade, gims, stores, and boats — aU were captured ; and, what 
was of equal importance, the principal instigators of the 
rebellion were killed. 

As soon as the few that escaped reached Siniawan, a 
panic seized the Chinese, and they fled to Bau, where they 
began hastily to make preparations to retire over the bor- 
der. The Rajah, who was hunTing up to the support of 
the Bandar, hearing of his success, despatched Mr John- 
son with his Dyaks to harass the enemy : these, together 
with the Sarawak Malays, to whom most of the honour 
is due, pressed on the discomfited Chinese, who, fearing to 
have their retreat cut off, started for Sambas. They were 
attacked at every step, but being supplied with the best 
arms of the Government, they were enabled to beat off the 
advance-parties of their assailants, and retire in fair order 
along the good road that leads to Gumbang on the Sambas 
frontier. Still this road is very narrow, and every now 
and then the active Dyaks made a rush from the brush- 
wood that borders the path, and spread confusion and dis- 
may ; but the Chinese had every motive to act a manly 



J 



1867.] FLIGHT OP THE CHINESE. 311 

part, as they had to defend above a thousand of their 
women and children, who encumbered their disastrous 
flight. 

At the foot of the steep hill of Gumbang they made a 
halt, for the usual path was found to be well stockaded, 
and a resolute body of Malays and Dyaks were there to 
dispute the way. It was a fearful position: behind them 
the pursuers were gathering in increasing strength, and 
unless they forced this passage within an hour, they must 
all die or surrender. 

At last some one, it is said a Sambas Malay, suggested 
that there was another path further up the hill, which, 
though very steep, was practicable : this was imdefended, 
and the fugitives made for it. 

The Sarawak Malays and Dyaks, seeing too late their 
error in n^lecting to fortify this path also, rushed along 
the brow of the hill and drove back the foremost Chinese. 
Their danger was extreme; but at that moment, as if by 
inspiration, all the young Chinese girls rushed to the 
front and encouraged the men to advance, which they 
again did; and cheered by the voices of those brave 
girls, who followed close, clapping their hands, and call- 
ing them by name to fight bravely, they won the brow 
of the hill, and cleared the path of their less numerous 
foes. Whilst this was going on, another column of 
Chinese surprised the village of Gumbang, burnt it to 
the ground, and then crossed the frontier. They were 
but just in time, as the pursuers were pressing hotly on 
the rear-guard, and the occasional volleys of musketry told 
them that the well-armed Malays were upon them ; but 
they were now comparatively safe, as they all soon cleared 
the Sarawak frontier, and although a few pursued them, 
the main body of the Malays and Dyaks would not enter 
Dutch territory, and halted on the summit of the Gum- 
bang range. 



312 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. XV. 

• The miserable fugitives, reduced to 2000, of whom 
above a half were women and children, sat down among 
the houses of the village of Sidin, and many of them, it 
is said, wept not only for the loss of friends and goods 
they had suffered from the insensate ambition of the 
Gold Company, but because they must give up aU hope of 
ever returning to their old peaceful homes. 

That Company, which on the night of the surprise had 
numbered 600 men, were now reduced to a band of about 
100, but these kept well together, and being better armed 
than the others, formed the principal guard of the Tai-pe- 
Kong, a sacred stone which they had through all their 
disasters preserved inviolate. 

Several times the assailants, who mistook it for the 
gold-chest, were on the point of capturing it, but on the 
cry being raised that the Tai-pe-Kong was in peril, the 
men gathered round and carried it securely through all 
danger. But here at Sidin, all immediate apprehension 
being over, the discontent of those who had been forced 
to join the rebels burst forth without control, so that 
from words they soon came to blows, and the small band 
of the Company's men was again reduced by thirty or 
forty by the anger of their countrymen. 

Continuing their disorderly retreat, they were met by 
the officers of the Dutch Government, who very properly 
took from them all their plunder and arms, and being 
uncertain which was their own property, erred on the 
safe side by stripping them of everything.^ Thus ter- 
minated the most absurd and causeless rebellion that ever 
occurred, which, during its continuance, displayed every 
phase of Chinese character, — arrogance, secrecy, combina- 
tion, an utter incapability of looking to the consequences 
of events or actions, and a belief in their own power and 

^ The Datch officers sent back to Sarawak eyerything which they 
considered was public or private property. 



1857.] RESULTS OP THE REBELLION. 313 

courage which every event belied. The Chinese nev^r 
have fought even decently, and yet, till the very moment 
of trial, they act as if they were invincible. 

I think that this insurrection showed that though the 
Chinese always require watching, they are not in any 
way formidable as an enemy; and it also proved how 
firmly the Sarawak Government was rooted in the hearts 
of the people, since in the darkest hour there was no 
whisper. of wavering. Had the Chinese been five times 
as numerous, there were forces in the background which 
would have destroyed them alL Before the Chinese had 
fled across the border, thousands of Seribas and Sakarang 
Dyaks under Mr Johnson had arrived, and the people of 
Sadong were marching overland to attack them in rear, 
while the distant out -stations were mustering strong 
forces which arrived only to find all danger past. 

I almost believe that it was worth the disaster to show 
how uniform justice and generous consideration are appre- 
ciated by the Malays and Dyaks, and how firmly they 
may become attached to a Government which, besides hav- 
ing their true interests at heart, encourages and requires all 
its officers to treat them as equals. The conduct of the 
Malay fortmen, of Kasim and Gapur, the generous en- 
thusiasm of Abang Patah, and the gallant rush at the 
Ledah Tanah stockade by the Bandar and his forces, 
show what the Eajah had effected during his tenure of 
power. He had raised the character of the Malay, and 
turned a race notorious for its lawlessness into some of 
the best-conducted people in the world. 

I may add that the results of the Chinese insurrection 
were very curious in a financial point of view. Though 
above 3500 men were killed or driven from the country, 
yet the revenue from the Chinese soon rose, instead of 
falling, which proves what an extensive system of smug- 
gling had been carried on. The breaking up of the Gold 



314 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. ZY. 

Company was felt by all the natives as a great reliefl It 
is worthy of remark that while the Chinese were still 
unsubdued in the interior, boats full of their armed coun- 
trymen arrived from Sambas to inquire if Sarawak was 
not now in the hands of the Kungsi, and were proceeding 
up the river to join them, when they were met by the 
Malays, driven back, and utterly defeated. 

The Dutch authorities behaved with thorough neigh- 
bourly kindness on this occasion; for as soon as they 
heard of the rebellion of the Chinese, they sent roimd a 
steamer and a detachment of soldiers to the assistance 
of the authorities. Fortunately by that time all danger 
was past, but the kindness of the action was not 
the less appreciated. H.M.S. Spartan also. Captain Sir 
William Hoste, came over to Sarawak, but I fear that 
his instructions were less generous : he could aid in pro- 
tecting British interests, but not the Sarawak Grovem- 
ment. 

Whilst struggling with all these difficulties, the Sir 
James Brooke, which had been sent to Singapore for 
supplies, now returned, bringing a large party to join the 
Bajah, — his nephew Captain Brooke and his wife, Mr 
Grant, Mr Hay, a new recruit of whom the Rajah says, 
" A gentlemanly man, young, of good family and the right 
stamp." I wish the Bajah had generally sought these 
qualifications in his recruits. There came also a lot of 
people connected with the Borneo Company, including Mr 
Harvey the managing director, Mr Duguid the manager 
in Sarawak, and others. In giving me an account of the 
arrivals, the Rajah says, — " Our domestic intelligence is of 
the best and pleasantest. Brooke's wife is a sweet, sen- 
sible, but playful creature, . . . charming in manners ; " 
and who that knew her would not re-echo these words 7 

When the news of the Chinese insurrection reached 
Seribas, all the chiefs were anxious to go to the succoui 



1857.] KUCHING AFTER THE INSURRECTION. 315 

of the Government ; and while many were thus away in 
Sarawak, our old adversary, Eentab of Lang Fort reputa- 
tion, attacked the villages of our friends. The Rajah there- 
fore determined to punish him, and started for Seribas 
himself to support the well-intentioned; and Captain 
Brooke visited the Rejang, while Mr Charles Johnson was 
ordered to attack Sadok, the chief's new stronghold, with 
his Malays and Dyaks; but as usual when he had but 
wild warriors to rely on, he failed, as they were not 
steady enough when serious fighting might be expected. 

I went down to Sarawak by the first opportunity, and 
reached it in July, to find everything proceeding ap- 
parently as if no insurrection had occurred. Though the 
Malay town had been burnt down, yet the inhabitants 
had soon recovered their energy, and had built their houses 
a^^ain, which, though not so substantial as the former ones, 
still looked very neat. Some things were missed in the 
landscape: the handsome Government -house with its 
magnificent library had disappeared; Mr Crookshank's 
and Mr Middleton's houses were gone, and with the ex- 
ception of the Bajah, they were the principal sufferers, as 
the Chinese had had no time to destroy either the church 
or the mission-house, or the Borneo Company's premises ; 
and although they all suffered losses from pilferers, yet 
they were trivial when placed in comparison with that 
noble library which was once the pride of Sarawak. I 
may notice that some friends and others sent out a large 
number of books to replace it ; but it appeared to me that 
every one had sent out a lot of unbound books he did not 
want, and in comparison to our pride they looked like a 
collection of rubbish.^ 

I have never seen a more perfect library than that of 

^ A "grace '* was passed by the Senate of the University of Cambridge 
for sending copies of works printed by them, " as a testimonial of sympathy 
for y OUT recent loss, and of admiration of your character. " 



316 LIFE OF 8IK JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xv. 

Sir James Brooke — perfect in everything except the class- 
ics in the original, which would have been useless, as few 
of us had kept up our knowledge of them. Otherwise it 
was admirable : the best historians and essayists, all the 
poets, voyages and travels, books of reference, and a whole 
library of theology — books on every side of the question ; 
and I well remember a sneaking parson from Singa- 
pore, who came on a visit, examining the library, and 
when he found the works of Priestley and Channing along- 
side of those of Horsley and Pye Smith, going away and 
privately denouncing **the Bajah as an infidel and an 
atheist, or, worse still, a Unitarian." Besides the loss of 
the library, the Bajah was at the same time deprived of 
all the records of his previous life, — for he had collected his 
journals and papers, and these shared the fate of his books. 

I found, as I had expected, that the loss of worldly 
goods had had little eflfect on my old chief, who was as 
cheerful and contented in his little comfortless cottage as 
he had ever been in the Government-house. His health, 
which before was not strong, had been wonderfully im- 
proved by his great exertions to endeavour to restore the 
country to its former state, and I never saw him ap- 
parently more full of bodily energy and mental vigour 
than during the two months I spent in Sarawak in 1857. 
Everybody took his tone from his leader. There were 
no useless regrets over losses, and it was amusing to hear 
the congratulations of the Malay chiefs: "Ah, Mr St 
John, you were bom under a fortunate star to leave Sara- 
wak just before the evil days came upon us." Then they 
would laughingly recount the personal incidents which 
had occurred to themselves, and tell with great amuse- 
ment the shifts to which they had been put for want of 
every household necessary. There was a cheerfulness and 
a hope in the future which pi-omised well for the country. 

I found that the deserted gardens aroimd the town had 



1867.] END OF THE KEBELLION. 317 

been in part reoccupied, for already there were Chinese 
here. In order not to interrupt the narrative, I have not 
before noticed that during the height of the insurrec- 
tion, when the rebels had only been driven from the town 
a few days, news came that several hundred Chinese fugi- 
tives from the Dutch territories had crossed the borders 
towards the sources of the left-hand branch of the Sara- 
wak, and were seeking the protection of the Sarawak 
Gk)vemment. Though harassed by incessant work, the 
Eajah did not neglect their appeal, but immediately de- 
spatched trustworthy men, who safely piloted them through 
the excited Dyaks, who thought that every man who 
" wore a tail " should now be put to death. No incident 
could better illustrate the great influence possessed by 
the Bajah over the Dyaks and Malays, or his thoughtful 
care of the true interests of the country during even the 
most trying circumstances. 

When the insurrection was completely over, the Bajah 
sent Sirib Moksain to Sambas with letters for the Dutch 
authorities. As the Sirib had been at one time in charge 
of the Chinese in the interior, he knew them well, and 
he said it was distressing to see the unfortunate agricul- 
turists, who had by force been made to join the rebels, 
lamenting their expulsion from the country. They begged 
for permission to return ; and subsequently many did, and 
established themselves in their old quarters. 

I could not bring myself to visit the interior, and wit- 
ness the ruin of so much prosperity. 



318 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THIRD VISIT TO ENGLAND. 
1857-1860. 

A LITTLE later on the Bajah said, in a letter to his nephew. 
Captain Brooke — " I have sometimes thought that since 
the earlier days the bonds of sympathy between the native 
and European have been slacker." I quote these words, 
as they were but the reflex of my own thoughts during my 
visit in 1857. I did not as yet see any sign of want of 
sympathy, but there was want of intercourse. In the 
earlier days, every evening after dinner, the chiefs would 
assemble in the great hall, sit amongst us, and conversa- 
tions were freely carried on as between equala But when 
the ladies arrived that was all changed ; after dinner the 
ladies retired into the drawing-room, where the gentle- 
men soon followed, or remained impatiently waiting for 
the natives to go. This they soon observed, and gradually 
they left off coming. No wonder the bonds of sympathy 
between the native and European became slacker. How- 
ever, this is more for the future. 

The Bajah, in the joy of his heart at the restoration 
of peace, determined to pardon two political offenders — 
Sirib Musahor, who had retired from Serikei, and the 
Datu Haji (the old Patinggi), who had been sent away 
to Mecca, but was then a pensioner in Malacca. Sirib 
Musahor had at first been injudiciously treated, but as he 



1857.] COAL-MINES. 319 

showed some desire to return to Serikei, he was permitted ; 
and the Datu Haji was recalled apparently by the wish 
of the people, but I believe strongly against their real 
judgment, for they knew him to be a dangerous man, 
capable of revenga 

During my visit in 1857 I particularly noticed one 
thing in the Kajah, that though when in society full of 
mental vigour, yet when alone he showed a loss of buoy- 
ancy, a tone of melancholy in public matters, as if aU 
ambition was dead within him. " I weary of business," 
he said to me. Just before I reached Sarawak the news 
had arrived of the Indian Mutiny, and he was full of it. 
He turned " clammy with agitation when he first heard of 
it." How true is the ring of the following words I " I felt 
then, annoyed and disgraced though I have been, that I 
was an Englishman, and the ties and feelings which men 
have wantonly outraged are planted too deep to be torn up." 

Mr Duguid, manager of the Borneo Company, having 
volunteered to give me a passage to Brunei in the Sir 
James Brooke, I was well pleased to return thus to my 
post, and the Eajah decided to accompany me. Before 
we started, however, we were invited to be present at the 
wedding of Mr Chambers, then missionary at Lingga, and 
now Bishop of Labuan. 

On our way to Brunei we called in at Sadong to view 
the Borneo Company's coal-mines. The Rajah had a 
good look at them, but came back probably as wise as he 
went. This attempt to open a coal-mine in Borneo was a 
costly failure — ^rumour said £20,000 — and all because, to 
save a few hundreds, the opinion had been taken of a 
practical miner who coiQd have developed a real seam, 
instead of obtaining a report from a scientific engineer, 
who, by boring or other means, would have discovered if 
a workable seam existed. That is the way companies are 
too often managed. 



320 LIF£ OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. XVI. 

We arrived in Brunei, and I lodged my guests in my 
mat-walled consulate, and the Eajah opened negotiations 
about the sago rivers.^ Very little appears to have been 
settled, except that the Bajah was requested to see that 
right was done, whatever that might mean. He went to 
Muka, and thought that he had made an impression on 
the rival factions; but there was a blood-feud — ^the son 
wishing to slay the murderer of his father — and no hard 
or soft words could have any effect as long as Sarawak 
^ supported that man of violence, Matusin. 

The Rajah now decided to return home to England. He 
had many reasons publicly. He said he wanted to discuss 
matters with the Borneo Company ; but in his heart he 
wished to enter into negotiations with the British Govern- 
ment, and see what they would do for Sarawak. He wrote, 
when nearing Egypt, "I experience no pleasure when 
approaching England, nor pain either." 

What an important year 1858 might have been for 
Sarawak had the Bajah known how to secure his ad- 
vance step by step ! but he wanted to clear all obstacles 
at a bound, and failed. 

In a letter which I wrote to my father, March 24, 1858, 
I find a sketch of the Bajah's character which is not with- 
out interest. " You say neither his friends nor his enemies 
have judged him right : perhaps so, — he has many injudi- 
cious friends. Take him for all in all, however, he is the 
man of the fewest faults that I have ever met with. Hasty 
judgment sometimes, and often hasty speech, are two 
faults which perhaps produce his third — ^that is, great 
impatience. In manner he is often absent and careless, 

^ In Sarawak the term river is used instead of district, for the principal 
town of each district is generally on the banks of its main river, and it is 
by water and not by land that it is approached. The " sago rivers" 
comprise those of Oya, Mnlla, Mato, Bruit, &c., and on their banks the 
sago-palm flourishes. 



1858.] RECEPTION IN ENGLAND. 321 

which, not being understood by strangers, offends them ; 
but I will add what he is — ^he is a man of noble thoughts 
and noble actions, generous, generally most considerate ; 
afifectionate, and therefore beloved by all who are inti- 
mately acquainted with him. In conversation and argu- 
ment brilliant when in happy spirits, playful when play- 
fulness is required, earnest and sincere on all great sub- 
jects. I am not drawing his portrait, I am but touching 
on a few traits." 

As soon as he reached England, the Bajah felt that the 
tone towards him was changed for the better. The Minis- 
ters received him cordially, and Lord Clarendon, thanks to 
Lord Grey's intervention, showed himself earnest in his 
desire to do something for Sarawak. Both he and Lord 
Palmerston offered a protectorate : had the Rajah accepted 
at once, the affair might have been so advanced that no 
change of Ministry would have unsettled it Unfortu- 
nately, however, the Eajah's views were now altered, and 
he began to wish to recover the private fortune he had 
expended in Sarawak, — for the fact was, he was in reality 
a pauper : he had but his pension of £70 a-year. With 
very good reasons he urged that if England had a mone- 
tary interest in Sarawak, it would be inclined to look better 
after it ; but it is not the less to be regretted that he did 
not jump at the proposition of a protectorate, which would 
have so chamged the status of Sarawak as to have insured 
its prosperity. 

Every kind of interest was shown. Mr Labouchere asked 
if Sarawak woidd not take over the Indian mutineers ; to 
which the Bajah replied, — " Hindoos ? yes — but not Mo- 
hammedans ; " and a small party was sent, who, I may 
say, behaved exceeding welL Later on came the question 
of a naval station in one of the ports of Sarawak ; but to 
this the Bajah would not listen — why, I do not under- 
stand, as it would not only have insured efficient protec- 

X 



322 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [cHAP. xn. 

tion, but would have been the first step towards that 
gradual absorption of the country which was so desirable. 

On February 2l8t the Rajah went to a levee, and her 
Majesty spoke to him most graciously, asking after his 
health ; and the Prince Consort shook him cordially by 
the hand. Indeed, the Eoyal family ever showed great 
interest in his career. The Ministers, he said, were re- 
markably friendly in their manner and tone. He was 
referring to Lords Palmerston and Clarendon, and he was 
particularly pleased with his reception at one of the 
evenings at the Prime Minister's. 

Now came a change of Ministry, for Palmerston, being 
defeated on the Conspiracy Bill, retired to give place to 
Lord Derby ; and the Eajah had to begin his work over 
again. How was it possible, however, for him to succeed 
in any negotiations with the British Ministers, when he 
could write of them in a few weeks as "base, truckling, 
and suspicious " ? Evidently the Bajah was not meant for 
the work of European diplomacy. 

On hearing of these things, I wrote to Captain Brooke : 
*' The Rajah's life appears destined to be one eternal war- 
fare ; a Ministry turn and listen to him, and promise much, 
and would have performed sufficient, and they are ousted. 
Then came a cool Ministry, to whom Borneo is a bore ; 
and the Rajah, irritated, writes to them in a very impro- 
per strain, 'holding them responsible for the lives and 
properties of British subjects in Sarawak.' They shrug 
their shoulders and laugh, for they know they are not 
responsible, and would not care if they were." 

Then came a tone of utter despondency, although, at 
the same time, he was vigorously backing his friends who 
were trying to agitate the country to support the Rajah, 
and thus influence the Ministry. Meetings, dinners, and 
speeches, however, did no good, as Lord Derby decided to 
have nothing to do with Sarawak ; but the Rajah notices, 



1858.] DESPONDENCY. 323 

"Lord Stanley has been more friendly than any other 
Minister." On a temperament so nervous as the Rajah's, 
this excitement was doing irreparable mischief. To add 
to his troubles, his nephews in Borneo were writing him 
letters on family and other matters which made him feel 
" dreadfully hurt and humiliated," and the cry from his 
heart could be understood — " Oh, I am weary, weary of 
heart! without faith, without hope in man's honesty;" and 
while working heart and soul for what he conceived to be 
the good of Sarawak, he had to hear that his nephews 
were " horror-stricken at the idea of Sarawak being sold 
into bondage." Thus were his nerves kept at the highest 
pitch of tension. 

*' On the 2l8t of October, after making a brief speech in 
the Free-Trade Hall at Manchester, I felt a creeping move- 
ment come over ma I soon knew what it was, and walked 
with Fairbaim to the doctor'a Life, I thought, was gone, 
and I rejoiced in the hope that my death would do for 
Sarawak what my life had not been able to eflfect" Thus, 
sixteen days after the event, he described his first attack 
of paralysis, which effectually stopped his campaign. Then 
came the great deputation to Lord Derby, which, though 
powerfully backed, was a signal failure. 

One of the wisest letters ever written to him, the Kajah 
received about this time from Mr Grant of Kilgraston, 
Captain Brooke's father-in-law, urging him to accept the 
protection offered by the British Government without 
haggling about terms. 

I must now briefly glance at the events which passed 
in Borneo in 1858. In Sarawak itself things were quiet 
enough ; but in the sago rivers of the Sultan's dominions 
there were continual disturbances brought about by the 
desire of the Sarawak Government to back up Pangeran 
Matusin, and by the constant interference of the Sarawak 
naJcodaha or traders in the internal affairs of those coun* 



324 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xvi. 

tries. As a rule, the Sarawak nakodahs were very good 
men, but they were proud of their country, and wished to 
introduce the same system in these districts as that which 
prevailed at Sarawak. So far, there was little to be said ; 
but, like all merchants, they wanted a monopoly. 

Captain Brooke, who was administering the government 
of Sarawak, heard much of the evil doings in the sago 
rivers, and believing all the stories told by the naJcodahs, 
proposed to the Sajah to seize these districts, and declare 
them independent of Brunei Without reflecting, he fined 
people in the Sultan's dominions, and kept the fines. 
This high-handed policy greatly enraged the Sultan, and 
he begged me to remonstrate with the Bajah and Captain 
Brooke against this interference in his territory. This I 
did privately, and it is rather amusing to notice how these 
remonstrances were taken. The Bajah writes : — 

" Sept 7. — *' St John seems to think that you are in- 
clined to carry matters with too high a hand" 

"Nov, 6. — I received a letter from St John, of which I 
did not quite like the tone and spirit ; but I know he is a 
good fellow, and at heart our friend I must add, that St 
John thinks that I, as well as yourself, carry matters with 
too high a hand towards Brunei. Do not notice it, because 
it is done in all kindness." 

Before, however. Captain Brooke received this, he, being 
frankness itself, wrote to me to acknowledge that his 
policy towards Brunei had been too high - handed ; but 
explained that he had been deceived by the highly-col- 
oured reports of his ofl&cers in the Rejang. I have noticed 
these details, as they were the forerunners of troubles 
which brought about a great crisis in the history of 
Sarawak. 

In November 1858 there occurred an event which pro- 
duced a complete change in the policy of the Court of 
Brunei Makota, the Serpent, the Sultan's favourite 



1858.] DEATH OF MAKOTA. 325 

minister, the Eajah's first enemy in Sarawak and in his 
heart ever Sir James's enemy, was killed by the inhabi- 
tants of the interior whilst engaged in seizing a lot of 
young girls for his harem. The uproar that ensued is 
indescribable. 

MsJcota, as I have often remarked, was one of the worst 
and most oppressive of the Bomeon chiefs. Early in the 
month of November 1858 he started for a Bisayan village 
called Awang, a day's pull from the capital, and imme- 
diately commenced his exactions. He fined each of the 
chiefs for some imaginary breach of etiquette ; and as the 
fines came in slowly, set his followers to beat the Bisayas, 
and went so far as to apply torture to several. Even 
this did not rouse the people. At length, as if he were 
courting his fate, he assembled the heads of the villages, 
and told them that they must each furnish him with one 
of their daughters for his harem, and at the same time 
directed his men to seize the girls. Still no resistance 
was made, and the young things were dragged off to his 
prahu. 

When night came on, the chiefs met, and it was agreed 
to surprise the noble, and rescue their daughters. At 
midnight they came down quietly to the bank of the river, 
saw a light burning in the boat, and immediately attacked 
the sleeping crew. The surprise was so great that the 
men jumped into the water without any resistance, and 
Makota sought to escape with two followers in a small 
canoe ; but one of the girls, seizing the light, held it aloft, 
and shouting to those on shore, drew attention to the fly- 
ing noble, who was immediately knocked out of his boat 
by a well-directed stone, and he was drowned, being the 
only Malay I ever knew who could not swim. 

On first receiving the news of the death of his favourite 
minister, the Sultan was furious, and swore he would 
exterminate the whole race of the Bisayas ; but we used 



326 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [cHAP. XVL 

onr influence to calm this anger, and but compaiativelj 
light punishment followed. 

The year 1858 was marked by a great revival of Lanun 
and Balagnini piracy. Among others, a Spanish vessel 
was taken in the Sulu seas by Panglima Taupan of Tawi- 
Tawi : a young girl, the daughter of a Spanish merchant, 
was the only one on board not massacred. Taupan took 
her for a wife ; and, as I wrote at the time — " Alas for the 

chivalry of the British navy ! Sir , who was present 

when this information was given, said it was a Spanish 
affair, not ours." Another fruit of the Commission, — 
officers dared not act. 

In December Captain Brooke lost his wife, and in her he 
lost his mainstay, for her calm judgment would have been 
of infinite service to him in the trials which were to come. 
Hearing at the same time of his uncle's attack of paralysis, 
he decided to return home, — a most ill-advised step. 

The year 1859 was a most unfortunate one for everything 
connected with Sarawak. When the Bajah lay on his bed 
of sickness, his friend, the present Sir Thomas Fairbaim, 
knowing the wretched state of the Eajah's finances, pro- 
posed to a few intimates that something should be done 
to relieve him from this state of distress : he thought that 
a Memorial Fund might be raised, and a sufficient sum 
collected to place the Eajah in a position independent of 
Sarawak. Whether it would have succeeded or not had 
the project been carried out with equal zeal by all those 
who pretended to feel an interest in it, it is not possible 
to say, but it did not succeed, only about £9000 having 
been raised. 

Eightly or wrongly, the Eajah always laid the blame 
of this failure on the shoulders of some members of the 
Borneo Company, whose interest he thought it was to keep 
him dependent on them. I notice how gradually he be- 
came more and more convinced of this, as I read his cor- 



1859.] THE BORNEO COMPANY. 327 

respondence during the year 1859. It is not worth while, 
however, to quote these letters, as the whole thing has 
passed away, and the principal actors in this affair are 
now quiet in their graves. But it is necessary to notice 
it, as it partly accounts for the feeling of suspicion with 
which this Company was afterwards viewed, and which 
was heightened by the following circumstance. 

The Chinese insurrection having completely disordered 
the Sarawak finances, the Bajah's Government was com- 
I)eUed to borrow £5000 of the Borneo Company, and in 
the height of his distress they pressed him for repayment 
in a manner which made him write, "Their conduct is 
discourteous and avaricious.'' 

Thus pressed by the Borneo Company to pay a debt 
due by the Sarawak Govemment — ^harassed by the doubts 
arising as to the loyalty of some of his friends — with 
discouraging news from Sarawak, and prostrate with 
sickness — the Sajah found himself in a most painful and 
distressing position. "A friend in need is a friend in- 
deed," and at that moment one appeared who generously 
advanced the money owing to the Company, and thus 
enabled him to clear oflF the debt 

It was a mistake on the part of the Borneo Company 
thus to estrange the Bajah by trying to snatch the fruit 
before it was ripa Had they shown that they were cap- 
able of governing the country, it is highly probable that, 
England failing him, he would have been glad to associate 
them with him in the government ; but without the aid 
of the existing rulers of the country, I can imagine the 
failure that would have resulted. 

The Rajah's correspondence during this year with her 
Majesty's Government was not pleasant, and ended ap- 
parently in complete estrangement. Fortunately public 
officers are not over-sensitive, and the unpleasantness was 
afterwards forgotten. 



328 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKB. [cHAF. ZVL 

In 1859 the affairs of Muka were again brought prom- 
inently forward, as civil war had been renewed between 
Pangeran Matusin, the murderer of Ursat and his family, 
and Pangeran Dipa, the son of the victiuL Mr Charles 
Johnson, then in charge of the government of Sarawak, 
thinking that he must also pursue a high-handed policy, 
went there, and fined the Sultan's envoy, but had to 
carry off his protSgd Matusin, whom the people would not 
have. Some glimmer of the truth as to the bad conduct 
of this Pangeran appears to have dawned on the mind of 
Mr Johnson, but he was so full of meaningless alarms 
about the intrigues of Bomeon Eajahs, that his judgment 
was warped. He, too, kept the fine that was raised in 
the Sultan's territory, and refused to give it up, and went 
so far as also to propose to his uncle to seize the Sultan's 
territory, and appropriate it to Sarawak. 

When the Sultan heard of this insult of fining his 
envoy, he was very provoked, and sent for me to re- 
monstrate on the subject, reminding me that the pre- 
vious year the Eajah had written, " If we have wronged 
them [the Bajahs], or encroached on their territory, we are 
ready to make you, in your character as Consul-General 
and representative of England, the mediator between us." 

Acting on this, I did remonstrate in a private letter, 
but to little effect, as the following extracts will show: 
** March 30. — St John's letter vain as usual" ''Aug. 14 
— St John's interference is unwarrantable, the result of 
vanity, the tool of Makota" (forgetting that Makota had 
been killed the previous year). But mixed with these I 
find : " St John's view is sensible ; " " St John is a valued 
old friend and a true one." The letter which the Bajah 
calls '' vain as usual," contains the following passage, to 
which he refers : it was so true that I cannot avoid in- 
serting it The Bajah had accused the Bomeon nobles 
of being " weak, perfidious, and oppressive." I remarked 



1859.] A PLOT AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. 329 

in reply, ** I "will not enter again on the relations between 
Brunei and Sarawak, but I must say, however * weak, per- 
fidious, and oppressive' the nobles may be towards their 
own subjects, they have been tnie to you at a time when 
their friendship was of some value. I have not forgotten, 
nor should you forget, their conduct at the time of the 
Commission, when there was every temptation to turn 
against you. I utterly deny that they have ever ' delayed, 
shuffled, or intrigued * in any matter in which you have 
been concerned ; and all the accusations against them are 
founded on the putatia (false reports) of the Sarawak 
naJeodahs, who delight as much in making mischief as the 
Pablats do here at the present moment I do not think 
that you can bring a charge against them which I could 
not easily refute. Kemember I am speaking of their con- 
duct towards yourself and Sarawak, not towards their own 
subjects." No wonder the Eajah did not like the tone of 
that letter ; but it was quite true, for the loyalty showed 
by the Sultan and great Eajahs to Sir James Brooke was 
a marvel to us alL The effect of this correspondence, 
however, was good, as I find the Bajah writing to Captain 
Brooke : " Pray instruct Charley to pay to the Sultan all 
fines levied in his territory : it is important as a peace- 
offering;" and to me, that the fines should be paid over 
to the Sultan, which on the Rajah's return to Borneo was 
done. 

While Mr Johnson was thus watching events abroad, he 
saw little of what was passing in Sarawak. Up to that period 
he had been more accustomed to his Dyaks at Sakarang 
than he was to the Malays of Kuching ; and the chiefs of 
Sarawak, with that fear of consequences which is inherent 
in them, did not give the complete confidence which would 
have enabled him to unravel the plot which soon disturbed 
the country. 

It will be remembered that after the Chinese insurrec- 



330 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xtl 

tion the Bajah had pardoned Sirib Musahor and the 
Datu HaJL These two chiefs had never forgotten or for- 
given the punishment they had received for their own bad 
conduct, and longed for the moment of revenge. Both 
Captain Brooke and the Bajah were absent — the latter 
reported dangerously ill — ^and the Government was in the 
hands of Mr C. Johnson. Now, the two chiefs thought, 
was the moment ; and.they formed a plot for cutting off 
all the Europeans. The well-intentioned gave warnings, 
but they were not sufficiently heeded. 

The first blow struck was in the most distant station. 
In the Bejang were two officers of merit — one a Mr Steel, 
well versed in native ways and language (the Mr Steel 
whose conduct in 1849 had been so great a distress to 
Mr Gladstone) ; the other Mr Fox, a man of considerable 
abilities, but inclined to push reforms too fast, and very 
excitable, though he was at the same time one of the most 
amiable of beings. 

In June, he and Mr Steel were at the Kanawit fort, 
Mr Steel sitting in a chair in the Court-house, and Mr 
Fox superintending some alterations in their garden, when 
a party of Kanawits,^ accompanied by some of Sirib 
Musahor*8 followers, a mongrel breed, came in apparently 
on business, and, spreading about the fort, on a given 
signal fell on the two unsuspecting Englishmen and 
killed them on the spot. They did not, however, meddle 
with the fortmen. 

When the news reached Sarawak there was great excite- 
ment, but no suspicion of a plot, and the Datu Haji accom- 
panied Mr Johnson to the Rejang to aid him. At Serikei 
they met Sirib Musahor, who had already taken measures 
to secure the fort, and who had put to death some of the 

^ The Ean&wits are a distinct tribe, and must not be confounded with 
the Seribas who live on the upper waters of the Eanawit river. They are 
partially tattooed, and use the tumpUan, or poisoned arrow blow-tube. 



1869.] SUFPKESSION OF THE CONSPIRACY. 331 

men whom he pretended to suspect, without waiting the 
axrival of Mr Johnson. This created no suspicion; and the 
latter, listening to the advice of the two plotters, had the 
remaining fortmen tried on the charge of giving up their 
post, and they were found guilty and executed. At the 
same time a chief named Tani, formerly a great friend of 
the English, was accused, tried, and executed. On his 
way to death, he said, " I am innocent ; but the guilty 
will soon be known." 

The Kanawits, after having murdered Messrs Fox and 
Steel, plundered the fort, and then retired to a village 
they had built in the woods. The Dyaks, who had asked 
permission to attack them, were easily defeated by the 
poisoned arrows of the enemy. Mr Johnson then moved 
up a strong force with a gun, and surrounded them. He 
summoned the tribe to give up the actual murderers : 
they refused. He then said, " If you will fight in defence 
of these murderers, at least let me place your women and 
children in safety;" but this they also refused. After 
giving them time for reflection, the place was attacked, 
burnt down, and the tribe dispersed with great slaughter, 
the murderers unfortunately cutting their way through 
the attacking forc& 

Mr Johnson's party suffered heavily. I heard that as 
many as thirty Dyaks were killed by poisoned arrows. 
The effect of this poison is singular : the wounded man 
feels drowsy ; if he be allowed to give way to it, he invari- 
ably dies. One of the Malays who was wounded was 
kept awake, in spite of his requests to be permitted to 
sleep, and, after a glass of brandy, was walked down to 
the boats, and recovered. 

Mr Johnson then returned to Kuching, and he soon 
became convinced that Sirib Musahor was the real insti- 
gator of the murder. He subsequently attacked him, and 
drove him out of Sarawak territory, and the Sirib fled 



332 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XTL 

to Brunei. His flight brought to light the Datu Haji's 
guilt, and he was only banished from the country, though 
he fully deserved death ; but his family connections being 
coextensive with Sarawak Malay society, he escaped. 

Mr Johnson throughout these transactions showed 
wonderful energy, activity, and courage; in fact^ almost 
the whole burden rested on his shoulders. 

The effect of the discovery of the plot on the Sarawak 
officers was curious. The gentlemen, to a man, stuck to 
their posts with firmness, and rode out the storm — can 
we speak too highly of these officers ? — the second class 
lost all courage ; while the Bishop and some of the mis- 
sionaries left, the former taking home news that it was 
a Mohammedan plot, with the Datu Imaum (the rival 
Mohammedan Bishop) at the head of it — whereas the 
Datu Imaum showed himself, as ever, the true and faithful 
friend of the EnglisL The story apparently spread the 
panic to England, for I notice the Bajali writes to Brooke : 
" The day you want protection against your faithful sub- 
jects, that day the government of Sarawak should end."* 

Still confidence was in general shaken, and although 
the Governor of the Straits had sent over the steamer 
Hoogly and a detachment of marines, yet had not Eng- 
land authoritatively declared she wished to have nothing 
to do with Sarawak? Hereupon the Bajah turned to 
Holland, and instructed Captain Brooke to open negotia- 
tions with the Dutch Minister in London. Brooke, how- 
ever, little liked the task, as he felt himself unfit for 

^ Extract from the Bishop's Report for 1859 : ''I must again, through 
you, beg to call the attention of the Society to the insecurity and incon* 
venience of this place [Sarawak] as our central missionary post. The 
Rajah's illness, the deficiency of reyenue, the withdrawal of aU British 
protection from English subjects here, render our position more unsafe 
than ever. I shaU, I fear, be obliged to state that this is no longer the 
place where an establishment like ours, with women and children, can 
be safely and permanently kept up." 



1853.] THE SUCCESSION TO THE RAJ. 333 

negotiations. The Bajah vainly endeavoured to make 
him an astute diplomatist^ which, in dealing with Euro- 
peans, the Bajah himself was not, and urged him '' to rise 
in tone to the dignity of the representative of a free 
people." I may at once say that Holland declined to 
enter into negotiations. 

The Bajah was in great distress of mind as to the 
future of Sarawak. He was incapacitated for hard work, 
both of his nephews were suffering, and he added, " Not a 
single rising man in the service — not a man fitted to rule." 

Although no officer in Sarawak could admire Bishop 
McDougall's management of the mission, yet they all were 
of accord as to his great medical skill, and his unfailing 
kindness in sickness. They therefore got up a testimonial 
to him to mark their sense of his conduct, and the Bajah 
wrote, '* The Bishop deserves more than we can afford to 
give, for his kindness in sickness to each and all of us." 

Although the Bajah in his writings often spoke disre- 
spectfully of the climate of his mother-country, he could 
not make up his mind to live out of it ; and now that a 
sum of money had been collected to present to him as 
a testimonial, he thought no better use could be made 
of a part of it than to buy a small^ property to which he 
could retira He found in the wilds of Dartmoor a pretty 
place called Barrator with which he was enchanted, and 
having secured it, he felt for the moment cheerful and 
satisfied. 

The least satisfactory event to my mind of this year 
was the Bajah's correspondence with his nephew Brooke 
about his resignation of authority. There is a want of 
precision in it which was the cause of all subsequent mis- 
understandings. One day he annoimced that his surrender 
of authority was final, the next all this was forgotten ; but 
the fact was that the Bajah coxQd not resign — ^he had 
entered into engagements with other parties which posi- 



334 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [chap. xvi. 

tively precluded him fix)m handing over the government 
until these engagements were satisfied. Those not con- 
versant with the Bajah could not understand the corre- 
spondence of this period. It ended in this question, " Do 
you acknowledge my authority or not ? ** The answer was, 
" Yes," So that all previous correspondence was annulled 
by this question and answer. One thing was, however, 
clear ; the Eajah, even during the height of his despondency 
and illness, never intended to retire until the financial ar- 
rangements were definitively settled. 

I notice that the Rajah was pleased with the following 
extract from one of my letters, and that he several times 
refers to it in his correspondence : " You say you shall 
never recover, but it is quite wrong to think so. Though 
you may abandon public work, you have many happy 
years to look forward to, if happiness can be found in the 
remembrance of unmixed good performed. I have lived 
with you many years, and know you well, and I am 
assured no man can have less to reproach himself with ; 
and it must be a pleasing thought to know what kindly 
remembrances you have left in the minds of all who ever 
knew you out here. I assure you that when I heard the 
name of Tuan [Mr] Brooke mentioned with interest by the 
Dyaks of the far interior, in spots where even the Malays 
had never penetrated, I was struck with the vast influence 
you exercise over the native mind, and regretted the neglect 
which has prevented your being imable to turn that influ- 
ence to still greater good." 

The year 1860 opened dully. Holland had refused to 
enter into negotiations ; England was indifferent ; so the 
Eajah turned to France. Here, too, there was failure : no 
nation would touch what was refused by England, as it 
was known that England would be displeased by such 
interference. Uncle and nephew were also in disaccord, 
and although outward peace was established, confidence 



I860.] THE KAJAH AND CAPTAIN BROOKE. 335 

was for ever gone. Added to this, the Kajah was troubled 
by fake news from Sarawak, where in their panic they had 
mistaken a slave of Sirib Musahor's, who had appeared 
at Muka on some intrigue, for the Pangeran Tumanggong, 
the most powerful nobleman in Borneo, and son of the 
late Sultan. How such a blunder could have occurred is 
past all understanding. 

In the spring Captain Brooke returned to Sarawak, and 
I met him there on my way home. Hearing of the panic 
which existed, I went over from Singapore in a merchant- 
vessel, and could scarcely recognise Kuching, where once 
native and European were as ona I soon came to the 
conclusion that there was more panic than danger, and in 
that the native chiefs confirmed ma This I wrote to the 
Bajah, and I notice he says — " It delights me to hear St 
John's strong opinion of the love of the people to our 
Government." And there could be but one opinion as to 
the conduct of Mr Johnson in this crisis. He had acted 
as vigorously as it was possible for any man to act. It 
was clear that the conspiracy had been confined to those 
whose position had been rendered less important and 
lucrative by the advent of civilised men into the country, 
and that the mass of the chiefs and the people were as 
loyal as ever. 

The confusion of relative position between the Rajah 
and Captain Brooke still continued. The Sajah talked of 
abdicating but still governing, and Brooke of not being 
able to afibrd to pay the Eajah's allowance, and of his 
presence being invaluable in order to restore confidence in 
Sarawak. 

In April, Bishop Wilberforce had an interview with 
Lord Palmerston — ^that thorough " Unglish Minister," as he 
calls him — on the subject of Sarawak ; and this led to a 
renewal of intercourse between the Premier and the Eajah, 
which subsequently bore good fruit. 



336 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOEJ!. [chap. xn. 

The Bishop's letter is perhaps worth inserting : — 

" 26 Pall Mall, April 4, 186a 

" My dear Rajah, — I have had an opportunity to-day 
at Windsor of talking with Lord Palmerston over Saraw^ 
affairs. He says there is a great difficulty, Ist^ in the 
purchase or acceptance of your sovereign rights by our 
Crown, because they are not absolute, but held under the 
suzerainty of another — a position which our Crown could 
not occupy. 2d, That there was a difficulty in recognising 
by any formal act a subject as a sovereign. But if you 
wanted, as I understood, no such formal acknowledgment 
at present, but to be allowed to call for the aid of British 
ships of war to maintain your position if attacked, and ifi 
waiving other questions, you applied for that, he plainly 
intimated that he would grant it, and recommended that 
such appeal should be made to him as the head of the 
Government. He had a due feeling about you personally, 
and with all his faults he is an English Minister ; and I 
cannot, therefore, but hope that if, before you go further 
with the French, you will make this appeal to him, Eng- 
land will be spared the disgrace of such a transfer." 

At this time that generous hand which had been 
stretched forth to save the Bajah from the Borneo Com- 
pany now came again to the rescue, and the money was 
found to fulfil the dearest wish of his heart — the purchase 
of a steamer for Sarawak. He soon found a suitable 
vessel in Glasgow, and christened her the Bainbow. 
Now he was happy; what a change of tone in all his 
letters! He "will nail his colours to the mast." In 
truth, no better or more welcome succour could have 
been found. As he said, " Sarawak was saved." 

Before I arrived in England, the Bajah addressed a 
letter to Lord Palmerston asking for protection for British 
subjects in Sarawak. 



I860.] MH EDWARDES'S INTERFERENCE AT MUKA. 337 

Now came another trouble. I have mentioned that in 
1859 he had cause to suspect an intimate friend's conduct 
towards him, and now he found that the same individual 
had been going about suggesting that he (the Eajah) was 
mad. Another had aided him in these calumnies, but as 
he signed a written retractation and apology, I will not 
refer further to him. When the Rajah first heard of his 
friend's ungenerous conduct, he wrote to him for an ex- 
planation, but got only an evasive reply. A long corre- 
spondence ensued, which Sir James Brooke submitted to 
his lawyer, who wrote back, saying " that anything more 
mean and shuffling he had never known," and " anything 
is better than a hollow pretence of friendship." Thus 
ended a long friendship ; for although years afterwards 
there was a reconciliation, it was but nominal 

In August the Eajah went down to Glasgow to start 
the Eainbow. I accompanied him. Never was he in 
better spirits about Sarawak : he might talk of abdicat- 
ing, but that was indefinitely postponed. 

Everything was now looking prosperous, when news 
arrived of a most unexpected event. The Governor of 
Labuan, whom I had charged with the Consulate-General 
during my absence, had suddenly interfered in the most 
" untoward " manner. 

When Sirib Musahor fled from Mr Johnson he called 
in at Muka, and from thence went to Brunei and Labuan. 
Of course the Borneon Government knew with whom 
they were dealing, and the Sultan had given me informa- 
tion before I left the capital, which left no doubt on my 
mind that Musahor had instigated the murder of — had, in 
facti by his paid agents, murdered — Messrs Fox and Steel ; 
but Mr Edwardes, Governor of Labuan, believed nothing 
of this. An able, active man, was this governor, capable by 
his vigour to infuse life into a colony if a spark of vitality 
was left in it; but he had strong prejudices, and one of 

Y 



338 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BR(X)KE. [chap. xvi. 

these was against Sir James Brooke and Sarawak. When» 
therefore, he heard Sirib Musahor's plausible tale (and 
the Sirib was both plausible and taking in manner), Mr 
Edwardes, against his better judgment, decided that the 
man was innocent, and had been unjustly dealt with. 
Accordingly, when he met the Sultan, and heard his 
complaints respecting the encroachments of the Bajah's 
nephews, — for his Highness had neither forgotten nor 
forgiven Mr Johnson for fining his envoy — ^Mr Edwardes 
determined to interfere. He was delighted to have a 
chance of giving a blow to Sarawak: and against the 
strong advice of his experienced officers, he started in the 
Indian steamer Victoria, to eflfect his object 

When Captain Brooke arrived in Sarawak in April 
1860, 1 had talked a good deal with him on the subject of 
the relations between Brunei and Sarawak, and he had 
determined to abandon the high-handed policy, and try 
to live in peace with his neighbours. But the disorders 
on the frontiers had reached such a height that he found 
it impossible. Pangeran Dipa, the Governor of Muka, 
had taken part with Sirib Musahor, had collected the 
latter*s dispersed followers, had fortified his district, fired 
on the Sarawak flag, and driven its traders from the river. 
A Sarawak Government envoy was treated in the same 
manner. Captain Brooke, uninfluenced by fiery counsels, 
went to Muka with a small force, decided to endeavour by 
conciliation to bring about such an arrangement as would 
permit the trade to continua But no sooner did he at- 
tempt to open communications with the chiefs than his 
boats were fired into, and he was compelled to pause at the 
mouth of the river. He threw up a stockade there, and 
decided to wait for reinforcements. When these arrived 
he made a brisk attack on the forts, and his brave brother 
Charles, under a heavy fire, passed the defences in the gun- 
boat Venus, with a crew of only twelve Europeans, and 



I860.] LOKD Russell's thanks to capt. brooke. 339 

took up an advantageous position in rear of the stockades. 
At this moment Mr Edwardes arrived in the Victoria, and 
commanded Captain Brooke on his allegiance to cease 
the attack. 

Captain Brooke remonstrated, but in vain, and found 
to his surprise, nay, horror, that Mr Edwardes had en- 
couraged Sirib Musahor to come down to Muka. Cap- 
tain Brooke need not have paid any attention to such a 
summons, and it is probable that had he refused to listen 
to it, Mr Edwardes would not have dared to interfere 
by violence. But Captain Brooke took the wise step of 
withdrawing his forces, and appealing for justice to the 
British (government. For this conciliatory and prudent 
step he received Lord Eussell's thanks. I will not enlarge 
on Mr Edwardes's conduct, but his constant association with 
the murderers of his countrymen was very adversely com- 
mented on. 

Captain Brooke retired within the frontiers of Sarawak, 
and had a difficult game to play to hold his own under 
this renewed loss of prestige. Some of the chiefs became 
anxious, nay, frightened, at the idea of a conflict with the 
British Government. 

But there was little danger of that No sooner did 
the despatches reach home than Lord Bussell saw where 
justice lay, and very soon decided as to the steps to be 
taken. 



340 



CHAPTER XVII. 

LAST VISITS TO BORNEO — RBTURN TO ENGLAND— QUIET 

LIFE — DEATH IN 1868. 

1860-1868. 

At that time, October 1859, I was down at Burrator, 
staying with the Rajah, and suffering from fever and 
ague. A note from the Foreign Ofi&ce recalled me to town, 
and, in spite of my illness, on hearing of what had occurred 
I could not do otherwise than volunteer to return to 
Borneo, and resume my duties as Consul- General As I 
left Downing Street, I stepped into the old telegraphic 
office at Charing Cross and sent the following message to 
the Eajah: "Edwardes disapproved. Eetum to Borneo 
November mail. Will you come ? " " Yes, certainly," was 
the reply. 

We decided to sail by the next mail I was confident 
of settling the affair without bloodshed. My instructions 
were elastic, and rather startled my friends, who thought 
the responsibility was thrown on my shoulders. I cared 
little for that, but as a matter of curiosity inquired at the 
office. I was told, " The meaning of your instructions is 
this : if you succeed, all right ; if you don't, Lord John 
Russell will puU you through." I was satisfied, and 
required no more. 

In the meantime, the same generous hand that had 
twice before come to the rescue, placed means at the 



I860.] ONCE AGAIN IN THE EAST. 341 

Eajah's disposal, and guns and powder, and shells and 
rockets, were sent out by the ton. 

We started from Southampton the 20th November, and 
had a pleasant voyage. We enjoyed the Turkish bath 
in Egypt, and when we got into the Eed Sea we settled 
down to chess. The Bajah was in great forca The 
return to Sarawak excited his spirit, and the work to do 
made him brace up his nerves and conquer lassitude. 
Little of politics, but much of chess. We had fortunate- 
ly pleasant passengers. One lady, a connection of the 
Rajah's, and a missionary (formerly captain in the Innis- 
killing Dragoons), joined our party, and a pleasant party it 
was. The missionary (I forget his name, but do not forget 
his look, manner, and appearance, which impressed both 
the Eajah and myself) we vainly tried to persuade to 
give up the idea of being a missionary among the Santhals 
and come to Borneo. There was a field worthy of his 
exertion^. 

On our arrival in Singapore we were eager for news, and 
were relieved to find that only loss of trade had followed 
Mr Edwardes's actiom We found also that he himself 
had begun to doubt the wisdom of the course that he had 
pureued. I now Started for Brunei in H.M.S. Nimrod, 
Commander Arthur, calling in at Sarawak on my way, 
where I ofiicially informed the Sarawak consul that the 
Government did not approve of Mr Edwardes's doings. I 
'went on to Labuan, relieved my substitute of his position 
as Consul- General, and' established myself in the capital, 
to find the Sultan sulky at the failure of Mr Edwardes's 
promises. I remained quiet a few weeks, when I found 
his Highness gradually coming round ; but it was long ere 
I was again established first adviser to the Crown, for Mr 
Edwardes's promises had either been great or had been 
misunderstood, and they thought that the British Govern- 
ment were about to remove the English from Sarawak and 



342 LIFE OF SIR JAM£S BROOKE. [oHAP. XTU. 

return the country to them. I could promise the Sultan, 
however, that all the fines levied in his tenitoiy should 
be remitted to him, all arrears of revepue paid, and that 
some satisfactory arrangement would now be made to re- 
lieve him of all further trouble in the sago rivers. 

And this was really all the Sultan cared about The 
revenue hitherto raised in the sago rivers was quietly 
absorbed by the agents, and little ever reached the Bomeon 
Grovemment They therefore listened eagerly to the idea 
that this uncertain item should be exchanged for a fixed 
payment. 

The Bajah went over to Sarawak in his own steamer, 
and was received as one risen from the dead, for all had 
heard of his serious illness, and many believed that the 
news of his death had been concealed from them. This 
idea also was very prevalent in Brunei. 

In April the Bajah came to the capital, and, as I ex- 
pected, all the clouds of doubt and distrust vanished. The 
Sultan and his ministers received him most cordially, and 
agreed to all he required, which was to disavow all com- 
plicity with Sirib Musahor (whom we found that the Sul- 
tan had intended to arrest, but he fled in time), and to 
order a general disarmament at MukaL As I had been 
directed by our Government to do my best to see the 
afiTair settled without bloodshed, I undertook the part of 
mediator, and decided to go down to Singapore and obtain 
a ship of war in which to visit Muka, and convey the 
commands of the Sultan to the chiefs. 

The Chary bdis, a magnificent 21-gun corvette, was there 
with the Hon. Captain Keane as senior officer. He soon 
settled to take me over, and in a few days more we were 
at the mouth of the Muka river. I had given notice of 
my coming ; but as precautions were necessary with such 
a desperate set. Captain Keane manned and armed all his 
boats, and we pulled in. When we saw the fort crowded 



1861.] SETTLEMENT OF MUKA. 343 

with men, we half expected to receive a broadside from 
their guns ; but no opposition was made as we passed the 
boom, and 200 Englishmen were soon in a position to 
command all their defences. Pangeran Dipa received me 
well, and I produced the chops^ from the Sultan advising 
a cessation of hostilities, and that Sirib Musahor and his 
men were to leave the country. While these were being 
read Sirib Musahor himself came in, naked to the waist, 
which looked anything but peaceful, with his kris ready 
for action. He came and sat down by my side, and I had 
leisure to look at my old chess opponent. He was a fine 
man, with a heavy, though in general a smiling, sympa- 
thetic expression ; but now it was all gloom. But after 
he had heard the Sultan's orders read, he burst into pro- 
testations of his innocence. I quieted him as well as I 
could. We had been old and familiar friends in days 
gone by, and then I told them that her Majesty's Govern- 
ment had directed me to return to Borneo in order to ex- 
plain to them that they did not approve of Mr Edwardes's 
interference ; but they wished peace and order to be estab- 
lished, and all questions to be settled without bloodshed. 
I pointed out to them how useless it was to endeavour to 
cope with Sir James Brooke's forces, and that the best 
thing which could happen would be to receive him peace- 
fully, and enter into a final settlement 

Both Dipa and Musahor promised to obey the Sultan's 
orders, and they faithfully kept their word. I pitied Dipa, 
as he was not a bad man, and had been pushed into hos- 
tilities by the action of Sarawak in supporting Matusin, 
the murderer of his father. On returning to Sarawak, I 
informed the Bajah of the result ; but to make sure, he 
went with a strong force to Muka. Some silly story was 
told him about resistance if his steamer could not cross 
the bar, but that was all nonsense. Dipa and the people 

^ Literally ** seal," but really meaniog credentialB, or orders under seaL 



344 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvii. 

of Muka were weary of fighting ; and when I pledged my 
word to Musahor that his life and property should be 
respected, he made up his mind to go away. The appear- 
ance, too, of such a vessel as the Chary bdis, and Captain 
Keane's judicious conduct in taking an overpowering force 
up the river to the middle of the town, showed them that 
Mr Edwardes's support was no longer to be relied on. 

As soon, therefore, as the Rajah reached Muka, every- 
thing was at his feet — ^the fort was disarmed, and handed 
over to him ; and though fierce and severe in words when 
opposition threatened, he was disarmed by submission, 
and treated all with as much kindness as possible. 

Faithful to the promise I had made, the Bajah permit- 
ted Sirib Musahor to leave the country with his property 
and those members of his family who elected to follow 
him ; and as the Sultan had positively forbidden him to 
go north, his prahu was towed to Sarawak, and he and 
his belongings were shipped to Singapore. That he was 
guilty of plotting against the rule of the English in Sara- 
wak, and that he actively incited the Kanawits to murder 
Messrs Fox and Steel, I have no doubt — in fact, the chief 
murderers, Sawing and Talib, afterwards confessed that 
they acted by the direct orders of Sirib Musahor ; and the 
Dutch authorities had already sent from Pontianak, en hon 
voisin, information which distinctly implicated the Sirib. 
Yet I could not help pitying the man. He had been such 
a good fellow when we first knew him ; and he had been 
so severely treated without a sufficient allowance being 
made for his education — for his having been brought up 
in the idea that his will was law. Then he had been 
very unfortunate in the English with whom he had been 
brought in contact. Mr Steel, though able and admirable 
in his knowledge of native languages and customs, was 
an ignorant, hard man : he had been an apprentice in a 
merchant-ship. Mr Fox was efficient; but having been 



1861.] THE RAJAH AT MUKA. 345 

accustomed to deal with Chinese, was brusque in manner 
with natives of rank ; and the others were an ex- valet and 
ex-lawyer's clerk, one who would have done credit to the 
Club of " the Glorious Apollos," so pleasantly described 
in the * Old Curiosity Shop ' by Dickens. I believe the 
Sirib still lives somewhere in the Straits Settlements. 

Pangeran Dipa was sent away to explain his conduct to 
the Sultan, and the Eajah took up his residence in the fort 
to endeavour to settle matters, for constant civil war had 
introduced the most extraordinary confusion. Here the 
Eajah was in his element: from morning to night he 
was there listening to the complaints and wishes of the 
inhabitants, reconciling enmities, settling quarrels, undo- 
ing injustice, and aiding the poor. The Sarawak traders 
now flocked to the open fort, and brought comfort in their 
train, as the population, half starved, could now obtain 
supplies in return for their abundant sago. 

The Bajah expressed an opinion at this time that the 
Sultan and his ministers were cognisant of the plot to 
murder the white men in Sarawak ; but this is only a 
repetition of his nephew Charles Brooke's unsupported 
suspicions. He had an idea that Brunei intrigue was 
omnipotent, and saw its hand in every unexpected event 
that occurred in Sarawak, which should rather have been 
placed to the account of the sadly imperfect government 
of so extended a territory with so few competent oflBcers. 
When Sawing confessed that he had been ordered to murder 
Fox and Steele, he added that Sirib Musahor had declared 
it was Utah, or by the order of the Sultan. On hearing 
this, Mr Johnson felt convinced that the Brunei Grovern- 
ment were responsible, forgetting that nothing would be 
more natural than for Sirib Musahor to say this, however 
false it might be. Mumein, the Sultan, was perfectly in- 
capable of such conduct. When the Bisayas of Awang 
killed the Sultan's favourite, Makota, they too shouted 



346 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. ZVIL 

* 

Titah ! tUali ! but no sensible person believed that the 
Sultan had ordered these men to kill him. 

Whilst this was going on, I was living quietly in Sara- 
wak. We had a party of anxious ladies — Mrs Brooke (for 
Captain Brooke had just married his second wife), and Mrs 
Welstead, her sister-in-law ; but we soon heard that there 
was to be no fighting, and calm was restored. 

Captain Brooke arrived with the bulk of the Sarawak 
forces, and then we set to work to consider the plans for 
the future. The Rajah soon joined us, and our party was 
all again united, but the old confidence did not exist One 
day in July, whilst reposing in my room, I heard my name 
called, and, getting up, I opened the door, and found Cap- 
tain Keane with another gentleman : '' Let me introduce 
you to the Governor of Labuan, and your successor." 
« Then what am IV " Oh, something in the West In- 
dies." And on opening my letters, I found that I had 
been promoted to be Chargi d! Affaires to the Republic of 
Hayti. I was delighted, for I began to weary of my 
solitary life in the capital. 

I accompanied Mr Callaghan, the new Governor, to 
Labuan in the Charybdis, in order to hand over to him 
the archives of the office, and introduce him to the Sultan ; 
and a few days after the Rainbow came into Brunei, bring- 
ing the Rajah and Mr and Mrs Crookshank. The Sultan 
was pleased at the Muka settlement, and though sorrowful 
to see his districts vanishing from him, was very well satis- 
fied with the Rajah's liberal offer to pay him an annual 
sum instead of his previous precarious revenue. He and 
his ministers soon drew up the documents which handed 
over the coast as far as Kidurong Point to the Rajah and 
his successors, for the annual tribute of a little over £1200. 

The Rajah was delighted with my spacious consulate, 
with the cool rooms and breezy situation, and said if he 
were rich he would purchase it of the British Gtovemment 



1861.] THE RAJAH MUDA, 347 

for himself. We soon left, and I bade adieu for ever to 
Brunei I could not leave it, however, without much 
regret. In spite of their faults, I liked the Brunei Bajahs, 
I liked the life, and I liked the people. I particularly 
liked those long exploring excursions which I had made 
into the interior.^ But I felt that I was doing nothing, 
and I was pleased at my advancement, for which I had to 
thank Earl Bussell. 

We called in at Labuan, and then stopped at Sarawak, 
as the Bajah, having decided to return to England with 
me, wished first to pass a short time in settling the future 
of the country. How wisely he settled every question, 
eighteen years of peace have shown ; but he scarcely be- 
lieved in the great stability of the edifice he had erected. 

Whilst we were wsdting for the return of the Bainbow 
from Singapore, Captain Brooke told me that he wished 
the Bajah publicly to install him as Bajah Muda, or heir- 
apparent to the Bajah. I suggested to Brooke to write a 
note to the Bajah, and I would deliver it. I knew the 
Bajah would do it without hesitation, but why or where- 
fore I took the precaution to have the wish expressed in 
writing I do not know. The terms, however, settle the 
status of the two relatives beyond dispute : — 

" Septmber 16, 1861. 

" My dear Bajah, — I shall be very much gratified if 
you will publicly install me as Bajah Muda before you 
quit the country. If you will do so, it will not only be a 
pleasing sign of your confidence in me, but will strengthen 
my hands in carrying on the government. — ^Tours, &c., 

"J. Brooke Brooke." 

After this letter there can be no question of their relative 
positions. All Captain Brooke asked was, that he should 

1 Vide 'Life in the Forests of the Far East.' 



348 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. zvn. 

be publicly acknowledged as the Rajah's heir. I always 
told Brooke that as long as the Rajah lived he would 
never abdicate : he might talk loosely about it, but he 
would never in reality hand over his power and authority 
to another. And why should he have done so ? 

All the Europeans and the native chiefs were summoned 
to a public meeting. I was late, and did not enter the 
Court-house, but from the outside T heard the speeches, 
and the Rajah addressed the assembly in a manner which 
I can never forget. He spoke of the past, the present, 
and the future : introduced Brooke as the Rajah Muda, on 
whom would now fall the burden of government, as he 
was becoming old, and could no longer bear its fatigues ; 
but he would return among them if necessary, and what- 
ever danger threatened they might count on him. He 
then addressed his farewell to the audience in such feel- 
ing terms that all of us were affected. It was a splendid 
speech, in that choice Malay of which he was a master. 

The Rajah determined before he left to come to a 
settlement with his nephew about future negotiations 
with foreign Powers and with England, and these terms 
were reduced to writing by myself and accepted in writing 
by Brooke. I had seen enough of the misapprehensions 
which had already arisen from uncertain talk and random 
notes, so I had every proposition reduced to writing, as I 
was sure to be mixed up with the negotiations in England. 

In order to have a quiet and long talk together, Brooke 
and I started for a short trip up couiltry, when we settled 
clearly what was to be my line of conduct in these nego- 
tiations, and what I was authorised on his part to support. 

Everything now being settled, and the Rainbow having 
arrived, the Rajah started with a large party for Singapore. 

We were detained there for several weeks on eiccount of 
the non-arrival of a mail, and the inhabitants showed Sir 
James Brooke that all the divisions of the past were no 



1862.] THE VOYAGE HOME. 349 

more, and that he wad now truly appreciated as the great 
pioneer and champion of civilisation and commerce in the 
Indian Archipelago. 

What a pleasant voyage we had home ! The Rajah was 
thoroughly happy. He had succeeded in all his plans 
beyond his hopes ; not a drop of blood had been shed. 
He had restored the prestige of Sarawak, and shown that 
English agents worked in unison with him. We now 
again became devoted to chess ; and one day he proposed 
a match, in which he and I were to play a consultation 
game against two good players on board. They were 
getting the best of it, when the Eajah said, "Let us dash 
at them with this move." I easily showed that though 
bold it was too risky, and quickly pushing a pawn said, 
" That is our move." At first he did not see the eflfect of 
this apparently innocent proceeding, which looked like an 
effort to gain time; but it soon flashed on him, and he 
whispered, "The best move you ever made." Our ad- 
versaries treated it, as we thought they would, as a sign of 
uncertainty, and it was not till the next move that they saw 
their danger. It was fun to hear the Rajah's gay laugh as 
he pushed our advantage and triumphantly won the game. 

We had a very quarrelsome set on board, and in their 
troubles all came to him for advice, and many must re- 
member with satisfaction the way in which he prevented 
anything serious arising from these misunderstandings. 
He was in private life the most conciliatory man I ever 
met, which would make me surprised at the tone of his 
recent public correspondence, if one did not remember how 
deep and indelible a wound the Commission had inflicted 
on him. As I have said, he never did get over the 
mortification, wounded pride, and the sense of deadly in- 
jury which this wanton act inflicted But Muka was the 
last kick of the dying beast 

The Rajah spent the year 1862 in endeavours to bring 



350 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKK [oHAP. zvn. 

Sarawak under the attention of Ministers, and fortunately 
he left aU communications in the hands of his frienda 
Among the communications which he received this year 
was one from Philar^te Chasles. The following is an ex- 
tract : " Votre graude entreprise de civilisation orientale, 
si puissament et si prudemment soutenue, me touche le 
cceur et Hhwe mon esprit; elle me plait et me ravis comme 
une des belles choses de notre temps." 

Belgium, in the meanwhile, appeared inclined to treat 
for Sarawak, but as nothing came of these negotiations, 
I need not enter into them. Belgian statesmen evidently 
neither understood how to acquire a colony or to develop 
it had they acquired one. 

The Kajah thoroughly enjoyed this year. He passed 
it in alternate visits to his relations and friends, includ- 
ing a trip to Paris, and varied it by long stays in Burra- 
tor, where he was endeavouring to bring up two young 
cubs for the Sarawak service. But> as usual, these cubs 
remained cubs to the end, and .were a source of trouble 
and mortification until they disappeared from the scene. 
Strange infatuation to believe that he could do anything 
with such materials, when gentlemen cadets were to be 
had by the score. 

Whilst the Bajah was making an unusually long stay 
in Burrator, I thought he was moping, so I tried to in- 
duce him to come up to London and enter general so- 
ciety, but partially failed, as the following playful note 
shows : — 

''BlTRRATOB, 2l8t JutU 1862. 

" My dear Nestor, — ^Why should not I enjoy the dregs 
which life has left in my cup ? Why should that senti- 
mental and sympathetic harpy Society devote me to a 
routine which I dislike, under a delusive expectation of 
doing good to Sarawak ? Have I not sacrificed taste, feel- 



1862.] THE RAJAH IN RETIREMENT. 351 

ing, ease, and independence in a vain pursuit after a sub- 
stantial good to come out of this shadow ? 

* Now my weary eyes I close, 
Leave, oh leave me to repose.' 

Pleasant are country sights and sounds, spite of rainy 
weather. I love retirement, I love mine easy-chair, I 
love my bed at half-past ten at night. Now, how can 
Society make amends for this loss ? Let her only promise, 
and I will devote myself to the yawning chasm of finery 
and false pretence, as Marcus Curtius did of old to the 
gaping earth, — only Sarawak would be none the better, as 
Eome was supposed to have been. It is a delusion and a 
snare prompted by the substance of thirty to the skeleton 
of sixty according to ordinary chronology; but by my 
reckoning six hundred and sixty years have I been upon 
this earth. So it is, though I do not know exactly how. 
Tou must believe, but not inquire. Now, my dear boy, 
go to church twice every Sunday because you owe it to 
society ; wear light duck trousers this cold weather be- 
cause society obliges ; sit up late at night, eat and drink 
too much, listen to twaddle and praise it Set up a taber- 
nacle on the mount of fashion, bow down to it and wor- 
ship it Duty to society commands it But do ask your- 
self in your sober moments what society has ever done for 
us that we should do so much for society. Now, having 
said all this, I beg to tell you I am coming up in July, 
just to touch the hem of society's garment." 

The news from Sarawak continued good. Sadok was 
taken easily, through the defection of Eentab's followers, 
and this closed the series of mismanaged expeditions. The 
Bajah's nephew Charles returned to England, and was a 
comfort to him. 

In May 1862 I published two volumes of travels in 
Borneo, entitled, *Life in the Forests of the Far East,* 



352 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. XVIi. 

which were well received. In them I had the chapter 
on missions, which, in consequence of a conversation with 
Captain Brooke, who had strong views on the subject, I 
had agreed to write. I thought I was stating the opinion 
of all,^ particularly of Mr Chambers, the present Bishop, 
with whom I had had long conversations on the subject 
of the non-success of the mission ; but my chapter raised 
a storm in a teapot, and I was attacked both publicly and 
privately, particularly by my good friend Mr Chambers, — 
but this I could readily forgive, as he was now connected 
by marriage with the Bishop of Labuan. The assailants 
were not satisfied with attacking my public statements, 
but one went so far as to send private letters to my 
friends attacking my personal character. 

The Bajah was very angry, — much more angry than I 
was, for I knew with whom I had to deal — and his letters 
are full of the subject : " The slanders propagated make 
my blood boil, and I shall authorise Brooke and Crook- 
shank to express my opinion publicly." "The letter is 
weak and wicked." " I cannot stand by to see St John 
driven to the wall for saying what is strictly true." 

I was not much moved by all this excitement, and in- 
tended to have been contented with adding a note to the 
chapter on missions in my second edition ; but the Rajah 
was not so easily satisfied, and used his literary talent and 
energy in writing a reply, which was called a vindication, 
and to which I put my name. Competent authorities con- 
sidered it " crushing ; " at all events it put an end to the 
discussion. One satisfactory result arose from my chapter: 
the management of the mission was completely changed, 
and I heard that most of my recommendations were put 
into practice ; and when, later on. Bishop McDougall 

^ In poindng out the defective management of the mission I was only 
conveying my own ideas, and, as I believed, those of the liajah and Captain 
Brooke, thoogh neither knew what I had written until published. 



1862.] NEGOTIATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT. 353 

retired from Sarawak, the series of refonns may be said 
to have been completely carried out 

While these things were fermenting, news arrived of a 
successful action having taken place under the personal 
direction of Captain Brooke between the Eainbow and 
some Lanun pirates, and the Bishop of Labuan sent a very 
unfortunate account of the transaction to the * Times,' 
which greatly excited and scandaUsed the religious world, 
and caused many erroneous impressions to get abroad. 

In the autumn I went down to stay with the Rajah in 
Burrator, and, while there, received a letter from Captain 
Brooke, in which he complained of discouraging prophecies 
sent him by his uncle. I answered, September 22, 1862 : 
"I should not much trouble myself about the Rajah's 
gloomy views; they have been gloomy for the last five 
years, and none of his prophecies have come to pass ; and 
after all, they will not in any way affect the country. I 
myself cannot conceive any one desiring to change the 
status of Sarawak — it is a unique thing in the world. I 
hold that as Sarawak has gone on for twenty years of 
times full of trouble, it has a good chance of going 
on another twenty, with increased prospects of success. 
Don't be depressed by any one, and I am sure there is a 
bright future for Sarawak.'* 

My prophecy appears to have been a true one. 

During this time the negotiations with the British 
Government were making progress, though very slowly. 
Mr John Abel Smith, afterwards M.P. for Chichester, had 
charge of them, and he opened the campaign by going 
down to Earl Russell's at Richmond, where the two ques- 
tions of protection or cession were discussed. It was 
evident that Earl Russell's opinions were for protection ; 
but the difficulty was to interest the Ministers, and this 
Mr Smith undertook to do. At length even the ques- 
tion of protection was dropped, and it all centred in the 

z 



354 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. xvn. 

recognition of Sarawak as an independent State. Daring 
these negotiations I was asked to famish docamente on 
the three qaestions, and sent in a memorandam on each. 
Bat the caatioas Government wanted to know more, and 
at length referred the whole qaestion to Lord Elgin, 
Grovemor-General of India, and he instracted the Gover- 
nor of Singapore, Colonel Cavanagh, to make a private 
visit to Sarawak. 

I left England jast as the Bajah received some intelli- 
gence from Borneo which indaced him to retam there. 
I had been very ill, and rose from a bed of fever to em- 
bark for the West Indies ; bat my leave was ap, and go I 
mast. On the point of starting I received the following 
affectionate notes, which show the Bajah's tender natare : 
" Dec, 30, 1862. — I was greatly relieved by year letter of 
yesterday, and care will restore yoa, — care of yoar health 
in details, and nothing else. God speed yoa on yoar way ! 
Yoa will anderstand how I regret parting from yoa, bat 
daty must be done." **Dec, 31. — G^d bless you, and fare- 
well ! remember me as your true friend, as I shall remem- 
ber you." 

Captain Brooke, who had heard from Lord Elgin on the 
subject of Governor Cavanagh's visit, received his guest 
well, and offered him every aid in his power to further his 
inqidries : in return, the Colonel thought he could not do 
less than show some of his papers, among others one of my 
reports which was marked "Secret and confidential" It 
would appear that this had an extraordinary effect : per- 
haps it was only the last hair that broke down an ex- 
hausted patience. Captain Brooke thought that his rights 
were being overlooked, and in a moment of excitement 
sent a defiant letter to the Bajah, and protests to her 
Majesty's Grovemment against a transfer of the country 
without his consent and that of the council At that time 
Captain Brooke was scarcely himself: he had lately lost 






1868.] THE RAJAH AND CAPTAIN BROOKE, 355 

his second wife, and previously his eldest boy, and was im- 
patient under these repeated losses, and perhaps under the 
Governor's inqnisitiveness. He did not consult any of his 
officers, and it was thought that he made confidants of 
those whom, being the Bajah's enemies, he should have dis- 
trusted : but a diligent examination of all the papers that 
have been intrusted to me, make me doubt whether he con- 
sulted any one. I think that the letter was scarcely writ- 
ten and sent ere it was regretted, as but one subsequent 
communication refers to the subject, and the others are as 
calm or calmer than any previous ones. I may notice that 
the Bajah never saw the report referred to, as I made 
it a practice not to show anything oflicial to him, for we 
differed greatly in our views, and he would have asked me, 
perhaps, to alter or to modify them. 

The Rajah did not receive this defiant letter quietly — 
in fact he could not. He found his negotiations with the 
British Government rudely interrupted, and he at once 
determined to go back to Borneo and resume his position 
as Rajah, confident, I believe, that defiance would vanish 
at his approach. As I have said, Captain Brooke no sooner 
had written the letter than he regretted it, and to avoid 
every appearance of divided counsels, went over to meet 
his uncle in Singapore, and affairs were speedily arranged. 
The Rajah insisted on submission, and Captain Brooke 
took leave of absence and returned to England on an 
allowance, while the Rajah continued his course to Sara- 
wak in a British ship of war. What a change ! And he 
could not help writing, " The Ministers were very kind 
on the recent occasion." There he found every one sur- 
prised at his return, as few, if any, had suspected the true 
cause. I may here remark that at that time the only real 
question before the Government was recognition, as both 
cession and protection had been put on one side, and Lord 
Russell wished only for an independent opinion as to 



356 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. xvn. 

whether there was an established Government in Sarawak 
acknowledged and obeyed by the people. 

The Rajah found the country prospering — indeed, Cap- 
tain Brooke could manage admirably everything pertaining 
to the details of the home administration, and there was 
nothing to change in the system. As I anticipated, not a 
single person had a suspicion of what had occurred ; and 
the native chiefs when informed b^ged that nothing pub- 
lic should be said, as it would be calculated to do harm. 

The chiefs must have rather wondered at this time to 
find seven English ships of war anchored in the Sarawak 
river, ostensibly to look after pirates ; but I do not doubt 
that there was another motive, and that they were sent to 
strengthen the Eajah's hands, and to show all that the 
days of estrangement were past, and that the English 
Government were again friendly to Sarawak. In fact, 
since this great demonstration every shadow of suspicion 
that the Eajah was abandoned by England vanished from 
the native mind, and no more has been heard of con- 
spiracies among any class of natives. 

In England affairs were progressing favourably, and 
Lord Russell sent a message to Sir James Brooke to the 
effect that, should his authority be undisputed, he was 
now ready to propose to the Cabinet that Sarawak should 
be recognised as an independent State, under his rule and 
government. 

On his arrival in England, Captain Brooke fell into 
injudicious hands, and openly attacked his uncle. The 
dispute ended in the Rajah's disinheriting his nephew: 
and there I might take leave of the subject, but in fairness 
I should add that I was, and ever have been, a warm 
partisan of the Rajah, and strongly supported and ap- 
proved the measures he took; but I cannot but confess 
that, after reading all the correspondence which passed 
between Captain Brooke and his uncle, I am not surprised 



1868.] EXPEDITION AGAINST THE kAYANS. 357 

at the fonner showing considerable irritation, though in 
this instance he acted under a very mistaken view. Both 
the Bajah and Brooke were my intimate friends ; perhaps 
I was most intimate with the younger man, who was of my 
own age, but I was devoted to the interests of botL Had 
mutual friends both in England and Sarawak been more 
conciliatory, the estrangement between uncle and nephew 
would never have gone so far as it did. 

Knowing that his health would only permit a short 
residence in Sarawak, the Bajah did his utmost to give 
an impetus to the country. The only enemies that were 
then troubling its peace were the powerful Eayan tribes 
who dwelt in the far interior. Their warriors would 
come down the great river Bejang and attack the outlying 
Sarawak villages : and as they had recently destroyed 
several, and murdered their inhabitants, the Bajah de- 
termined to put a stop to it. He therefore directed his 
nephew, Mr Charles Johnson (now Mr Charles Brooke), to 
organise an expedition, and this he did on a great scale. 
He displayed wonderful energy in conquering the obstacles 
presented by a mighty river, dashing over innumerable 
ledges of rocks, and foaming rapids and cataracts of a 
formidable character, in spite of which he carried his 
force of 15,000 men into the far interior, where, however, 
the enemy fled at his approach. This expedition effectu- 
ally cowed the Kayans. They were a cruel set, as the 
folloMring account of their conduct, taken from the report 
of the Besident of Kanawit, will show : — 

" The Kayans killed all the Dyak captives, to the number 
of seventeen. After torturing them in the most fearful 
manner, cutting them about and taking out their eyes, 
they then cut their throats. There were some women tor- 
tured and killed." 

After the expedition, the Bajah, seeing that all was 
quiet and peaceful, and being convinced that he could 



358 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE. [ohap. xni. 

rely on all his officers, whether native or European, decided 
to return to Europe, leaving his nephew, Charles Brooke, 
in charge of the government. 

In one of my letters I slightly reproached him with 
having the appearance of forgiving one who had deeply 
injured him and remained impenitent. His answer is 
characteristic : ** True it is he injured me, and deeply, and 
perhaps what you say is true that he will injure me 
again ; but in Sarawak I carmot quarrel or feel resent- 
ment towards any one, however great the evil done to 
myself" He could be superior to the petty feelings 
which sway too many men. 

One officer alone ^ in Sarawak left the service, as his 
friendship for Captain Brooke would not allow him to 
make the pledges the Eajah thought necessary — Mr Hay ; 
but of him the Bajah wrote, after detailing the motives of 
his leaving, '' He is a man of honour and a gentieman." 

In September 1863 the Eajah left Sarawak for the last 
time. He fully intended to return, but that hope was 
never realised. He left Sarawak tranquil and prosperous ; 
without an element of discord, without a single native 
chief on whom suspicion could rest; prosperous too in 
finances, — a prosperity which has but increased as time 
has passed away. 

Whilst in Port au Prince I received in December 1863 
a letter from the Bajah announcing his safe arrival in 
England in health and good spirits. 

During the time the Rajah had been away in Borneo, 
his friends in England had not been idle, and the question 
of the recognition of the independence of Sarawak was 
kept constantly before the Ministers, with a result which 
was highly gratifying to all those who felt an interest in 

^ Mr Grant had previously left Sarawak, and was confidential agent of 
the Government in England, which appointment he resigned at this time, 
in consequence of Captain Brooke's deposition. 



1868.] NE€W)TIATI0N8 WITH GOVERNMENT. 359 

the success of Sir James Brooke's great experiment in 
Borneo. 

The following extracts from a series of letters in my 
possession give a curious ancl interesting account of the 
negotiations, and do credit to all the statesmen whose 
names are mentioned in them. The writer, Mr John 
Abel Smith, M.P., addresses these letters to the Kajah, 
and as the events are now all past^ it is a pleasure 
to be able to record the opinions of such men as 
Lord Palmerston, Lord Bussell, Sir Henry Layard, the 
Duke of Argyll, Lord Granville, Lord Grey, and Lord de 
Grey (Lord Ripon), &c. 

''June 30, 1862. — I now proceed without preface to 
give you more in detail a report of my interview with 
Lord Palmerston on Saturday. 

'' I told him that I had come to express the interest I 
and many others felt in your work in Sarawak, which I 
believed deserved the support and good wishes of all who 
felt interested in the wellbeing of their kind ; and that 
we wished to ascertain whether he would feel justified in 
giving effect now to the favourable opinion he had long 
since entertained and expressed of your conduct and ob- 
jects. I then, as briefly as I could, told him all I knew of 
your position and prospects, including the application firom 
Belgium, and all that I have myself been doing lately 
with Lord Russell, &c.; and concluded by saying, that after 
offering upon the shrine of Sarawak your own fortune 
and the contributions of your friends, and devoting to that 
soil the best years of your life and all the spring-time of 
your health and strength, you were naturally now bent 
on securing, as far as you could, the future of a people for 
whom you had made such costly sacrifices, and that you 
could not reconcile yourself to the chance of their re- 
turning to barbarism in the event of your death happen- 
ing before you had made arrangements to secure the per- 



360 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. xvn. 

manency of the system of govemiDent which you had 
established, and of that gentle rule by which you had 
succeeded in winning them over to the gradual introduc- 
tion of religion and civilisation. 

** I said that although you felt that the sacrifices you had 
made should not fall wholly on yourself, if others reaped 
the benefit of them — in which opinion I thought public 
feeling would strongly concur — still, that I honestly be- 
lieved that personal and pecuniary motives were with you 
wholly secondary to the great object of securing the future 
permanency of a civilised and civilising government in 
Sarawak; and that, trusting to the justice of your country, 
you would not allow the money question to stand in the 
way. I explained to Lord Palmerston the extent and 
population of the extensive territory now ceded to you, 
its fertility and resources, its increased and increasing 
trade, its present revenue, &c. ... I ended by telling 
him that I did not come to ask him to pledge himself at 
that moment to the details of any particular plan or scheme; 
that from what I knew of the views and feelings of some 
members of the Cabinet, I was aware how difficult it 
might be to assume the immediate sovereignty on the part 
of the Queen, and at once add Sarawak to the Colonial 
Government of England; and that even if this difficulty 
did not exist, I entirely concurred in an opinion you had 
expressed to me, that it would be most desirable in the 
interests of humanity and civilisation that the present 
form and manner of government should not be at once 
abandoned, and that you were able to do more at present 
than any one else could, and much less expensively, and 
that I was disposed to believe that a system of avowed and 
unequivocal protection would be better for all parties 
than immediate occupation. That in exchange for the 
support, sanction, and open recognition of the British 
Crown, you would not be indisposed to make a conditional 



/ 



,; ' 



1868.] LORD PAI^ERSTON's VIKWS. 361 

agreement as to the future, and that your views of the 
protection necessary were most moderate, involving no 
troops or costly effects, and embracing only such support 
as would be given by the presence of such a naval force 
as might be thought desirable or necessary. That what I 
asked then and th-ere only was, a declaration of Lord Pal- 
merston's general views and feelings, and permission, in 
concert with any subordinate of his Government in whom 
he might have confidence, to lay before him such details 
as might appear best calculated to carry out the object 
in view, for the purpose of being afterwards submitted 
through Lord Eussell to the Cabinet. 

" Lord Palmerston, in answer, went at some length over 
your past proceedings, and what had occurred at various 
times in reference to your establishment and government 
in Sarawak. He spoke of you in the handsomest terms, 
and seemed thoroughly to appreciate your character and 
objects. He admitted the value and capabilities of Sara- 
wak, and never attempted to depreciate its importance in 
order to advance his own views. He said, * I understand 
you to mean that you want to have the English Govern- 
ment at the back of Sir James Brooke distinctly and 
openly, and declaring to the whole world that they were 
prepared to stand by him and protect him.' He said the 
great difficulty has been, and is, that of the Queen recognis- 
ing one of her subjects as an independent ruler, but * there 
were probably the means of getting over this.' That with 
the strong adverse feelings of Mr Gladstone and others, im- 
mediate assumption of Sarawak with the colonial system 
of Great Britain was most difficult ; but that he was well 
disposed to forward your views as far as he could, and he 
used the words, ' I will do what I can to help you.' 

" He told me to go to Layard, to repeat to him what had 
then passed, and to see if a scheme could be put on paper 
which would 'be within his power to carry out, while it 



362 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BBOOEE. [cHAP. XTH. 

would also satisfy your wishes and secure the objects yon 
had in view. 

''I had a good deal of discussion with him as to the 
line which would be taken in a matter of the kind by 
various members of the Cabinet, especially Sir Greorge 
Lewis, the Duke of Newcastle, and Sir Charles Wood. He 
spoke very hopefully of the Duke of Newcastle I asked 
him plainly and directly, if such a matter as this was 
strongly and unreservedly supported in the Cabinet by 
himself and Lord Russell, whether there would be probably 
any determined opposition on the part of his colleagues, 
and he replied with a decided negative. 

**I cannot pretend to recollect all the details of the 
lengthened observations made by Lord Palmerston, but I 
think I shall have enabled you to understand their general 
purport, and the amount and extent of his agreement with 
us. I should be most ungrateful if 1 omitted to state that 
I have rarely had a pleasanter interview on public busi- 
ness ; that he was frank, cordial, and unresei-ved in man- 
ner and expression, and seemed entirely disposed to enter 
into my feelings as to yourself and your claim on the 
admiration and consideration of your countrymen. He 
gave me leave to come to him again whenever I had 
anything to say, and was altogether most obliging and 
gracious. 

" I find that I have omitted one remark of Lord Palmer- 
ston's which struck me at the time as significant of his 
meaning to enter into my views. He said, * What can we 
do to declare to the world our interest in Sir James Brooke 
unless we take possession of his territory?' ' By the by,' 
he added (answering himself), * we could write a letter to 
the Sultan of Borneo saying how great a friend the Queen 
was to Sir James Brooke, and that she meant to protect 
him heartily.' This means little, but shows he appreci- 
ated and understood my application and statement" 



1868.] COLONEL CAVANAGH's REPORT. 363 

Tbe Eajali's friend continued liis negotiations, but as 
Colonel Cavanagh had been directed to proceed to Sarawak 
and report thereon, everything was in abeyance for the 
moment, and the result of the Governor's mission was 
impatiently expected. At length it reached England, and 
Mr Abel Smith continues :— 

" Feb, 24,1863.— Very shortly after my last to you, Colonel 
Cavanagh's long-expected report arrived, and Lord Eussell 
at once permitted me to read it It appears to me to do 
little credit to Colonel Cavanagh's powers of observation 
or discernment, and to be totally silent on the future to 
be expected from the country, if placed under the direc- 
tion of a power able to secure its internal and external 
security, and an impartial administration of law. All this 
is comparatively imimportant, inasmuch as I am able to 
inform you that Lord Eussell is satisfied with it to a cer- 
tain and (for you) sufficient extent, and considers it estab- 
lishes the fact that there is a regular government carried 
on in Sarawak in your name, acknowledged by a willing 
and obedient people — that the ordinary forms of govern- 
ment are observed — and that the administration of justice 
is careful and regular. He also admits that the state- 
ments made by me previously, imder your direction, as to 
the population, trade, and resources of the country, are sub- 
stantially borne out by Colonel Cavanagh's returns. ... I 
have the present satisfaction of informing you that Lord 
Eussell has authorised me to inform you that if your 
authority in Sarawak is undisputed, he is ready at once 
to propose to the Cabinet the recognition of Sarawak as 
an independent State under your rule and government." 

The disparaging remarks on Colonel Cavanagh's report 
may not perhaps be deserved, as the Colonel may have 
only followed instructions, perhaps a little too strictly. 

News having reached England that the Eajah had arrived 
in Singapore, and had, as I have previously stated, met 



364 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvn. 

Captain Brooke, who unreservedly submitted to his unde's 
authority, the correspondence continues as follows : — 

''April 24, 1863.— I called on Lord Russell last Sunday. 
I delivered and saw him read your letter transmitted 
through me, and I also read out to him slowly and care- 
fully your letter to myself accompanying the despatch 
to Lord BusselL I informed him that you had proceeded 
to Sarawak from Singapore ; that your authority in Sara- 
wak bad never been for a moment questioned or disputed ; 
that I had conveyed to you his message, * that if all was 
quiet in Sarawak, you were prepared to propose the recogni- 
tion of the Eajah's territory as an independent State ; ' and 
that the time was now come for him to determine when 
and how he would proceed to carry his intentions, as 
expressed through me, into effect. Lord Russell remained 
silent and thoughtful for a minute or two, and then scdd, 
* What I promised to do was to send out a consul to 
Sarawak, and ask for an exequatur. That I am now 
ready to do, and I will at once make inquiries at the 
Foreign Office of the steps to be taken, and the require- 
ments for which I am bound to ask.' 

" I said, I conclude that what you say still implies a 
communication with the Cabinet, and a reference of the 
whole matter to the decision of that body ; to which he 
replied in the affirmative : and I asked at once if he wished 
me to see any members of the Cabinet before the question 
was brought forward; and I mentioned the names of 
Lord Granville and the Duke of ArgylL He interrupted 
me with the suggestion of the Duke of Somerset's name, 
who he thought was likely to take a strong interest in 
a question of this kind, both personally and officially; 
but he subsequently expressed a wish that I should see 
also the Duke of Argyll and Lord Granville. Lord Russell 
said he would give me ten days or a fortnight to prepare 
the members of the Cabinet for the discussion. 



1868.] COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE CABINET. 365 

" I told Lord Eussell that the more I heard of the state 
of matters in the China seas, and of the present and 
future probable progress of Sarawak, the more I felt 
disposed to believe that a closer connection with that 
* State ' than was implied in simple recognition was desir- 
able for England, and that it would naturally be more 
economical and more easily arranged now than if post- 
poned to a later period, and I pressed the prudence and 
propriety of his consulting others besides myself as to 
the best mode of dealing with the question. He was 
again silent for some time, and then broke out with, * I 
suppose Lord Palmerston will be favourable to Sir James 
Brooke.' I recalled to his recollection what had passed 
between Lord Palmerston and myself, and the strong 
message he had sent you, and told him that, as far as I 
was able to judge, simple recognition would fall short 
of Lord Palmerston's wishes. He made no reply to this, 
and the matter dropped." 

''May 9, 1863.— The Duke of Argyll, I am sorry to 
say, has gone to Scotland ; he will not be here to give 
ns any help, which he is well disposed to do. . . . Lord 
Granville is very friendly. 

" Previous to his [Mr Fairbaim's] going abroad, he had 
at my request an interview with Lord de Grey, and he 
also was so kind as to write me a letter expressive of 
his feelings towards you, and of his opinion and recol- 
lection on one or two points on which I desired to have 
the support of his evidence. I think his letter so good 
a one — it breathes so strongly the spirit of a true and 
generous friendship, and I have found it so useful already 
both with Lord Russell and Lord Palmerston — that I 
have ventured to send you a copy of it, in the hopes that 
you will share the pleasure it has given me. 

'' Since I last wrote I have seen Lord Stanley and Lord 
de Grey. The former was most cordial and earnest in his 



366 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [ohap. zm. 

expression of respect and confidence towards you, and in 
the unreserved declaration lie made that the time was 
come for the recognition of the independence of Sarawak, 
and that he was ready to support this opinion either in 
or out of Parliament Lord de Grey, as a new member 
of the Cabinet, was more guarded ; but he spoke of you 
most kindly and favourably. I am persuaded Lord de 
Grey will not oppose, I hope he may warmly support, 
the recognition of Sarawak, when proposed by Lord 
EusselL" 

''May 19. — I had a long and detailed conversation 
with Lord BusseU at Pembroke Lodge. I recalled to him 
all that had occurred in reference to yourself, and did 
my very best to make him master of the situation in all 
respects. I am happy to add that he declared himself 
perfectly satisfied, and expressed his willingness to pro- 
pose the recognition of Sarawak to the Cabinet on the 
first practicable occasion, instructing me to send certain 
papers, and especially Mr Fairbaim's letter (which I read 
to him), to the Foreign OflSce, for future reference, and 
asking me to call on Lord Palmerston and give him such 
information as I could on the various points alluded to 
by me in my recent interviews with him (Lord R), and 
ascertain whether Lord Palmerston was willing that the 
question of recognition should at once be submitted to the 
Cabinet* In obedience to Lord Russell's suggestion, I 
saw Lord Palmerston at Cambridge House last Friday, 
and am happy to say that I found him as warmly prepos- 
sessed in your favour as ever. He authorised me to con- 
vey to Lord BusseU his hearty assent to recognition at 
once; and he repeated what he said in a former interview 
— viz., that it would be a pleasure to him to find himself 
able to do anything agreeable to you," 

" June 10, 1863. — I have had a long chat with Earl 
Grey this morning on Samwak matters, and found him 



1868.] BECOGNITION GRANTED. 367 

most kind and friendly. Lord Grey's disposition, in short, 
is entirely satisfactory." • 

**Aug, 17, 1863.— When I wrote to you on the 10th, I 
was much disappointed and disturbed at not having heard 
from Lord Eussell He had seriously promised me not to 
leave London without attempting to settle the question of 
recognition, and as he has never in his life deceived me, 
I was utterly perplexed at hearing of his departure from 
London without any commimication to me. 

" I was more than angry, and was meditating a strong 
remonstrance, when I luckily met Layard on Thursday 
last in the street, who came up to me and said, — * I sup- 
pose you know that the recognition of Sarawak was settled 
in the last Cabinet, and that the Government have agreed 
to appoint a consul as the most direct and least formal 
method of recognising it as an independent State. I told 
Lord Russell that I would tell you of it ; but I have had 
my mind full of other important things, and I forgot it. 
I hoped that you might have heard of it in the interval 
from Lord Eussell himself.' I told him that I had not 
heard from Lord Eussell, and after expressing my joy and 
thankfulness, agreed to call on him on Friday to go more 
into detail." 

" Sept. 9, 1863. — I have the satisfaction to inform you 
that recognition is at last a fait accompli. Since I last 
wrote to you, the Foreign Ofl&ce have applied to the Treas- 
ury to sanction the salary of a consul to Sarawak, and I 
have reason to believe that the terms of the letter convey- 
ing this application are most satisfactory and honourable 
to Sarawak, as the appointment of a consul there is justi- 
fied on the ground of public policy, and its advantage te 
the general interests of England. 

" This application to the Treasury is an invariable and 
necessary form, but after the consent of the Cabinet, only 
a form. The reply of the Treasury is not yet received, in 



368 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvii. 

consequence of all the higher officials being out of town. 
I urged Layard strongly, as this decisive step had been 
taken, not to delay longer the writing an official commu- 
nication to the Sajah of Sarawak of the intention of the 
English Government to ask his exeqtiatur for a consul ; 
but he replied, first, that it could not be done until the 
Treasury had sanctioned the salary; and secondly, that 
he felt it to be of the greatest importance for you that the 
Office should treat Sarawak exactly as they would any 
other independent power, and that the course always 
pursued was not to write until they had selected the con- 
sul, when your eoceqtuxiur will be asked for that particular 
person. He gave me, however, leave again, in precise 
terms, to let you know in confidence how matters stand, 
and he (Layard) has behaved with such friendly earnest- 
ness in your behalf, that I cannot doubt the sincerity of 
his motives." (Mr Layard's wjis the only official course 
that could be pursued.) 

" Oct 26, 1863. — I have seen Lord Russell since his 
return from Scotland. He was full of kindness about you 
and your concerns, and quite prepared to name a consul 
at once." 

Thus was Sarawak recognised in the fullest and most 
generous manner, and the hand that had inflicted the 
deepest wound on the Bajah by appointing the Commis- 
sion in 1853, now healed it, by according to him the most 
important sanction of his policy that it was possible for 
the Government to giva The statesmanlike view taken 
by Lord Eussell proved how fully alive he was to the 
importance of the north-west coast of Borneo. 

The accounts of the interviews with Lord Palmerston 
are very interesting, and show how frank and generous 
was his nature. 

Mr Bicketts was appointed consul, and went to Sarawak 
in May 1864, and his presence there was valuable as a 



1864.] LIFE IN ENGLAND. 369 

public recognition of the Eajah's Government by that of 
England. But as there was nothing for a consul to do in 
Kuching, it was not found necessary to keep up the ap- 
})ointment. He could only repeat in his reports what had 
been published fifty times over. At his departure an 
unpaid vice-consul was named, but even that has disap- 
peared—why, I cannot imagine, as there must be some 
one in Sarawak unconnected with the local Grovemment 
who could hold the appointment. 

During the whole of 1864 the Rajah's correspondence 
shows a return of health and strength ; in fact, he spent 
the summer in a round of visits — a fair proof of improved 
condition, — and in the autumn he went out partridge- 
shooting. 

The following brief extracts from letters to a friend 
show an altered tone from the gloom of previous corre- 
spondence : " Zlst August 1864. — I know your flight for 
Italy is not far off, and before you go I want to tell you 
of my innocent doings, and to hear yours. At Fairbaim's 
I caught fish and saw races, then to H. L., and from H. 
Lodge to KeppePs cottage at Basingstoke, a hijou after 
your wife's own heart and yours. A tiny green lawn, 
bounded to the east by the drawing-room windows, and on 
the west by the clear gushing stream of the Itchen; a 
pretty country, social neighbours and county magnates 
within reach. . . . From the cottage I moved to my cousin 
Charles Stuart's, close at hand, where we played at croquet 
till I was fit to drop. From Basingstoke I went to West 
Sytherley, where I had my regular exercise at croquet, 
and one day was devoted to an inspection of John Day's 
racing stable — well worth seeing. At last, on Saturday I 
returned to Burrator, and was pleased to find how fresh and 
green it was by comparison to other places. A fine sum- 
mer is very enjoyable, and I have found the open air, gentle 
exercise, and relaxation, good for my health and spirits." 

2a 



370 LIFE OP SIR JAMES BROOKE. [oHAP. XVIL 

" 2Sd October 1864.— For myself I get on well, and 
nothing shows it so much as hope restored to my mind 
I met with a clever remark in a novel called ' Julia Mala- 
testa/ by T. A. Trpllope : ' The surest mark of the in- 
tensity of suffering is the limitation of the sufferer's de- 
sires to absolute repose.' I have felt the truth of this, 
and have recently experienced new sensations of life and 
hope." 

The Rajah was, as I have noticed, exceedingly pleased 
with the recognition of Sarawak as an independent State 
imder his rule and government, but he soon began to wish 
that Lord Palmerston would add protection to it His 
news, however, from Sarawak were highly satisfeu^tory — 
telling of peace, commerce, and rising revenue ; and de- 
spising the petty annoyances to which he was subjected, 
he appeared fairly happy. 

The news of the progress of Sarawak, of the indirect 
revenue alone rising £4500 in one year, of the steam gun- 
boats being built, made all those who had separated &om 
the Bajah when things looked less prosperous regret the 
estrangement ; and I was not surprised to hear that one, 
of whom I had the worst opinion, was anxious for a re- 
conciliation, but that the E^gah should have listened to 
these hollow advances is rather remarkable. He gave me 
his reasons for this reconciliation, saying that as he who 
had injured him had retracted what he stated, and con- 
fessed himself wrong, "I let bygones be bygones." "As 

for f I have shaken hands with him, and I do desire 

peace and goodwill, and forgiveness and charity, but there 
is a limit to these things. We may pardon without weak- 
ness, and recollect without revenge, but he can never pos- 
sess my confidence again. When you write next, assure 
me, thou bad heathen, that thou dost not hold hatred^ 
malice, and uncharitableness to be cardinal virtues." I 
had to rest satisfied with these assurances ; and glad was 



1865.] THE TUAN MUDA ADOPTED AS HEIR. 37l 

I to learn afterwards that the Bajah had not fallen under 
an influence which had been so pernicious in former days. 

A great change was now noticed in all transactions with 
the Dutch ofBicials. I have referred to their prompt and 
generous conduct in sending help to Sarawak at the time 
of the Chinese insurrection, and their friendly warnings 
concerning the conspiracy of the Datu Haji and Sirib 
Musahor, but naturally they were puzzled how to deal 
with a Government which was unacknowledged. One 
result of the sending of a British consul to Kuching was 
immediate. The Dutch of&cials met the Sarawak officials 
on equal terms, and quickly and amicably settled all 
border questions, and expressed not only a desire for 
frequent and friendly intercourse, but Mr Kater, their 
principal agent, spoke of their warm appreciation of the 
Bajah's labours. 

The American Government began now to turn their 
attention to Borneo, and a Mr Moses was sent to Brunei 
as consul ; but as he had no money, and was unsupported 
from home, his grand schemes came to nothing. He 
obtained from the Sultan a great cession of territory for 
certain sums to be paid annually; as this stipulation 
was not adhered to, everything fell througL But it 
showed that money could do anything in the capital 

In 1865 the Eajah wrote, " I have improved wonder- 
fully in health and spirits." Friends also brought about 
a formal reconciliation between the Rajah and his nephew. 
Captain Brooke, but it never went beyond. This, however, 
I am sure, was not altogether the Rajah's fault. On Sep- 
tember 15th he wrote to me : " The Tuan Muda " (Charles 
Johnson, now^ Brooke) "has unreservedly consented to 
become my heir, and I have left it with him to adopt 
his nephew Hope^ as his successor if he wishes to do 

* Younger brother of Captain Brooke. 

* Captain Brooke's only sniriying son. 



372 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xrn. 

80. I would not injure the poor boy's prospects if I can 
help it" 

In June 1866 I reached England, and during my ten 
months' stay at home I saw a great deal of the Sajah. 
He was now full of obtaining further concessions from the 
British Gk)vemment — either protection or a gradual transfer 
of the country ; and at one time I thought he had a good 
chance of success, as the present Lord Derby was favour- 
able, but it all fell through. The Rajah was in very fair 
health, and spent a good deal of the summer and autumn 
in visiting his friends. 

In September, however, he received what he thought 
was such bad news respecting the finances of Sarawak 
that it made him iU. He thought that certain transactions 
there would be looked upon as a breach of faith by some 
of his friendly financial supporters, and he would not be 
confuted. We did our best to point out to him that this 
financial imbroglio was nothing, simply arising from the 
stupidity of one officer and the carelessness of another in 
not pointing out to his nephew, Charles Brooke, that he 
was undertaking too many improvements at a time, and 
that a cessation of expenditure on these public works 
would soon set matters right The sale of the steamer 
Eainbow, however, in order to pay debts, was an error ; 
but by resolutely setting himself to work out the problem, 
the Rajah soon raised the necessary money, and ordered 
another steamer to be built, the Royalist, so named after 
his famous yacht In October I went down with the Rajah 
to stay with Mr Fairbaim at Brambridge House, and there 
he signed a document offering to hand over Sarawak to the 
English Government without any personal gain, but with 
the fullest guarantees for the rights of the natives and of 
the debts contracted, whose payment he was most anxious 
to effect during his lifetime ; but there was then the cold 
fit in England with regard to colonial extensions. 



I860.] SARAWAK OFFERED TO H.m/s GOVERNMENT. 373 

The foUo^iDg is the Bajah's letter, addressed to the 
Right Hon. Lord Stanley, the present Earl of Derby : — 

" My Lord, — I have the honour to state to your lord- 
ship, for the information of her Majesty's Government, 
that I am willing to cede the State of Sarawak and all 
my rights therein to the British Crown, I would merely 
stipulate — 

" 1. That the religion, laws, and customs of the people 
be respected. 

"2. That the State debts, amounting to a sum not 
exceeding £75,000, be paid or guaranteed. Segarding the 
interests involved, I venture to urge upon your lordship 
the importance of an early consideration of this propo- 
sition. (Signed) J. Brooke." 

In November we went to Burrator. I never enjoyed a 
visit more. We were nearly two months almost alone, and 
we could talk over everything which interested him, and it 
was the last time that he had an opportunity of unfolding 
his views. He was uneasy about the future government 
of Sarawak. He had decided to make Charles Brooke 
his heir, but he felt uncertain about the result should lus 
brother Captain Brooke present himself in Sarawak and 
claim the succession. I myself thought there could be 
little doubt about the result, and that Captain Brooke 
would have been received by aU, as the natives in gen- 
eral could not understand why he had ceased to be heir 
to the Bajah.^ As between the Bajah and his nephew 
there could be no doubt, but between the two brothers 
there could be little question as to the result. The Kajah 
felt this, and did not know what steps to take. Many 
combinations were proposed ; but as they came to nothing, 
it is not worth while to refer to them. 

^ Captain Brooke died in 1868, leaving one sairiying son, Hope Brooke. 



374 LIFE OF SIB JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xyh. 

The Rajah used eveiy day to take walks and rides, 
and as his mind became more satisfied as to the financial 
future of Sarawak, he grew more cheerful We went oc- 
casionally, to the churchyard, and he pointed me out the 
spot where he intended to be buried. " At aU events," he 
said, '* I shall have rest there." He used to dwell on the 
future, and say that his successors, he was sure, would 
keep Burrator in remembrance of him ; and that he should 
like it devoted to the purpose of supplying the officers of 
the Sarawak Grovernment with a refuge where, during 
sickness, they might come to recruit in the bracing air of 
Dartmoor. Alas for the vanity of human wishes ! 

It was during this visit that I more especially noticed 
the Rajah's kindness to all his neighbours, and the re- 
spectful affection with which he was regarded. He would 
take me into the cottages, the farmhouses, the schooL 
He was everywhere at home. He seemed to remember 
each face, and no detail of their absent relatives was for- 
gotten by him. It was really touching to see the confidence 
shown him by the little children, who would approach him 
and quietly touch his hand. 

The Rajah interested himself greatly in all that con- 
cerned the parish, aided in restoring the old church, keep- 
ing up the school, and doing the duties of a country 
gentleman. 

Poor Rajah! In his anxiety about the finances he 
offered me £1000 a-year to go out to be treasurer in 
Sarawak ; but that I could not accept, and he felt that it 
would not be fair to press me to leave the Grovemment 
service for so uncertain a position. Curiously enough, I 
received a letter written about the same time by his 
nephew, Charles Brooke, asking me to come out and report 
for the Rajah's satisfaction on the condition of Sarawak. 

As Christmas approached I prepared to leave Burrator, 
as I had promised to dine at home that day. He accom- 



1867.] AN ATTACK OF PARALYSIS. 375 

panied me as far as Plymouth, where "we passed the even- 
ing with his friend Dr Beith, an old Dido man, and there 
he sat down to a game of whist and played till midnight. 
How cheerful he was, and how full of fan ! I left him 
on the 22d December. He returned to Burrator, and I 
went up to London. 

On the morning of the 24th December I received a 
telegram from Dr Beith saying that the Kajah had had 
another attack of paralysis. I decided to go back imme- 
diately, but went first to inform some of the Kajah's 
friends of what had happened, and after calling at the 
Foreign OflBce I had barely time to reach the Great Western 
station and catch the afternoon express. There I found 
two of his warm friends ready to go too, and we started 
on our melancholy journey. What a sad Christmas eve ! 
We flew along through the snow, arriving at Plymouth 
about midnight, and after a delay waiting for a carriage, 
started again to the moors. What a bleak night it was ! 
how the wind blew as we drove across Dartmoor, to find 
ourselves about 4 am. at Burrator ! 

I choked as I asked the question, " How is the Eajah ? " 
He was nearly speechless, but when I entered the room 
he recognised me. As soon as he was struck down by 
the attack, Dr Beith had been sent for. He came, and 
after a short time asked, " Shall I telegraph for St John ? " 
The Eajah shook his head and said, ''No; Christmas 
time." His thoughtful kindness so apparent even in his 
own great danger ! He had soon two of his Sarawak 
officers with him — ^his nephew Mr Stuart Johnson, and 
Arthur Crookshank, who was worth more than all in a 
sick-room. We agreed to divide the night into watches, 
and sit up each so many hours. 

Dr Beith, Dr Willis, and the clergyman of the parish 
and his wife (Mr and Mrs Daykin), were xmremitting in 
their kind attentions. 



376 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BROOKE, [chap. xvil. 

The attack was a severe one, for although in a month 
he could get down into the drawing-room, make his will, 
look over and destroy papers, yet he never really re- 
covered sufficiently to use his hand. I made a temporary 
will for him, and he began, " I leave to my dear friend, 

Spenser St John ^* I looked up and said, " No, dear 

Bajah, don't let there be any money between us ; leave me 
your papers, as you promised." A shade of disappoint- 
ment appeared to pass over his face, and then he went 
on and clearly dictated the rest 

In February the Rajah was sufficiently well to be re- 
moved to the Baroness Burdett Coutts's house at Torquay, 
and I left him in good hands while I went up to London 
to prepare for my departure to the West Indies. 

I ran down to Torquay once more before leaving, and 
in the beginning of April 1867 I saw him, and as I bent 
over him I felt it was for the last time. As I neared the 
door he called me back, and I saw the tears falling, and 
then I could see how he also felt that it was our last 
adieu. Although more than ten years have since passed 
away, its remembrance affects me deeply. 

The Rajah somewhat recovered from this attack, but 
was never able to do any work again. He occasionally 
dictated a letter, but the exertion was a great tax on his 
little remaining strength. I was, however, carefully kept 
informed of all his movements. He returned to Burrator 
for the last time in May 1868 ; and in June, whilst cough- 
ing violently, he suffered from another paralytic stroke, 
and he never again recovered consciousness. Mr Crook- 
shank, who hurried down to the aid of his old chief, 
watched him during these last painful days, and was pres- 
ent when the spirit of that grand old man passed away. 

His funeral was considered quite private, though there 
were present Arthur Crookshank, Sir James's nephew 
Stuart Johnson, Mr Knox, Mr J. A. Smith, General 



1868.] CONCLUDING KEMARKS. 377 

Jacob, the Bajah's old friend and follower, Charles Grant, 
and many others who came to pay their last tribute of 
affection, besides, of course, all the warm-hearted parish- 
ioners. He lies buried in the spot he had himself chosen. 
His memory is and will be long cherished among his neigh- 
bours, for though they know not what great deeds he had 
done, yet his sympathetic kindness was felt by all who 
approached him. 

CONCLUDING EEMARKS. 

For many years I have had little intercourse with those 
residing in Sarawak, but I have heard enough to be well 
assured that the country is advancing in prosperity, though 
slowly. The best account that I have seen of the condi- 
tion of the interior is that given by a Mr Denison, for- 
merly an officer in the Sarawak service; and the impression 
which the reading of his account gives is, that the land 
Dyaks, about whom the old Sajah felt so much interest, 
are deteriorating. They appear to be now abandoned in 
favour of tribes farther from headquarters. No one, not 
even the Government, feels the old interest in them, 
and the abuses of the Malay rulers have been gradu- 
ally creeping back. They never, however, forget the old 
Bajah, and their noble-minded chief is ever a subject of 
profound respect and tender affection, on which they love 
to dwell. The missionaries appear to despair of making 
an impression on these poor savages, and, like the Gov- 
ernment, devote most of their energies to the sea Dyaks. 

I should have been glad to have been able to give a 
favourable account of their work among the energetic 
Dyaks of Seribas and Sakarang, but I have not the mate- 
rials.^ Indeed, last year I met accidentally a superior 

^ Since the above was written, I have been infonned that the mission- 
aries amongst the sea Dyaks haye had considerable success — particularly 



378 LIFE OF SIR JAMES BKOOKE. [chap. XVIL 

officer of the Sarawak Qovemment, and he spoke most 
despairingly of the work of the missionaries and their 
second bishop. But he allowed that as they extended 
education they freed the Dyaks from the influence of the 
Malays, and thus, politically, were an important element 
in the cause of progress. 

The discovery of cinnabar (quicksilver) added to the 
riches of the country ; but the principal profits appear to 
be absorbed by the Borneo Company, and little finds its 
way into the cofiers of the Grovemment. But the real 
progress of the country has been quite recent — ^in fact, 
since the present Eajah has turned his attention to agri- 
culture. Now I hear the Chinese are cleaving down the 
forests, and garnMer and pepper are beginning to be im- 
portant exports. 

It is a satisfaction, however, to know that, on the whole, 
the work of the old Eajah is being so well carried on ; 
that pecu^e and security reign both in the exterior and 
interior ; that piracy is a thing of the past ; and that Eng- 
lish influence is extending, however slowly. 

I should have been pleased to have been able to visit 
once more the scene of my early life, to make an extended 
comparison between the past and the present, and to be 
able to bring to the notice of one's countrymen the gallant 
work that is being quietly but surely carried out in Bor- 
neo, to fix the impression that the old Kajah did not live 
in vain, — ^that the seed he so wisely sowed is bearing 
wholesome fruit That it is so, I am well assured. 

with the Seribas, some of whom, both men and women, have taken to 
teaching Christianity amongst themselves. If Mr Gladstone haa been 
unable hitherto to discover any justification for the policy which found 
expression in the battle of Batang Marau, perhaps he may now have 
the candour to see it in this ; and other results I have mentioned have 
not been altogether uninfluenced by that action and policy. 



379 



APPENDIX. 



Fram the Consula/r Reports, IS77— presented to both Houses of Parlia- 
ment by commcmd of her Mcyesty. February 1878. 

BORNEO.— Sarawak. 

bepobt by consul-general ussser on the present 

condition of sarawak. 

Terbitory. 

Sarawak, or the territory now induded under that general 
appellation, has a coeist-line direct of about 220 miles in length, 
taking it fix)m Tanjong Datu, in latitude 2° 5', to Tanjong 
Kidurong, in 3° 10' north. Owing to its irreg^ular character, 
deep bays, and indentations, its actual extent may be calculated 
at 400 miles. The territorial area is supposed to comprise 
about 28,000 square miles, and extends a great distance into 
the interior, in easterly and north-easterly direction, probably 
as fo as the head waters of the Bejang river. Its capital 
and seat of government, with a population numbering 20,000, 
is called Euching, and is on the Scurawak river, about 16 
miles from the sea. 

Population. 

It appears to be difficult to calculate the population of this 
large territory. Many tribes and races are found within its 
limits, Malays as well as Dyaks. The estimate arrived at by 
the Bajah's Gh)vemment is as follows : — 



380 APPENDIX. 

Number. 

Malays, 60,000 

Chinese, 7,000 

Milanans, 80,000 

Sea Dyaks of the Batang Lnpar and other riyers^ 90,000 
LandDydcs, 85,000 

Total, . . 222,000 

The sea Dyaks once formed the famous piratical tribes who, 
in common vnth the Balagnini and Illanuns, once devastated 
the Archipelago. Since their reduction and subjugation by 
Sir James Brooke, they have proved to be amongst the 
stanchest and most loyal supporters of the Brooke dynasty, 
and are principally relied on as a local militia in case dT 
trouble and danger. It was these tribes, once so sternly dealt 
with, that a few short years afterwards flew to the assistance 
of the late Kajah, when he was surprised and forced to fly 
from Euching, the capital, by the Chinese rebels, whom these 
wild warriors pursued with relentless ardour xmtil the miser- 
able remnant of the mutineers was enabled to seek a refrige 
in Dutch territory. 

The Chinese in Sarawak are now an orderly and well-con- 
ducted community, and although many times more numerous 
than they were in those days, would never again dream of 
such a rash experiment as their outbreak of 1857. This con- 
spiracy was supposed to have been incited principally by 
exaggerated news of English disasters in China, and to have 
had extensive ramifications elsewhere. The Gk>veniment of 
Sarawak has since then instituted a heavy penalty against 
those taking part in a htiey or secret Chinese society, the 
members of which in Sarawak, as in Singapore and Penang, 
are generally the instigators of riotous and rebellious conduct 
on the part of the Chinese. The recognised leader and active 
chief of a secret huet/ is liable to capital punishment by 
the law of Sarawak. 

The Malays of Sarawak struck me as being a superior race 
to those of Brunei, although the latter set store by their 
purity of descent, and the former must be derived from the 
same stock. Many of the Sarawak Msday chiefs have pleas- 
ant fitces, and exhibit an intelligence that has probably been 
called into existence by the active part they are permitted to 



APPENDIX. 381 

take in the goyemment of the country. The Malays are also 
traders, and engaged in industrial pursuits. 

The Dyaks appear to be steadily improving ; their country, 
once a terror to strangers, as the land of head '' hunters," is 
now orderly and safe for the most part ; and their chiefs, as 
will be seen eventually, take an active part in the manage- 
ment of their own local affairs, and are subsidised and recog- 
nised by the general Government. 

Government. 

The Government of Sarawak may be termed a mild despot- 
j^, its arrangements being in their general features and effect 
not' imlike the constitution of a Crown colony. The Rajah is 
of course the absolute h ead of the State, and he possesses the 
po wer analogous t o but superior to "that wfelded by a "colDtiial 
govern or in a Crown~coIb hy of spontaneous and independent 
acjionl Tins power is, however, rarely exercised, and for all 
practical purposes of local and general government, he is 
assisted by a legislative council composed of two Europeans 
and five native Malay chiefs. 

While the current business of the coxmtry is carried on 
by this body, a larger assembly is periodically held. This 
council is composed of the principal represejitatives, native 
as well as European, of the various districts, and in the 
ordinary course sits once in three years, except when specially 
summoned to discuss important and pressing business. It 
numbers between fifty and sixty members, nine -tenths of 
whom are natives. Any important change in the law or 
modification of native custom would be considered by the 
General Coxmcil, and rejected or confirmed as occasion might 
suggest. Doubtless also all matters of general importance to 
the State would be discussed by this body. 

The Executive Government is carried on by the Bajcdi and 
his European officers, assisted by natives, members of both 
cormcils, and would appear to partake of the nature of a privy 
counciL 

The government of the various districts and out-stations, 
forts, and rivers, is intrusted mostly to European officers, who 
are termed Eesidents ; these are generally assisted by subor- 



382 APPENDIX. 

dinate or Assistant Besidents. There are also employed 
native or Eurasian and Chinese clerks, who act as writersi 
accountants, interpreters, &c., at each station. 

The number of the European staff is as follows : — 

Nnxobec 

Divisional Residents, 2 

2d class „ 4 

Assistant „ S 

Magistrates, 2 

Commandant at EncMng, 1 

Treasurer, 1 

Medical officer, 1 

Junior and subordinate officers in training for higher 

posts, 5 

Total, . . 19 

There are also the commander and officers of the Rajah's 
gunboat Aline. 

The native staff of paid chiefs and members of council con- 
sists of twenty-two in all, who are distributed as under : — 

Number. 

At Euching, 5 

Ladong and Lundu, 3 

BatangLupar, • 8 

Rejang, 8 

Hoka, 8 

BintulUy 2 

There are no fixed regulations as to promotioni and the 
salaries are of a modest description. 

Laws and Customs. 

The greater portion of the Sarawak law, especially as re- 
gards social matters, such as divorce, inheritance, marriage, 
&c, is, as might reasonably be expected, unwritten. It is 
administered principally with the assistance of native authori- 
ties properly versed in the traditions governing their social 
code, and handed down to them imder a patriarchal system, 
but altered from time to time by the Europeans and natives 
governing the country, to suil^ as well as may with safety 
be attempted, the increased scale of civilisation progressing 
steadily among the native inhabitants of Sarawak. 

The criminal law is framed and generally administered 



APPENDIX. 383 

upon the basis of English law. Special enactments are in 
some cases made to meet the particular circumstances of the 
country and people, and considerable freedom is necessarily 
permitted to those administering it, avoiding for the present 
the technicahties of a regularly framed code ; and as a rule, 
the discretion thus extended to the administrators of the law 
does not appear to be abused. Moreover, most decisions of 
importance come xmder the notice of the Rajah, who himself 
administers justice in the Supreme Court of Kuching in 
patriarchal &shion, assisted and backed by Europesm and 
native assessors. 

The courts of first instance are three in number : one for 
criminal cases, presided over by the Resident of each district; 
one for social matters, as divorce, matrimonial disputes, &c., 
presided over by native judges (members of council) ; and a 
petty debt court, or Court of Requests. From the two first 
of these courts appeals lie to the Rajah in the Supreme Court 
in Euching, or, when the Supreme Court is held in the dis- 
tricts, to the Divisional Residents, who are also the presiding 
judges thereof 

This Supreme Court appears also to take initiatory cog- 
nisance of aQ serious criminal offences, such as murder, for- 
gery, arson, &c 

No sentence of death may be carried out without the con- 
firmation of the Rajah, to whom the evidence is submitted. 

Appeals from the Court of Requests lie to a lull bench of 
magistrates of not less than four in number. 

Besides these regular centres of jurisdiction, the distant 
tribes of Dyaks and others are permitted to elect their own 
chiefs of villages, or " long houses," who may settle petty 
cases, receive trifling fines, which are limited in amount and 
do other little acts of justice, for which they are held re- 
sponsible ; but any caae of importance must be referred to 
the established courts. 

The most important of the native customs, which is against 
our ideas of humanity and justice, the institution of slavery, 
has been reduced to the narrowest limits that can at present 
be safely reached. The Sarawak Government appears to 
act wisely under the circumstances in which it finds itself 
situated with regard to this custom. Unable summarily to 



384 APPENDIX. 

abolish it, but prudently recognising its existence, instead of 
pretending to ignore it, the Government has grasped the 
nettle, and by gradually surrounding it and hedging it with 
prohibitory and doubtless obstructive regulations, is taking 
the best means to effect its eventual extirpation. The export 
and import of slaves is peremptorily forbidden under severe 
penalties, and is conscientiously checked. But lately the 
Bajah fined and drove out a Brunei chief of importance, who 
was convicted of an attempt at this serious offence. 

The first important feature of the slave regulations is this, 
that under ordinary circumstances any slave may work out 
his own freedom, by paying to his master a comparatively 
low amount, which any bondsman, I should think, could 
raise if he desired his liberty : £Q sterling seems to have 
been the sum originally fixed by the law, but I do not know 
if this is the limit ; and female slaves and children are less 
weighted. One good point resulting from the general tenor 
of the slavery laws is, that a man who has so worked out 
his freedom will in most cases highly value it, and prove a 
stecuiier and more beneficial member of society than one of 
a ruck of idle, dishonest, and ignorant savages, suddenly set 
free vnthout a proper appreciation of the value of liberty, 
with no sense of responsibility, and not possessing the power 
of utilising his precious possession. Without controverting 
the great principle of the right of freedom inherent in every 
man, the restdts of a sudden and total abolition are, as we 
have reason to know, generally disastrous for a long period. 

The regulations respecting immoralities between masters 
and female slaves are of the strictest description. Any 
woman slave with whom her master has had intercourse 
becomes ipso facto free. Special exemptions also are made 
with regard to the offspring of such connections, although in 
this respect, and as regards the children of bondsmen gen- 
erally, some improvement will, I trust, be effected as soon as 
prudently may be. 

No slave can be transferred vnthout the frill privity and 
consent thereto of the local court, before which the trans- 
action must take place and be duly registered. Certain 
classes of slaves become ipso facto free by lapse of time, or 
from neglect of the owner to claim them. 



APPENDIX. 385 

A distinction is made between outdoor and indoor slaves, 
in flavour of the former ; these may be looked upon as partak- 
ing of the character of the serfs in feudal times, and would 
appear to be specially benefited by the rule as to lapse of 
time mentioned in the preceding paragraph. 

Maltreatment of slaves is severely punished, at times to 
the extent of manumission by the court having the power of 
liberating such maltreated slaves. 

To quote fix)m the works of an oflScer of the Sarawak 
Government : — 

" In Sarawak any sudden steps to abolish slavery could not 
have been carried out without giving offence to the native 
chiefs, on whose goodwill the Government, especially at the 
outset, had much to depend. However, the system relating 
to slavery that was then organised, and which has been 
steadily pursued, has been successful in leading to a decrease 
of the evil, especially in preventing masters from holding and 
wielding unjust and cruel power ; and the natives are finding 
out that slave labour is not equal to free labour, and the lat- 
ter is very perceptibly taking the place of the former." 

And again, I may cite the words of the present ruler of 
Sarawak, addressed to his Residents in an exhaustive circular 
on this subject in 1868, before his accession to the Raj : — 

" The Tuan Muda wishes to express his opinion that this is 
a very important question, which involves much that might 
raise the prejudices and antipathies of the chiefs and all those 
who possess slaves ; he thinks if the custom were discussed 
publicly, with a view to bringing about reforms to ameliorate 
slavery, that such a discussion would have a contrary effect, 
and cause masters to bring claims (in most cases just ones) 
against people who have been slaves, but who have been liv- 
ing comfortably, and to all intents and purposes indepen- 
dently, for many years past. 

'' Such reforms as are requisite the Tuan Muda thinks had 
better be quietly and gradually brought about in conjunction 
with the chiefs themselves, rather than permit the question 
to become a public one ; as in the majority of cases the 
master would be a gainer and the slave a loser, were the 
question so raised as to cause the meisters to put in their 
claim." 

2B 



386 APPENDIX. 

To summarise the general tendency of the Sarawak laws 
and regulations respecting slavery is to abolish the system 
gradually and efifectively without disturbance, to fieice a social 
evil, and by recognising it to reduce it within the narrowest 
limits, pending its total abolition. 

The^power of England has it always unquestionably with- 
in its means summarily to abolish such an evil within its de- 
pendencies ; nevertheless, the system of pawns and domestic 
slavery was allowed to exist for many years on the Gold 
Coast, under the flags of her forts. It is therefore not to be 
wondered at that Sarawak has to be cautious, depending as 
she so much does upon native goodwiU, and being without 
the reserve of strength and prestige of a strong power, before 
she attempts any wholesale legislation in direct contraven- 
tion of all 'present and past local feeling and custom ; and she 
acts wisely, in my opinion, in gradually inducing her subjects, 
by an appeal, or rather by frequent appeals, to their own 
interest and right feeling, of their own freewill to allow this 
ancient but indefensible custom to drop quietly out of her 
records. 

Much of the local legislation is marked by sound sense ; for 
instance, the treatment of imprisoned debtors appears to be 
right and sensible. Every debtor confined in prison can, if 
he likes, work for the Gk)vemment, receiving a fixed monthly 
wage for his labour. Half of these earnings may go to the 
creditor, the other half he retains for his persoiial use. In 
case of his leaving a wife and family on the hands of the 
public, the latter half is transferred towards their support 
This arrangement caimot take place without the joint consent 
of debtor and creditor. 

I believe that the Contagious Diseases Act, or one akin 
thereto, is in force in Euching. 

The laws regarding the habit of the Chinese in seeking 
intercourse with girls of immature age are also strictly en- 
forced. 

All native marriages, to be lawful, must be effected before 
a civil registrar. 

Questions of divorce, marriage, inheritance, &c,, are re- 
ferred to native courts competent to deal with such matters. 

Coroners are appointed in the principal centres. 



APPENDIX. 387 

Capital crimes are tried by a mixed jury ; British or other 
^European subjects guilty of heinous crimes are tried by a jury 
of Europeans, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul having the 
right to be present. In cases of Europeans seriously mal- 
treating or murdering a native, one-half, or at least one-third, 
of the jury is to consist of natives. 

The land regulations are useful, and present no peculieur 
features. 

The law of bankruptcy appears to have been in some 
measure assimilated to the English law. 



Military Force. 

The permanent military force of Sarawak consists of a well- 
driUed and effective body of men termed the "Sarawak 
Bangers." They number about 200, and are well made and of 
powerful physique, being mainly recruited from the Dyaks, 
whose beauty of fofto, xmited with their strength and activity, 
is rarely to be surpassed. They are neatly dressed in white 
tunics and trousers, with black braid ornaments, and are armed 
with the Snider carbine. 

The forts at the out-stations are massive wooden structures 
armed with a few smooth-bore guns of old pattern, and each 
fort is manned by about a dozen " fortmen," whose duty it is 
to garrison and defend the work. They are mostly occupied 
by the European officers of the districts, and are fourteen 
in number. They are quite efficient against native attack. 
Some of them are placed in sole charge of natives. 

The militia, which constitutes the real force of Sarawak in 
the hour of danger, is composed of aU the able-bodied men in 
the tribes of the Batang Lupar, Seribas, and other sea Dyaks — 
of the same tribes in fact, the subjugation of whom, by the 
late Sir James Brooke, and their transformation into defenders 
of their country, from their former occupation of bloodthirsty' 
pirates, was the subject of so much mistmderstanding in Eng- 
land, and the cause of much undeserved animadversion on a 
high-spirited and humane ruler. 

These people could turn out about 25,000 warriors, who are 



388 APPENDIX. 

ready to assemble at the summons of the Grovemment, cuid 
devote themselves to its defence. 

They are in various ways specially favoured, in considera- 
tion of their services, such as receiving whole or in some 
cases partial exemption from the capitation tax. 

The naval force of Sarawak comprises the gunboat Aline, 
a fine vessel ; a screw steamer of about 250 tons burden ; 
and two heavy river steam-launches, the Ghita and the 
Firefly. 

Public Works. 

Besides the forts, the most striking buildings are the 
" Astana," or residence of the Rajah at Kuching, a handsome 
and well-ordered dwelling, replete with every comfort, and 
surrounded with tastefully-laid-out grounds. 

The court-house, a solid and handsome building in plain 
style, is also at Euching, as well as a fort, barracks, and a 
prison. Of these the fort is being rebuilt and enlarged, and 
the prison is undergoing alterations and improvements. 
Several new roads, of good construction, are being cut 
through the forest in different directions from Kuching ; one 
of these will open up a communication vnth the province of 
Upper Sarawak. The principal means of commimication, 
however, lie in the numerous rivers and streams intersecting 
the country. 

Shipping. 

Besides the gunboats already mentioned, there are two 
trading steamers belonging to the port of Kuching — the 
Rajah Brooke and the Royalist — of 254 and 151 tons bur- 
den respectively. 

The remaining tonnage of Sarawak, which is principally 
native owned, is composed of schooners and small coasting 
craft, 130 of which belong to Kuching ; the others belong to 
other ports, and are apparently not registered at the seat 
of Government. They belong to people at Muka, Bintulu, 
Sibu, and other places* 



APPENDIX. 389 



Exports and Imports. 

The chief native products of Sarawak are as follows : — 

Baw sago, sago-flour, pearl sago, antimony (sulphide, regu- 
lus, and oxide), quicksilver, gold, coal, timber, gutta-percha, 
india-rubber, cocoa-nuts, rice, dammar ^ diamonds, canes, and 
dye-woods. 

The imports consist mostly of opium, salt, tobacco, doth, 
crockery and brass ware. 

On comparing the returns attached to this report, some of 
the exports for 1876, especially for jimgle produce, are con- 
siderably in diminution of those of 1871. This is especially 
noticeable in the articles under the head of foreign exports, 
of gutta-percha, india-rubber, birds' nests, and antimony. 
These jungle products are getting gradually worked out in the 
neighbourhood of the province of Sarawak Proper ; and the 
natives are now turning their attention, owing to the special 
encouragement of the Eajah, to agricultural industry. Pep- 
per and gambter are now being largely cultivated, and the 
results are not yet suflSciently large to show the improvement 
expected, but which a few years will probably develop. The 
natives will then, while not neglecting the various sources of 
wealth lying easy to their hands, not have to rely solely on 
them for their prosperity, but on the more stable and solid 
fruits of their own industry. 

But the corresponding statements of 1871 and 1876 never- 
theless point to a steady improvement in trade, and the 
territory can show exports during the past year, foreign and 
coastwise, amoimting to more than £250,000 sterling — the 
imports being but little under that amoimt. 



Kevenue and Expenditure. 

I have not been furnished with any returns of the expendi- 
ture of Sarawak, and it is possible that the Gt>vemment may 
not have been in a position to supply accurate information 
under this head, owing to a radical change which has lately 
taken place in the method of keeping accounts of the Eaj. 




390 APPENDIX. 

The revenne amounted in 1871 to 157,501 doL, and in 
1876 to 183,182 doL, showing a decided although not lar;^ 
increase during the five years. 

It is principally derived from &rms, such as opium, arrack, 
pawnbroMng, &c. (Gambling &rms are still permitted. 

An important item is furnished by the royalties on minerals, 
antimony bringing in the largest ^lare. 

The exemption tax is of 2 doL per man, paid by the Malays ; 
those serving in the militia are free. 

The Dyak tax is a capitation tax of 3 doL per family ; those 
liable to military service are exempted in part. Bachelors 
pay half the tax. It is probable tiiat this tax can be bat 
partially collected. 

The remaining revenue is made up from customs duties, 
both export and import, the former being a small impost on 
raw jungle produce. Manufactured produce is not weighted- 
A portion of the revenue is also derived from land and town- 
ship lots. 

PuBUO Debt. 

In the absence of specific information on this point, I c^n 
only state that I believe the public debt to consist of a 
considerable sum of money, which was advanced from his 
private fortune by the late Eajah, Sir James Brooke, and 
which now forms a mortgage or first charge upon the public 
assets of Sarawak. 



Ecclesiastical. 

There is but one mission in Sarawak, the English Protes- 
tant Mission, sent out by the Society for the Propagation of 
the GospeL It is presided over by the Eight Keverend Dr 
Chambers, who is Bishop of Labuan, Sarawak, tod Singapore. 
It numbers about six members, scattered over the territory. 
Its efforts do not appear to have been attended with marked 
success, the number of converts being stated as but few. 
Each mission-station has a school attached to it. 



APPENDIX. 391 



Educationau 

The Sarawak Qovemment has three Government schools 
at present — two in Euching and one in Upper Sarawak. I 
liave no statistics concerning them. 

General Geogbaphical and Physical Features. 

Sarawak may be described for the most part as an exten- 
sive and dense forest, intersected in every direction by rivers 
and streams, and traversed in some parts by lofty mountain- 
ranges. These streams form natural waterways, and in 
great part take the place of roads, and thus they afford access 
to the most distant tribes, who would otherwise be unap- 
proachable. Some of these rivers are poweiful and rapid, 
such as the Bejang river. 

The timber of Sarawak, especially in the south, is bound- 
less in quantity: valuable woods of many descriptions abound, 
and are generally used in native house-building, and for other 
purposes. Gk>od shingles are made in Sarawak from an al- 
most indestructible wood named biltan, and brick-making is 
carried on to some extent in the neighbourhood of Euching. 

Sarawak is rich in minerals. In common with many other 
parts of Borneo, it possesses valuable coal-mines. In one 
portion of the territory an expert sent out from England 
calculated that a supply existed in one spot of more than 
4,000,000 of tons, not difficult of access. A small mine is 
now worked at a trifling cost by the Grovemment in the 
Sadong district, and sufficient is obtained from it to supply 
the three Grovemment steamers, and to leave a surplus, the 
sale of which about recoups the Government its working 
expenditure. 

Quicksilver has been worked in various places, and un- 
doubtedly considerable qusoitities yet exist. Antimony has 
been foimd and 'worked by the Borneo Company in large 
amounts, and at great profit. Gk>ld exists in small quantities, 
and is principally washed by Chinese ; it would probably not 
repay European labour. The same may be said of diamonds ; 
they are not numerous, but I have seen some good specimens. 



392 iLPPENDIX. 

Copper, manganese, and plumbago have aLso been dis- 
covered in Sarawak, but not yet in sufficient quantity to 
warrant their being worked. 

The aspect of the country, especially in the south, is 
beautiM. The landscape in the neighbourhood of the Ma- 
tang and Santubong ranges, in the vicinity of Euching, are 
particularly striking and romantic The flora is numerous 
and interesting, and magnificent orchids abound. The fauna 
of Sarawak is varied and extensive, and has been worked 
from time to time ; but there is doubtless much to be done 
yet. In common with the rest of the forests of the island of 
Borneo, it is the chosen home of the rmasj or orang-outang, of 
which two species exist. 

The climate is wet, 182 inches of rain having fallen in 
1876. It, nevertheless, appears to be fidrly healthy for 
Europeans, who all seemed to be in good health and spirits 
during my stay there. The average temperature is rather 
higher than that of Labuan, and may be stated at about 
85° Fahrenheit. In the mountains a sensible diminution is 
perceptible. 

General Remarks. 

The position and prospects of Sarawak caimot fail to be of 
considerable interest to Englishmen. It is not too much to 
say that Sarawak presents one of the few remaining chances 
of existence to the enervated and indolent race of Malays. 
Under such a Government, which appears to strive to im- 
press them with a sense of their duty to the State, as well 
as with a feeling of self-respect, by inducing and encouraging 
them to take an active part in the administration of public 
affairs, the Malays of Sarawak ought to prosper ; and they 
have, moreover, continually before their eyes the example of 
the misgovemment and anarchy existing in the wretched king- 
dom of Borneo Proper, which is apparently hastening to ruin 
and decay. The comparison between Brunei and Sarawak 
cannot but be gratifying to the inhabitants of the latter ; and 
if any spark of pride and energy yet lingers in the breasts 
of this once powerful people of Bnmei, the reflection upon 
their misgovemment and apathy, plainly forced upon them 



APPENDIX. 393 

by the aspect of the prosperity of Sarawak, when compared 
with the decadence of Brunei, should stimulate the latter to 
some attempt at reviving their ancient prestige. But I fear 
that nothing will now arrest the general decay and ruin sen- 
sibly attendant on. the Malay races of the Peninsula and 
Archipelago. To their inherent vices of sensuality, rapacity, 
and indolence, the youth of Brunei, and doubtless of other 
Malay countries, are superadding the deadening effects of 
opiimi ; and the action of this drug, injurious as it probably 
is to the active-minded and industrious Chinese, must in time 
prove positively fatal to the enfeebled and nerveless constitu- 
tions of the modem Malays. 

The policy of the Sarawak Government appears to me to 
be just and equitable toward the native Dyak and other 
races. It may fairly be assumed to be so, if we take as a 
test the feet that extensive tribes of savages have been trans- 
muted from lawless head-hunters and pirates into compara- 
tively peaceful agriculturists. The crime of head-hunting is 
now scarcely known in Sarawak. Indeed, I regret to state 
that it appears to be more common in the territories of his 
Highness the Sultan than elsewhere ; and so bold did I find 
these gentry on my arrival in Labuan, that two cases were 
absolutely before me of head-taking within the British colony 
of Labuan itself, where a panic on that account had existed 
for some time. The same remarks apply to the crime of pi- 
racy, a pet offence with the old marauders, and a venial one 
in their eyes. What little piracy exists on the western coasts 
of Borneo is not to be foimd within the dominions or seaboard 
of Sarawak. It is rather to be looked for in the territories 
on the north-west coasts of Brunei, again partially within the 
nominal jurisdiction of the Sultan, and to a greater extent 
on the north-east coast. 

There are doubtless to be found in the rule of Sarawak 
many defects, some of which might be at once amended — 
others, again, that time only can efface. In criticising se- 
verely any special legislation or custom at present obtain- 
ing within the coimtry, it would be necessary that all the 
attendant circumstances should be thoroughly elucidated and 
considered, before arriving at a sweeping and condemnatory 
judgment upon matters which, to the eyes of the most civil- 



394 APPENDIX, 

ised colonists in the world, appear anomalous or even wrong. 
Sarawak is yet not forty years old, and has time before her 
to amend and improve any defects of government. As long 
as the main objects constituting the wel&u^ of the community 
be kept in view, and the people are generally contented and 
happy, the objections to which I have referred can practicallj 
have but small weight in the baltmce. 

One of the principal recommendations attaching in the eyes 
of the native to Europeam rule in Sarawak is the honesty of 
its administration, especially in pecuniary matters. The ob- 
ject of the Malay nobles in olden times, and indeed now in 
the territories of Brunei, was to squeeze as much as might be 
from the wretched aborigines ; the principal aim of the Euro- 
pean appears to them to be, to solve the problem of how to 
carry on an effective Gt>vemment at the lightest possible cost 
to its subjects. This difficulty has met with a creditable solu- 
tion in Sarawak : a taxation of about ^0,000 per annum, dis- 
tributed amongst a population of 200,000 souls, and giving 
a statistical average of &om 5s. to 6s. sterling per head, can 
scarcely be called oppressive. (In calculating this average, 
I strike out about 50,000 frontier natives, who probably escape 
paying taxes at alL) Another recommendation in the eyes of 
the native is the possibility of obtaining even-handed, if rough, 
justice. It is not necessary, as they see and admit with satis- 
faction, that litigants should enter into a pecuniary competi- 
tion with their opponents to purchase the flavour and counte- 
nance of their judges. 

Education and progress will sfitfely and surely eradicate 
many of the evils remaining in the State, which may be 
viewed as legacies, fortunately diminishing, of a barbarous 
regime long since extinct. In the meantime, natives, Moham- 
medan as well as pagan, will be best managed and improved 
by showing a proper degree of respect for their usages and 
customs, especially by a complete tolerance of their forms of 
worship ; and the only real blot in Sarawak, that of slavery 
(although existing in a modified form), may be trusted to die 
out with the gradual extension of European rule, and the in- 
creased intelligence of the coming generation. 

The occasions requiring the employment of armed force are 
becoming rare, and disturbances are strictly locaL 



APPENDIX. 395 

The real power of Sai-awak is based upon the remembrance 
o^ and gratitude due to, the late Bajah, Sir James Brooke, as 
well as upon the firm administration and even-handed justice 
of the present Government. No one visiting Sarawak can fail 
to observe the respect and affection in which the present 
Rajah and his femily are held by the entire community. The 
fact is as noticeable among Europeans as among the natives ; 
and I may observe that the moderately paid but fairly efficient 
European staff is socially on a par with the officials of the 
generality of our colonies. The mode of life amongst the 
European body is quiet and unostentatious ; but of hospitality 
there is abimdance, and no visitor leaves Sarawak without 
pleasant reminiscences of his stay. 

A further noteworthy feature is to be found in the results 
obtained with so little money. The civil list of the Bajah is, 
I know, modest in all respects ; and it is not every Government 
that, on a yearly revenue of £40,000 sterling, would be enabled 
effectively to rule 25,000 square miles of territory, with a 
population of over 200,000 souls, to keep up a respectable 
standing military force, to garrison and maintain fourteen 
forts, to pay a competent staff of European officers and native 
authorities, to maintain three gunboats, to protect commerce 
and agriculture, and generally to guarantee safety to life and 
property within its limits. 

Sarawak is on good terms with its Dutch neighbours, who 
have lately by vigorous measures repressed and put an end to 
the disturbances caused by their frontier Dyaks of Eapuas. 

In conclusion, I may observe, that although de facto, and, 
as he contends, I believe, de jure absolute ruler of Sarawak, 
the Bajah clings to his English nationality; and '^British 
interests," to use his own words, " are paramount " within his 
dominions. In spite of the anomaly of the position, this fer- 
tile country should only be looked upon as an item of the 
great colonial empire of Great Britain, and, I trust, as virtually 
under her shield and protection. 

I append a list of printed instructions for young officers 
from the Bajah. 

They appear to be wise and practical, and offer an indica- 
tion of the spirit in which the Government of Sarawak is 
carried on. 



396 APPENDIX. 



Hints to Young Out-station Officers from the Rajah. 

An ofiBcer, to be efiScient, must have regularitj in his habits ; 
and to possess this, he shonld tie himself down to do things at 
stated times and intervals. He should never give an order 
for anything to be done except he sees that his order is pro- 
perly carried into effect. No out-station in the country is so 
extensive that it cannot be guided and governed by one man 
who possesses an active mind combined with discipline or 
regularity. Such an one can not only superintend all things 
pertaining to public interest, but devote a certain amount of 
time to social and friendly intercourse with those he has to 
govern, and this is necessary in order to obtain some know- 
ledge of the character of the people. He can do all this, and 
yet find plenty of spare time for leisure or study, and would 
enjoy the latter the more by keeping his mind in a state of 
discipline. Such occupations also tend to preserve health. 

Fortmen, — Men entered to take service should be free men, 
and not slaves or debtors — and, so far as can be ascertained, 
bear an honest character. The recruits should go through 
some kind of drill, even to make them hold themselves up- 
right and march up and down when on duty. To keep them- 
selves clean is something towards making soldiers of them. 
They must be made to obey with alacrity, and be usefril. If 
other good men are over and with them, it will not be long 
before they show whether they are good for anything. Be- 
sides their watches, they should turn out at seven o'clock 
every morning and do at least one hour's work in clearing or 
cutting grass, or in other ways making the grounds tidy. 

Arms. — Besides a regular inspection once a-week, an oflS- 
cer, if he has an eye practised to see things in order, could 
never walk through or enter his fort without observing if 
anything was out of place : a trial of a lock or two, and a feel 
with the finger in the muzzle to see if rust exists, will show 
him the state of the arms. An officer who has not been 
brought up to manage arms can soon put himself in the way 
of becoming accustomed to them, by trying a few experiments. 
Seeing how others use them will teach him something. Seek- 
ing information and facing difficulties till they are nmstered. 



APPENDIX, 397 

is the only road to eflSciency in every profession. Everything 
to the smallest item should be in eye of an ofiBcer. Arms, 
nnmber and kind — ^ammunition — cartridges, big and small — 
shot, sheU, caps, wads, rammers and sponges, priming wires 
and horns, vent lists, &c. ; how stowed ; how to be got at 
quickly ; safe from fire ; properly arranged. There should 
be a regular inspection of all these things once a-week, the 
officer examining for himself, and not trusting to the reports 
of others. 

Some difficulties may arise at times in obtaining supplies 
from Euching : there would, however, be no difficulty in mak- 
ing good the deficiencies, if there were a stock of fine and 
coarse grained powder, a bullet-mould, and some lead. Native 
fortmen can make as good small-arm cartridges as those sup- 
plied from Euching. The charges for big guns can be put 
into blachu bags, made the size of the bore of the gun. 
Wads can be twisted into grummets, the size of the different 
bores, of rattan, or akar, as good as rope. Torches can be 
made of the sheath of cocoa-nut blossom, or old manilla rope, 
well-dried cocoa-nut husk, or many barks of trees. The length 
of any dispcurt is one-sixth the difference between the circum- 
ference of the base and centre rings— on the latter the dispart 
is placed ; a temporary one of wood, or wax tied or stuck on, 
will prove as true as the best. 

One-fifth, or even the sixth, of the weight of the shot is 
used as the weight of an ordinary charge ; with light brass 
guns even less will be found sufficient in firing round-shot. 
Swivels and light guns are apt to kick dangerously when 
overcharged. In loading big guns, the captain of the gun 
should always stop the vent — and the man who sponges 
should do it by turning it round quickly three or four times, 
well forced into the base of the gun. In ramming home the 
charge, the loader should only leave his arms and never his 
body exposed before the muzzle of the gun, and, after striking 
it sharply twice, should spring back, while the captain pricks 
the charge with the priming-wire to find out whether it is home : 
if so, the shot is then forced in with a wad on it, to keep it 
from rolling from its place. The wad should fit tight, as, if 
the shot gets misplaced, it is apt to burst the gun. In march- 
ing or walking with natives who are carrying loaded muskets, 



398 APPENDIX, 

it is very difficult to make them nnderstand that it is neces- 
sary to keep their arms at half cock. An officer had better 
see that they do this, or keep out of the way himself, as there 
is almost as much danger in letting the hammer rest on the 
nipple with a cap as carrying it on fnll cock. 

On Cleanliness, — It is a mistaken idea that natives who are 
fortmen cannot be tanght to keep a place clean and tidy. 
After the necessity of this is pointed out to them for a short 
time, they will see to doing it as well as any Europeans, who 
also require to be taught at first in a similar way. It cannot 
be too carefully attended to, as it looks well to visitors, and 
is a good example to the whole country. An officer has little 
pride who allows any untidiness, however mean his habitation 
may be. Morning and afternoon sweeping of every part is 
necessary. A brushing away of cobwebs, and the floor kept 
clear of oil-spots and other dirt 

On Watching, — The men who watch should be kept from 
sitting down : if they are once allowed to do this ^ey be- 
come slovenly, will soon lie down, and sleep will be the 
result. The best and surest test o£ a good watch is to hear 
the steps of a sentry as he mardies day or night. K these 
are silent, ten to one if he is not asleep, or at any rate not 
watching. Fortmen, especially new ones, are very liable to 
be insolent in their bearing to the inhabitants of the country, 
and sometunes hail boats to stop them for amusement or for 
private purposes — such as to buy fish, sirihy or fruit. Such 
anomalies must be prevented, or the fort gets a bad name, 
and is looked upon more as a hindrance than a benefit. The 
people will hold themselves aloof, through fear of being in- 
sulted, and the use of such a building as a centre point, 
where all parties can bring their complaints and seek pro- 
tection, is lost. The fort, or officer of the fort, must make 
the rules obeyed, and in doing so he may often, or sometimes, 
have to resort to severe meeisures, such as firing on a passing 
and suspicious -looking boat, or apprehending troublesome 
characters — but this is only in accordemce with his duty, and 
can be understood as such by all parties. It will only tend 
to make him respected, and not in any way bring about dis- 
content or a bad name. 

Four muskets, or rifles, should always be kept ready loaded 



APPENDIX. 399 

and capped — and discharged once a-week. More than four, 
only when the country is in a disturbed state. 

Cash and Revenue, — Any transaction which has to do with 
money must necessarily be of importance, more especially 
when the money is not the individual's own property. 

One of the most important branches of duty connected 
with an out-station is that proper supervision be kept on the 
Revenue and Treasury departments, and if these are not 
properly attended to, an officer is fsur from having his charge 
in an efficient state. If one part be &ulty, however trivial, 
it more or less affects the whole. 

Out-station cash and revenue business is of so simple a 
character, that any one who has no knowledge of methodical 
book-keeping and double entries can keep all straight and 
clear if he pays proper attention to it. 

There never can be any excuse for extravagance nor for- 
getfulness in monetary concerns : twenty minutes a-day of 
supervision, or two hours a-week, or eight hours a-month, 
would prevent mistakes arising. The above times given 
could enable one to examine everything, to see wages and 
bills paid, and, if necessary, to copy out accounts or cash 
statements. However much an officer may be called away 
on other services, he can always spsure eight hours a-month in 
attending to so important a duty, and no officer is fit to hold 
any post of importance tmless he does so. 

General Bemarks, — Proper deference should always be 
shown to the chiefs, of whatever class they may be ; and in 
any case of difficulty, more especially when an officer feels 
he has not sufficient experience to decide with safety, and 
even oftentimes in trivial affairs, it is as well to ask the 
advice and opinion of the head-men. It satisfies them and 
strengthens you, and a great object is to throw as much re- 
sponsibility on the shoulders of the native chiefs as possible. 

You are not obliged in all cases to follow their advice, but 
the fact of asking it is a compliment to them, and gives them 
an interest in what is being done by the Government. There 
is no doubt, when uninfluenced by prejudice and relationship, 
the decisions of natives are very sound and sensible. Euro- 
peans too often give them credit for knowing too little : this 
is a mistake ; and a man should never be above taking advice, 



400 APPENDIX. 

however old he may be — and when in a strange country it 
is trebly necessary and useiiiL In everyday concerns — 
jungle- walking, marks denoting danger from traps and ani- 
mals, management of boats in river or on coast, judging the 
state of weather, and in many other '^ays — the knowledge 
of natives must necessarily be superior to a European. 

There are certain personal dangers to be avoided by those 
who have to occupy positions of trust when young, who are 
thrown much on their own resources, and bold authority over 
others without the check of senior officers and public opinion 
always immediately over them. The danger is, in allowing 
any relapse of right principle or sense of duty, which an 
English gentleman is supposed to have instilled into him 
from childhood. Also, the avoidance of becoming overbearing 
and despotic when left so much with subservient natives. 
This topic might be much enlarged npon, but any one can 
think it out best for himself, and will come to the conclusion 
that the manner of life in this country should not be different 
fit)m what it would be in England. 

Manner with Natives, — The best manner in the long-run 
with natives is to be thoroughly natiuul, and in no way 
patronising. A mixture of kindness and freedom, with 
severity when required, without harshness or bullying. Jok- 
ing to be limited to the comprehensions of the people ; if 
they cannot understand a joke, they are liable to misinterpret 
and gather wrong impressions. Never put natives on a 
familiar footing. They hold their position in society, and 
you yours. They are not inferior, but they are different. 

Always be guarded against giving way to sentimental 
likings for particular natives in calling them by familiar 
terms, and admitting them into intimate friend- or relation- 
ship. They cannot imderstand or appreciate this behaviour, 
and in the end will dislike it It injures and often ruins 
them, as a petted horse is spoiled, kn officer who tries such 
an experiment with the best intention, and in the hope that 
it will raise the tone of the native, labours under a mistake, 
and will lose influence by such 8W5ts of misplaced kindness. 
An officer on duty, as one is in an out-station, is not as a 
private individual who can do as he likes. He should recol- 
lect that he is in harness, and that to hold himself steadily at 



APPENDIX. 401 

the collar determines not only his future, but the fiiture of 
the commnnity among whom he lives* Nothing artificial or 
extraneous in the shape of gilt or tinsel will help to gain the 
confidence of the natives. They are too matter-of-fact, and 
only admire and respect strength in its entirety. 

An officer working for the general good in his profession, 
with a healthy tone of mind and body, doing his duties with 
earnestness, strength of purpose, and tact, is marked, and 
leaves an impression on the multitude. A reaUty is one thing, 
a shadow another — and by the sum total of his many acts 
the result is shown to be sound or otherwise. 




2C 



402 



APPENDIX. 



COMPARATIVE REVENUE RETURNS. 









1871 


• 


1876 


. 




DoL 


c. 


DoL 


c 


Farms- 










Opium .... 


42,800 


00 


46,300 


00 


Gambling 






12,402 


50 


13,338 


00 


Anack • 






7,601 


60 


5,703 


72 


Pawn 






452 


00 


860 


00 


Antimony royalty 




, 


16,064 


10 


8,888 


88 


Quicksilver „ 






4,444 


44 


4,444 


44 


Exemption tax . 






19,500 


00 


19,343 


70 


Dyak revenue 






11,650 


00 


21,338 


23 


Import duties — 














Tobacco tax 






4,320 


00 


6,033 


00 


Salt „ 






2,850 


00 


5,402 


00 


Excise „ 






536 


00 


• ■ • 




Matches y, 






54 


00 


522 


00 


Spirits „ 






• • • 




441 


OO 


Jars, steely &c . 






• • • 




1,538 


00 


Guns 






• • • 




226 


00 


Export duties — 














Sago tax . 






135 


00 


5,200 


00 


Gutta-percha . 










2,950 


00 


Camphor . 










300 


00 


Bilian 










1,898 


00 


Bee's-wax 










130 


00 


Birds' nests 










120 


00 


Rattan 










1,990 


00 


Giillga 










17 


00 


Miscellaneous . 






34,702 


00 


36,199 


00 


Total 


< 




157,601 


54 


183,182 


97 



APPENDIX. 



403 



TRADE RETURNS FOR 1871-76. 
Imports — Foreign. 



Articles. 


1871. 


1876. 






Dol. 


DoL 


Trearore .... 


113,337 


94,985 


Gutta-percha 




» 1 




7,260 


722 


Rice 




1 1 


t 


89,699 


129,601 


Gold . 




1 i 




2,369 


1,527 


Cloth . 




» 4 




212,359 


250,165 


Brass-ware . 




» 




23,260 


18,108 


Fish . 




» 1 




8,335 


14,466 


Opium . 




» 4 




15,358 


34,820 


Tobacco 




■ * 




52,928 


52,467 


Tea 




• 1 


'' 


2,517 


3,101 


Wines . 




» 4 




10,531 


7,874 


Sugar . 




» 4 




12,305 


11,491 


Jars 




1 4 




15,571 


8,417 


Iron-ware 




> 4 




20,263 


32,802 


Crockery-ware 




» 4 




18,318 


7,236 


Cocoa-nuts . 




1 4 




19,868 


14,978 


„ oil . 




» « 




20,901 


25,813 


Salt . 




> 4 




1 1,125 


10,612 


Gunnies 




B < 




6,200 


8,621 


J 

Paddy . 




» 4 




280 


1,715 


Beche de mer 








200 


3,110 


Raw sago ' . 


« 


4 




673 


3,033 


Birds' nests . 




■ 4 




240 


580 


Sundries 




■ 4 




116,481 


108,884 


Total 


» 


P 4 


» 


780,368 


845,128 



404 



APPENDIX. 



TRADE RETURNS FOR 1871-76— Obn<mti«L 

Exports— Foreign. 



Articles. 


1871. 

• 


187a 




Dol. 


DoL 


Treasure .... 


109,532 


64,487 


Cloth . 








23,103 


10,975 


Tobacco 








2,690 


4,36^ 


BrasB-ware . 








2,631 


4,512 


Fish . 








7,364 


26,366 


Rice . 








20,622 


20,226 


Paddy . 








3,670 


2,317 


Sugar • 








1,849 


1,137 


Cocoa-nuts . 








936 


327 


„ oil 








1,215 


2,714 


Gold . 








4,952 


2,749 


Timber 








635 


35,220 


Sago-flour . 








164,935 


313,559 


Diamonds . 








1,085 


4,130 


Bee's-wax 








19,621 


7,675 


Gutta-percha 








132,694 


75,558 


Dammar 








4,024 


6,934 


India-rubber 








99,948 


41,402 


Birds' nests . 








32,200 


22,651 


Fish maws . 








6,027 


2,777 


,, fins 








837 


1,965 


Quicksilver . 








24,992 


108,050 


Antimony . 








61,690 


45,958 


Canes . 








6,382 


1,088 


Rattans 








769 


47,301 


Camphor 








3,920 


11,221 


Raw sago 








11,752 


20,781 


BSche de mer 








2,295 


3,390 


Sundries 

Total 






• 


26,706 


40,677 


769,026 


930,642 



APPENDIX. 



405 



TRADE RETURNS FOR 1871-76-' Continued. 

Imports— Coasting. 



Articles. 


1871. 


1876. 




DoL 


DoL 


Treaanre .... 


114,847 


85,912 


Gutta-percha 








136,483 


50,391 


India-rubber 








96,930 


32,674 


Bee's-wax . 








17,795 


4,849 


Birds' nests . 








13,686 


7,339 


Rice . 








24,665 


10,536 


Paddy . 








10,292 


3,871 


Raw sago 








130,743 


174,131 


Rattans 








639 


7,867 


Gold . 








4,048 


5,748 


Timber 








2,673 


2,365 


Cattle . 








500 


289 


Sago-flour . 








26,993 


900 


Camphor 








8,860 


22,554 


Fish maws . 








614 


516 


99 flns 








68 


261 


Dammar 








1,209 


459 


Galiga . 








1,374 


1,183 


Canes . 








6,260 


62 


Vegetable tallow . 








• • • 


1,987 


Fish . 








90 


17,898 


Coal . 








• • • 


5,335 


Sundries 








48,786 


35,410 




647,555 


472,537 


Add foreign 


780,368 


845,128 


Total 


t 


< 




1,427,923 


1,317,665 



406 



APPENDIX. 



TRADE RETURNS FOR IS7 1-7 6— ConHnued. 

Exports — Coasting. 



Articles. 


1871. 


1876. 




Dol. 


DoL 


Treasure .... 


154,905 


138,857 


Cloth . 








159,835 


158,249 


Jars 








7,232 


3,549 


Tobacco 








29,778 


36,625 


Salt . 








7,138 


6,765 


Brass-ware . 








21,283 


12,961 


Iron- ware . 








4,866 


5,005 


Crockery-ware 








5,185 


3,869 


Fish . 








902 


5,220 


Rice 








16,659 


33,699 


Paddy . 








1,039 


3,311 


Sugar . 








5,549 


4,342 


Opium . 








19,064 


25,054 


Cocoa-nuts . 








6,210 


3,965 


„ oil 








6,317 


4,548 


Gold . 








10,475 


6,499 


Timber 








737 


984 


Wines . 








670 


1,418 


Gunnies 








800 


500 


Sundries 








40,667 


37,177 




499,311 


492.597 


Add foreign 


769,026 


930,542 


Total 


1 


» * 


k 


1,268,337 


1,433,139 



r. 






PRINTED BT WILLUM BLACKWOOD AXD SONS. 



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